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Dakota Performance
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Tyler A
GenIII
 User Profile

3/28/2001
21:18:09

Subject: Traction Bars
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Hey, I was thinking of getting some lakewood traction bars for my '00 V-6, but i saw an episode of Trucks and their dakota R/T that had traction bars showed no improvements in fact, they took them off the truck. Does anyone have them? Do they have advantages? Dissadvantages? Can they actually mess a clutch up after a while?
Thanks in advance

Tyler A '00 Dakota Sport-16.532 @ 82mph

Dean
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3/28/2001
21:52:47

RE: Traction Bars
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I haven't tried them on a truck but they sure helped on my 1970 Mach 1. They cut my 1/4 mile times by 2 tenths of a second. It had no adverse affect on clutch life that I could find. It also launched straighter with more control.



Jonas Janek
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3/28/2001
23:27:03

RE: Traction Bars
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I bought the one syou are talking about, I havent install them yet though. I shoudl be able to get them on this weekend, Ill tell you what happens. Does anyone know if there are any adverse effects???

jonas



DAK 2
Gen III
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3/29/2001
10:17:44

RE: Traction Bars
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Most traction bars are designed to keep the rear
axel from twisting under hard accel.They also help on weight transfer under the same conditions
if you could watch your rear axel when you dump
the clutch you would see the axel try to turn and
the back of the vehicle squat down.However with the traction bars in place the axel would have no
or minimal twist and you would actually see
the back end rise. because of the nature of traction bars your street ride would be a little
stiffer as the front segment of your springs
would be able to flex.

Y2K DAK,CC,3.9L,5Spd, OS/2 keeps going & going & going

Jonas Janek
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3/29/2001
11:10:51

RE: Traction Bars
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This is good stuff. Anyway Im just concerned, like always of screwing something up on my truck. It is a daily driver as well as my "play toy" and "race truck". Anyone know if there are any problems with traction bars, and if they actually help at all, and/or a way to find out???

Jonas
2000 Flame Red CC 4.7, 355 gears, factory loaded, custom paint, R/T rims w/ Toyo 255/60 Proxes S/T rubber, Lakewood traction bars to go on this weekend, still deceiding on air intake, and exhaust(ideas?)



MPJUNKIE
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4/03/2001
02:15:11

RE: Traction Bars
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V-6 dont need trac bars you need 2 more cylinders to complete the V-8 then you might think of trac bars



Jonas Janek
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4/03/2001
11:51:23

RE: Traction Bars
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Ok, dont be negative, I had a performance V6 1999 dak RC 5 speed, and I beat plenty of stock V8's. Now I have a 2000 CC 4.7 and it smokes too, its just personal taste vs money and economy.
Anyway does anyone have tracion bars on their Dak, and does it help? also any negative effects on a daily driver?

Jonas



tccg
Unregistered


4/03/2001
12:08:15

RE: Traction Bars....
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Instead of traction bars, you may want to check out HTTP://WWW.ACTIVESUSPENSION.COM. This is an alternative to bars to prevent axle wrap.



Bernd
GenIII
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4/03/2001
13:51:01

RE: Traction Bars
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A little "track trick" that's used quite often on the Dakota's (and Rams) is to install a set of spring clamps on the forward part of the rear leaf springs (2 on each side). This helps prevent axle wrap and costs about $10 for one set of clamps.

You can also get them from Mr. Gasket for about $20 for a pair if you don't want to build them yourself.



Bernd D. Ratsch
1997 Dodge Dakota SLT
Supercharged w/Nitrous

Jonas Janek
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4/03/2001
14:44:47

RE: Traction Bars
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Thanks for the tip.

Bernd, maybe you can answer my question, do they lakewood universal traction bars)really help, what kinda of performance can i expect, and any negative effects for use as a daily driver?

DOES ANYONE OUT THERE HAVE TRACTION BARS ON THEIR DAKOTA????

Jonas



Bernd
GenIII
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4/03/2001
14:51:24

RE: Traction Bars
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From past experiences with the Lakewood traction bars on my old Camaro (removed them promptly), they work to a point but also can hurt the suspension if you hit anything with them on the road.

The more common traction bars being used are the CalTrac bars (R/T groups uses them quite a bit).


Bernd D. Ratsch
1997 Dodge Dakota SLT
Supercharged w/Nitrous

Jonas Janek
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4/03/2001
14:57:02

RE: Traction Bars
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Thanks Bernd,
I have the sport suspension, with 255/60/17 tires so I have quite a bit of height, I think I should be ok, as opposed to a much lower camero. Have you heard anything as far as performance. Do they actually do anything? and how much? Or do you know anyone I can ask? Also how do you get your truck pictured in viewers rides here?

Jonas

2000 Flame Red CC 4.7, 355 gears, factory loaded, custom paint, R/T rims w/ Toyo 255/60 Proxes S/T rubber



Wayne
GenIII
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4/03/2001
15:01:07

RE: Traction Bars
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Jonas,
I have seen several Dakotas at the track with traction bars. They look trick but don't run any better than the ones without them.
What kind of a traction problem are you trying to fix? If your tires are spinning too much and too easy then you have the same problem as most of us - more horsepower than tire traction. If you have some sticky tires and are having a wheel hop problem, then some sort of traction bar or spring clamp will help.


mpphlunkie,
Why don't you stick to sweeping floors? ;-)

Wayne Van Metre
'99 CC SLT 5.2/auto/3.90 anti spin

Jonas Janek
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4/03/2001
16:58:07

RE: Traction Bars
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I am having tire spin problems, maybe too much horse, but I replaced the stock rims with factory R/T rims and at first had Eagle RSA 255/55/17's(stock on R/T) still not enough traction, so I went to a Toyo 255/60/17 Proxes S/T Vrated tire, so now they stick so much better. I still have the hop problem. I really am just looking for an edge. Thought that the traction bars may help? But Im more concerned with problems with them, if there are any. Thought maybe someone might already have/had them and maybe tested them at the track, maybe I could see if the positives outweigh the negatives.

ALSO, MPJUNKIE as both a V6 and V8 owner again, that those kind of comments and shove them it one of your two extra holes.

Jonas

2000 Flame Red CC 4.7, 355 gears, factory loaded, custom paint, R/T rims w/ Toyo 255/60 Proxes S/T rubber




Wayne
GenIII
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4/03/2001
17:18:21

RE: Traction Bars
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Wheel hop - now that is a problem that traction bars can fix. I had'em on a 1970 Challenger years ago. They hung low and drug on things but due to the location of the springs on Dakotas, the bars don't hang as low. You may want to look at the spring clamps that Bernd was talking about unless you prefer the look of the Lakewood bars.

I think Mr. Mcflunkie has left the building. :-)

Wayne Van Metre
'99 CC SLT 5.2/auto/3.90 anti spin

Tyler A
GenIII
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4/03/2001
22:33:14

RE: Traction Bars
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Thanks for all the help guys. Ill be making my final decision on this stuff soon. Also, I was wondering if sub-frame connectors were available for Daks. I want to be good in the turns as well. Oh, and as for MCJunkie that made the V-8 comment, you can bring it on, son!

Quote of the day:
When women get quiet, somethings about to happen.

Tyler A '00 Dakota Sport-16.532 @ 82mph

Bernd
GenIII
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4/03/2001
23:51:00

RE: Traction Bars
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No need for Sub-Frame connectors. We have full-frames...unlike the Uni-Body Fords and Chevy cars. ;)

Another quote for the day (Bob may enjoy this):

"Marriage is Grand...Divorce is about Twenty-Grand"

Bernd D. Ratsch
1997 Dodge Dakota SLT
Supercharged w/Nitrous

jeff
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4/04/2001
00:29:15

RE: Traction Bars
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i bought the lakewood traction bars, but when i first put them on they did nothing because they did not touch the leaf springs. I had to cut a v in them and bend them up and re-weld it so they would always be touching the leaf springs. After doing that, I instantly noticed a huge difference in the power that i was getting to the ground. There is no more wheel hop either. I did this on my 1996 dodge dakota single cab v8 5 speed. There are a lot of dumb people out there and don't know what there talking about. Sometimes you have to modify something to get it to work. JEFF.



98SPRTV6
GenIII
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4/04/2001
11:01:11

RE: Traction Bars
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I have a set of Lakewood Traction Bars on my 98 Sport V6 5-speed. They make a world of difference in handling, and launching if you know how to drive!!!! Get some of them, they are only like $45 from Autozone.

'98 Sport 3.9L 5-speed 3.55. Custom CAI, ASP Pullies, Traction Bars.

98SPRTV6
GenIII
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4/04/2001
11:06:56

RE: Traction Bars
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I have a set of Lakewood Traction Bars on my 98 Sport V6 5-speed. They make a world of difference in handling, and launching if you know how to drive!!!! Get some of them, they are only like $45 from Autozone.

'98 Sport 3.9L 5-speed 3.55. Custom CAI, ASP Pullies, Traction Bars.

98SPRTV6
GenIII
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4/04/2001
11:09:14

RE: Traction Bars
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I have a set of Lakewood Traction Bars on my 98 Sport V6 5-speed. They make a world of difference in handling, and launching if you know how to drive!!!! Get some of them, they are only like $45 from Autozone.

'98 Sport 3.9L 5-speed 3.55. Custom CAI, ASP Pullies, Traction Bars.

Jonas Janek
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4/04/2001
12:15:30

RE: Traction Bars
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How easy were they to mount on your 98? How do you have them set, reccommend is 1 inch from lakewood, but is closer better? Do you have any problems, like catching them on stuff, or things like that?

Jonas

2000 Flame Red CC 4.7, 355 gears, factory loaded, custom paint, R/T rims w/ Toyo 255/60 Proxes S/T rubber



98SPRTV6
GenIII
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4/04/2001
12:50:48

RE: Traction Bars
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They were easy to mount. You want to set them pretty close but you don't want the rubber stopper to touch the spring, set it to where it is about 1 1/2" to 2" away from the spring. I tried to go over a curb one night and I got hung up on the traction bars. But other that no other problems.

'98 Sport 3.9L 5-speed 3.55. Custom CAI, ASP Pullies, Traction Bars.

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