I have a 1982 Ford F100 2wd shortbox with a built 351c 4v in it. It has the stock style rear leaf spring that has 2" lowered leafs. The front leaf spring mounts have also been moved up to lower it about another 1.5" My question is, what is the best type of traction bar that will work? Right now I have snubber bars on it that are made for a truck and they seem to work pretty good. I had a 3 link style set up but lacked the rotating leaf spring mounts and it didn't let my suspension move. I am a college student so money is kinda tight at the moment. I have access to all kinds of metal and welders and a plasma cutter so making something wouldn't be that hard. I want to leave the rear leaf spring setup in there cuz it works and I don't know if I would want it mini-tubed to get the 3 or 4 link rear suspension. Any help or opinions or experience with this is greatly appreciated.

 

I run Desert steel Traction bars on my '84. They bolt on with the u bolts on top of the springs and have 1" steel tube that runs to a bracket that you bolt to the front rear spring perch. They work Great!!!

 

have you made any adjustments to the traction bars you have now or just bolted them on the way they came out of the box?
you need to make some adjustments to them to get the rubber snubber closer to hitting the leaf spring. especially on the passenger side witch is the wheel that will try to lift and spin first.
use some shim material between the spring and the traction bar on the back clamps or washers under the rubber snubbers or taller snubbers to make them contact the spring sooner. if you get them adjusted right you should be able to get equal rubber on the pavement from both wheels without a positraction rear end. I did this on my 72 cougar with a 351c when i was young it made a huge difference. here is the cheep type I had http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...40&prmenbr=361 you probably also need to carry some weight in the rear to get much traction at all though. good luck and watch out for them cops when trying them out!

 

Hi, I have messed with the adjustment of the snubberheight a lot. I have the passanger side almost touching and like 1/4-3/8" on the drivers side. The rear end right now has 3.89 gears with a tightened up trac-loc. I am looking at ways to try to lift the front of the truck at the same time without putting a ladder bar system on.

 

Where can I find the desert steel traction bars?

 

https://calvertracing.com/product-categories/caltracs/
Great bars fully adjustable using wrenches got them on my drag car that is just a fancy street car.
Dave ----