Bob,
Unfortunately, any mention of the installation of the front clamp of the
Traction Masters was not included with the new factory parts. I do not
know what was with the Rootes supplied version from the same company,
but the design did not change there.
The nuts were not even a "Nylock" type, which might have stayed in place
without being tight. If this was meant to be a "sliding" joint that
tightened to a hard clamp during axle wrap, certainly something in the
design would demand a specific installation technique. Plain and
simple, the nuts held the bar against the spring main leaf by clamping
it to a plate on the other side. No design allowance is made for
sliding, or loose fit. No instructions are provided for this.
This is not the best engineered part in the world, and the alternate
weld-on is MUCH worse. having unequal length fixed pivot arms (spring
and rod) which apply such extreme loads to the weld-on bar and fitting
that the bar actually deformed and bent, and the weld on bracket was
often torn loose. Which is why I chose the bolt-on.
I am sure some sliding, especially with some 3/32 inch rubber sheet pad
(not included), does occur, except for larger bumps (often encountered).
The spring rate increase is dramatic. The edges of the clamp bar are
sharp, and would cut the spring material by constant rubbing, if allowed
to slide. It is not that your recommendation would not have been
better, it is just that the design installation never provided for it.
But, maybe you could ask them to alter the design. They do not appear to
be married to it.
Steve
Bob Palmer wrote:
>Steve,
>
>First off, it's sure nice to have the List back up and running again. Many
>thanks to Mark Bradakis for overcoming Qwest's bureaucracy and obsolete
>equipment to get us back on line.
>
>The way I understand the bolt-on traction bars, their main advantage over
>the weld-on type is that they actually do allow the front half of the leaf
>spring to flex. Under normal up and down motion from bumps, the front
>portion of the bar is clamped with only nominal force to the springs,
>thereby letting the clamp move on the spring as the spring chord length
>changes as it flexes. The clamp is located near the front spring perch, but
>not close enough to push against it unless you apply torque to the rear
>wheels. The only explanation I can think of for why the bolt-on bars would
>increase spring stiffness is that either they are bolted on too tight and/or
>the clamp is too close to the front of the spring, either of which would
>restrict up/down motion.
>
>I like the Caltrac design which looks like, as Hank says, doesn't jack the
>car up (at least not much) during acceleration and doesn't produce any dive
>during braking. For drag racing, lifting the front up (shifting weight to
>the rear), but this is not what one wants during braking. Unfortunately, the
>Walters design has this bad aspect under braking.
>
>Bob
>
>
>
>
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Steve Laifman
Editor
http://www.TigersUnited.com
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