72MC Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 Questions are, are they worth the money? Do they really help that much? Looking at Comp Engineering or Lakewood. How much difference in performance are the traction bars vs the ladder bars? Thanks for the info. - Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72MC Posted July 27, 2008 Author Share Posted July 27, 2008 Rear is tight right now. Current rear is BMR Fab. tubular arms. Just looking for a little extra. That is one reason I don't think I need ladder bars but would like to find the pros, cons of either of them. Ladder bars are harder to install, traction bars are easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heckeng Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I don't like traction bars for 4-link rears. They don't even bolt up formly as most clamp onto the coil spring.  Ladder bars completely change the suspension geometry and movement compared to a 4-link and in the process (so I'm told anyway) make it ride much more roughly.  I prefer lift bars which work WITH the rear suspension setup of a 4-link. They simply change the effective angle of rotation and the point that the force of the rear acts on the car.  The ones I like now are shown on THIS LINK. They bolt in with no mods unlike the lakewood lift bars   Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slaman Posted July 27, 2008 Share Posted July 27, 2008 I have not used traction bars, but I can attest to how hard the ladders make the ride. Hit a bump coming out of the parking lot and the rear just bounced, no suspension travel... broke my steering wheel in the process . They did make it launch a lot harder though, with a lot less wheel spin... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
71monteme Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 love the lift bars. use to have alot of wheel hop. no more and the rear hooks a lot better. stock upper arms. front wheel of the ground. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72MC Posted July 29, 2008 Author Share Posted July 29, 2008 Thanks guys for the responses. From your input and the input I have received from non board sources, it sounds like the verdict is this. Traction bars don't do much for 4 link cars. Lift bars, however, help out our cars the most. So again, thanks for your input. - Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
502ci Posted July 29, 2008 Share Posted July 29, 2008 It seems you have ruled out ladder bars as you should...bolt on ones are not that hard to install though...that being said I have two sets of Lakewood bars in my basement, one set used to be on my car and the other set I got for free...I don't think they will ever leave the basement...  Bill  Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72MC Posted July 29, 2008 Author Share Posted July 29, 2008 Yea Bill, ladder bars were out from the beginning. I hook extremely good on the street right now. I was just thinking ahead to how the car might react on the strip. Line lock is installed and now to remove the rest of the a/c and off to the track I go. - Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kc8oye Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 why remove the A/C system? it's not robbing power unless it's turned on... as for saving weight.. with the exception of the compressor and it's brackets.. there's not much to be saved... Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72MC Posted July 30, 2008 Author Share Posted July 30, 2008 a/c system(needs a compressor) will either go in the 72 El Camino or it will be sold. - Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monte70car Posted July 30, 2008 Share Posted July 30, 2008 dave we don't need no a/c from the look and the plan it sounds like you are after dave go with out the heater altogether since the water pump doesn't have the hose nipple. let me know when the el camino gets back on the books. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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