Caltracs vs. traction bars for 2wd

[UNBROKEN]

What's making you say traction bars are better for a 2wd application? Did you end up running them on the 2wd trucks?

The cal tracs rode like **** unless I completely removed the preload. They rattled like crazy, the heim joints lasted about 5000 miles before they were trashed, the second set I replaced one of the bar ends stripped out so I got rid of the junk and built a real set of bars. I had better launches, better ride and better longevity. I could cut a 1.8X 60' in a dropped CCSB with the long bars....never under a 2.0 with the cal tracs. Same tires the long bars just all around worked better. I know some people love them...they're pieces of **** far as I'm concerned. Why would I bolt on bars that I have to remove a leaf to get to ride worth a damn? I'd rather put something on that works well right off the bat.
As far as people saying regular bars don't help with weight transfer...mine did. I built them long...about mid way to the front doors following the driveshaft angle. The front of the truck would noticeably lift on launches compared to the cal tracs.

 

[BOHICA256]

That is true.. Pretty ****ty how I would have to remove a leaf.. I guess the whole reason I've brought it up was because I was under the impression the caltracs would be better for 2wd

 

[madman1234509]

Really? Plenty of people cutting amazing 60s with caltracs. I'm not necessarily saying that everyone needs to remove a leaf, but that's what worked for us, for a daily driven street truck. The whole mechanism behind how they work will lift the rear end slightly, especially with some preload going on. But that's what they are designed for and designed to do. Sounds like you had your own issues and the set up was out to lunch. And that will probably be the biggest issue you find with them, is people don't know how to set them up correctly. Then they get in a forum and b*tch about it and steer people away. It's easier to build a set of back woods Trac/ladder bars with some supplies from tractor supply and call it good enough.


Gotta remember, caltracs have been around for a long time and are used in tons of different vehicles. More caltracs have probably been sold than there will ever be diesel trucks with other forms of traction bars. If they didn't work, they wouldn't be where they are, plain and simple.

 

[madman1234509]

I'm not saying you HAVE to remove a leaf. It's just what we found works for us. It's not the end of the world and takes 5 extra minutes. My caltracs were on in an hour tops. I wouldn't go any other way on a 2wd truck. And being they sit lower the slight increase in height probably won't even be noticable.

 

[UNBROKEN]

Uhhhh....I worked directly with them on set up since they were sponsoring me at the time. Spent a ton of time dialing them in and trying different things...they flat didn't work on my truck. And if you think I hacked together a set of bars with crap from tractor supply on a $100K truck you've lost your mind.

 

[madman1234509]

I'm just getting at that's what a lot of people do . No offense to you. Tons of people around me do it because they just can't set up suspension, or think because Billy Bob down the street did it it's the best thing in the world. Not sure why you had so many issues, we were spot on with mine first try. Ice only got 800-900 miles on them, but no noise, and noticeably better shifting.


But like I said above, I had traction bars on my last truck and they worked great as well. Pretty much the same results as far as improved shifting goes, which is really the main reason I have something again.

 

[Layson]

Give them some miles. I would not even put them on a half ton truck.

Even if I got them for free I wouldn't put them on.

 

[jwlandry]

I was on the fence about Cal-tracs or bars for my 2wd as well. I opted for the PMF route and im very happy with the outcome. My bars go about a foot ahead of where the frame makes its transition. I went with the stg 3 bars w no gussets all bolt on.

Before the bars, if you rolled into it hard you could feel it start to vibrate or if the road was slick and the tires went to spinning it would hop pretty bad. Since the bars are on there's no more vibration and no hopping. If it does blow the tires off they just go up in smoke. Traction is definitely better though. Seems to leave much harder.

 

[madman1234509]

PMF are definitely good quality. I think that improvement is a given with any well engineered bar. OUO comes to mind as well. I think a lot is just personal preference.

 

[sootie]

someone needs to post the video of that obs with caltracs and the rear tires a foot off the pavement just off the line...

 

[BOHICA256]

I think the traction bars will be a more "plug and play" type of option. I still have about a month to figure out what I want to go with. It will either be Caltracs, PMF, UOU, and Flight Fabrication bars look pretty good too.

 

[BOHICA256]

someone needs to post the video of that obs with caltracs and the rear tires a foot off the pavement just off the line...

I saw that picture in another thread when trying to see if it's been brought up before. They were all really old threads and not a whole lot of feedback.

 

[madman1234509]

What were the tires doing?

 

[BOHICA256]

 

[SDS97_7.3]

someone needs to post the video of that obs with caltracs and the rear tires a foot off the pavement just off the line...

WOP's white truck. I wonder if Zane, JD, or Jdub have a video of it

 

[Strokersace]

That was on the balloon tires too that he was running at the time. Believe there was WAY more at play there than just the caltracs.

 

[Kind]

So far it's seems like we have one guy(unbroken) that has about the only valid example. Plus he has been around drag cars a lot. So his opinion carries weight.

However I have my own experience with them, being the complete opposite of his. I'm not sponsored nor did they help me set them up. I can only vouch for the two trucks I had direct experience with... One being a 2wd and one being a 4wd. Both trucks the caltracs made a big difference. My sc/sb 2wd would consistently get 1.8's and the odd 1.7 on a 800hp 6800lbs truck on drag radials. When my caltracs weren't dialled in I was lucky to cut a 2.0.

So we have a couple experienced guys here with 2wds. One with a cummins cc/sb and the other with a 6.4 sc/sb, two different experiences. Both of us combined have been driving 2wds longer then most have been driving or alive. Anyone else making comments about caltracs in a non 2wd application need to keep their opinion to themselves.

As well it is applicable that the rear suspension on Rich's '04 is different then mine(flip kit) or any other newer Ford.

 

[Layson]

I had an old video of someone just driving around town with caltracs on. Same exact thing happen as that OBS truck above, you could see daylight under the tires it was hopping so bad. The video disappeared off youtube. It wouldn't matter if the truck was a 2wd or 4wd.

Plus they don't work in reverse. So if you are backing up a trailer they don't do anything.

 

[sootie]

I had an old video of someone just driving around town with caltracs on. Same exact thing happen as that OBS truck above, you could see daylight under the tires it was hopping so bad. The video disappeared off youtube. It wouldn't matter if the truck was a 2wd or 4wd.

Plus they don't work in reverse. So if you are backing up a trailer they don't do anything.

werd^^^ dealbreaker for me as i spin in reverse ALL the time esp with a trailer on.

 

[BOHICA256]

That's why this is harder than it was before I started the thread. A couple guys with two completely different stories on their 2wd trucks. JDub with his good experience, bft blue oval boys sounds like the truck he was in might not be set up 100% yet, then Kind with really good experience with them, then Unbroken with a bad experience.

I'm not out to be breaking any records, I just want to give myself the best setup to put the power down and be fine as a DD.