Two track bars
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Boise Idaho
Two track bars
This is a curiosity question, thought you experts could enlighten me. It's hard to find engineering info on this thing. I understand basic solid axle drag link and track bar geometry but I don't know how to apply it to this particular vehicle. My dad's odd ball ford quadravan with a custom dana 44 coil sprung front end has two track bars that bolt to a bracket on the engine cross member and come down and bolt to either side of the axle. He asked me if I knew how this particular track bar method effected steering and if he should worry about bump steer, I don't have a clue. Wish I had a picture of it but it's in Utah, but I think you guys get the idea. I mentioned this on the van forum but I think I'll have better luck here. From just guessing I would say it would be more likely restricted in articulation rather than having some kind of steering issue, I try not to guess to much. And it does look to have about a 3 to 4 inch lift. I was going to bring this up on pirate but thought I'd do it here first. They might yell at me for asking a dumb question 
. It's not my fault quadravan did something goofy. Any ideas?
. It's not my fault quadravan did something goofy. Any ideas?
i ain't rite
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 65,561
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From: Marlboro Mental Hospital.
i can not see how it would work. the twin track bars facing in opposite difections will act as a solid mount for the axle making the springs useless.
unless the track bars have a slip joint in them.
unless the track bars have a slip joint in them.
Post Fiend
Joined: Nov 2009
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Jeez Tom....
Everyone knows you have to have an odd number of trac bars or they will bind or "make the springs useless."
For my money 5 is the ideal number.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2010
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From: Boise Idaho
No slip joint, where they meet at the top it is your basic pivot, where they bolt to the axle it looks like they have used the brackets that bolt to the frame for ford radius arms and welded them on, so they don't even pivot on both ends. I can see where this would have been alright for a TTB but in that case a track bar would be pointless anyway. It does seem like there would be some binding going on but this van has been doing fine as a hunting rig since 1977 with the original bushings. Doesn't prove anything as far as performance, but wouldn't rough roads and mild trails over 30 years break something if the track bars are too solid?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Joppa, Maryland
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Tuned
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From: Boise Idaho
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Joined: Apr 2006
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From: on da beach
I bet they found out that it did not work.
Seems that there is nowhere for those bars to go as the axle rises towards
The frame. Unless the drivers side has a slip joint.
Then again, what do I know?
Seems that there is nowhere for those bars to go as the axle rises towards
The frame. Unless the drivers side has a slip joint.
Then again, what do I know?
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 8,147
Likes: 1
From: Joppa, Maryland
Yes, that picture works. Not sure why they would do that, I supposed it will work, but like you said limit articulation. I guess this is all they could come with to avoid the engine crossmember when installing a tac bar or do so without welding. Seems it would work just as well with only the passenger side on there. Not that it's going to work well either way, but I don't see the point of the other side.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 485
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From: Boise Idaho
I'm glad you guys think it's weird because I thought maybe I missed some reading somewhere on suspension systems. When one side moves up I can see where the other side would allow some movement, but it looks to me that articulation would be restricted the closer the two track bars came to being flat in relation to each other. Ride must be horrible. Whole system kind of negates the purpose of coils doesn't it? I can see what Tom means, the springs and shocks would have to be very restricted. I don't imagine the front end needs a sway bar lol. My dad still wants to convert the front end to a dana 60 some day so I think I'll put everything on the dana 60 except for the track bars. I think I can use the existing bracket on one side to help me rig some kind of a better track bar. If I have to put an angle in it to make it fit than that shouldn't be a problem.
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Tuned
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 485
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From: Boise Idaho
I just talked to my dad, he reminded me that the shaft threads stripped out on one bar. Yeah, I'd say there is an explanation for that happening 
. I told him to pull one side off until we can get to work on it. What do you guys think about a track bar off a 79' bronco if it doesn't get in the way of something? I have one out here next to my house with the drop bracket. Wouldn't be hard to build a bracket for the axle.
. I told him to pull one side off until we can get to work on it. What do you guys think about a track bar off a 79' bronco if it doesn't get in the way of something? I have one out here next to my house with the drop bracket. Wouldn't be hard to build a bracket for the axle.
Post Fiend
Joined: Jun 2004
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From: Joppa, Maryland
Should work just fine. Check out some of the recent half ton SAS threads for some more info/pictures on how the trac bars have been setup. Me and a/o just did one on manfred's truck not too long ago. Well, I sat in the motivation chair and recovered from my hangover while a/o did one on manfred's truck.