Installing ladder bars
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Joined: Dec 2010
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The u-bolts are torqued to about 100-120ftlbs, and just to test to see how they work I loaded up my ford expedition on my trailer, and It puts all the pressure to the springs, the axle don't move at all. I don't see how they work either, but I tested them in grass were I tested it before without them. It stopped all the tire hop. And puts all the torque to the wheels
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Joined: Aug 2004
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From: Braham MN
They work because the centerline of the axle is about 6-8" below the centerline of the spring perches. When you mash the gas the axle tries to move forward, because it is below the spring perches it twist the springs, larger lift blocks exaggerate the problem via leverage, the axle is even further from the spring perch centerline. the front goes up the rear goes down, the springs try to snap it back and you get wheel hop. By installing ladder bars the axle can not move forward in relation to the frame rails, any forward motion is transferred directly to the vehicle, now the only job of the springs is to hold the vehicle off the axle.
A good way to look at it is draw a triangle from the front spring perch, to the rear perch, then to the axle, then back to the front. If the axle tries to move forwarid, the triangle rotates. Now add a line from the bottom of the triangle out a couple feet infront of the front perch, no more twisting. The axle will still want to twist because of the design of the ring and pinion, but it will have to twist within the U-bolts.
A good way to look at it is draw a triangle from the front spring perch, to the rear perch, then to the axle, then back to the front. If the axle tries to move forwarid, the triangle rotates. Now add a line from the bottom of the triangle out a couple feet infront of the front perch, no more twisting. The axle will still want to twist because of the design of the ring and pinion, but it will have to twist within the U-bolts.
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Joined: Jul 2008
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From: Thomasville, GA
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Joined: Dec 2009
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From: Livoina,La
I think I'd have to build a new front mounting bracket and make it a dual shear instead of a single shear. That alot of pressure on one side of that bolt. Just my .02
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Only problem I see is Your leafs are no longer used PROPERLY as suspension... NOT having a pivoting point on the front mount of the ladder-bar.... Your leaf rear suspension has a pivoting shackle on the rear, allowing the axle to move towards the front OR towards the back, depending on the load or weight put onto the rear suspension.... Having a solid mount (Rod end to front mount of ladder-bar) eliminates the natural movement on the leaf-springs.....
I like the setup, but would add my own touch and modify the front mount by adding in a shackle-style mount to allow the ladder bar to move with the axle of the truck, yet still stopping axle wrap...
A ladder cannot allow the pinion angle to change unless a bar bends or the height of the forward mounting point changes. The shackle holds the forward mounting point at a steady height in this example.
I like the setup, but would add my own touch and modify the front mount by adding in a shackle-style mount to allow the ladder bar to move with the axle of the truck, yet still stopping axle wrap...
A ladder cannot allow the pinion angle to change unless a bar bends or the height of the forward mounting point changes. The shackle holds the forward mounting point at a steady height in this example.