I can vouch for how much damage the weld on traction masters (LAT-5)
have caused to my Tiger. The geometry is plain wrong. When the leaf is
compressed upwards, the force is restricted by the traction master.
Normally as the leaf moves up the rear shackle moves back as the
leaf is flattened. The traction bar holds the axle at a fixed distance from the
frame welded attachment. Really bad news for leaf bushing and frame
attachment points. That was (unfortunately) my car with the separated
attachment points (since corrected with extremely robust reinforcements).
The Caltrac traction bar looks almost identical to the LAT-5 except the
forward pivot point is closer to the leaf eye and may actually correct the
geometry and eliminate the bind. I've heard nothing but good about Dans
torque arm and am going to install it (next winters project).
Curtis
btw: the traction bars do WORK GOOD for traction
-------------- Original message --------------
> The torque arm replaces the traction masters. The hard braking issue
> with torque arms is valid, but minimized with proper design. My Griggs
> Racing multilink rear suspension uses a torque arm and works fine. The
> traction masters compromise suspension compliance far too much compared
> to a torque arm. I'd go with Dan's setup if I were you.
>
> Another interesting option if you can have the fabrication done, are
> Caltrac Traction Bars. See
> http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com/Traction.html. for some info.
>
> Stephen Waybright
>
> --- Thomas Prager wrote:
>
> > Dear List,
> >
> > I wrote a few weeks ago about a dangerous torque steer problem,
> > that made my
> > car dart to the right of the road under both acceleration and
> > deceleration.
> > Many on the list suggested looking at the back of the car and sure
> > enough,
> > there were cracks at the forward rear leaf spring attachment point on
> > both
> > sides of the car. I guess with 160 hp the problem is not as
> > noticeable as with
> > 350 hp. I found an article Tom Hall wrote in 1999 showing how to fix
> > this rear
> > leaf spring attachment area:
> >
> >
> http://66.175.58.218/tech/Rear_Spring_Mount_Tip.pdf> >
>/Rear_Spring_Mount_Tip.pdf>
> >
> >
> > I have weld-on traction masters installed and will this have an
> > effect on
> > the recommended reinforcement? Also I am interested in buying a Dan
> > Walters
> > torque arm. Does the torque arm replace the traction masters or will
> > it work
> > in conjunction? A friend on the Tiger list said under hard braking
> > the torque
> > arm can make the rear end seem very light. What are the pros and
> > cons?
> >
> > Thanks for all the helpful suggestions.
> >
> >
> > tom prager
> > 9472154
|