rharden 12 Report post Posted March 4, 2015 I have a 1970 Mach 1, 408C stroker and four speed. I need a good set of traction bars. The car will not be raced and I want to maintain a decent ride. I now have an old, slapper bar system that has the rubber snub that comes up against the bottom of the leaf spring. I don't care for it and was thinking about the other style that has the weld on, front mount. I still want to be able to connect my shocks and sway bar. Does anyone have a suggestion? I see several ones on the market. I like the Cal Trac, but I don't like the idea of replacing the front leaf spring bushing (I have poly-graphite in mine) with a solid aluminum bushing. Too much road noise. Thanks. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
barnett468 418 Report post Posted March 4, 2015 . the traction masters are the only other design for these and they will stiffen the ride a little Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Rsmach1 71 Report post Posted March 4, 2015 Caltracs I think is your best option. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeStang 247 Report post Posted March 4, 2015 Caltracs, Slapper Bars or Shelby Under riders Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rharden 12 Report post Posted March 5, 2015 http://www.gearheadtalk.com/forums/showthread.php?25774-Cal-Tracs-vs-Traction-Masters I read a few reviews on the net, from people who have installed both Cal-Tracs and bars like Traction Master. It seems like Cal-Tracs are bragged up more than most other types, no matter what car they were installed on. I just don't want wheel hop. The old slapper bars will hop and hopping isn't cool. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,112 Report post Posted March 5, 2015 My old 69 Cj had a set of bars that had two parallel bars at the rear end mounting pads and one bar from the front of the leafs that went between the rear bars ,you could pin the bars for a solid set up of leave the bolt out for normal leaf operation.They really hooked up good but i dont know who made them or what they were called .I thought they were Mr Gasket or Hurst but i haven't been able to find another set any where . Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sportsroof69 13 Report post Posted March 5, 2015 Caltracs are the best thing to happen to a leaf spring. I didn't notice much difference realted to the solid bushing, but my car is noisy by nature. I highly recommend them. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ridge Runner 1,112 Report post Posted March 5, 2015 I finally found them . They are Ansen Ground Grabbers .Un pinned they were like a regular traction bar ,pinned they were like a ladder bar .These things really hooked up ,especially with a Detroit locker .I have got to find a set for my 69 ,if i can't i will build a set Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rharden 12 Report post Posted March 5, 2015 I finally found them . They are Ansen Ground Grabbers .Un pinned they were like a regular traction bar ,pinned they were like a ladder bar .These things really hooked up ,especially with a Detroit locker .I have got to find a set for my 69 ,if i can't i will build a set Thanks. I have never seen a set like this. Interesting. I talked to a Chevy buddy of mine and he installed the Cal Tracs, but he didn't install the aluminum bushing. He installed a poly graphite spring bushing and everything works great, at least on the street. He said the road noise in minimal. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
MikeStang 247 Report post Posted March 5, 2015 Those are pretty cool Ridge Runner. Never seen a set of those. You know Rharden the rubber snubber should be touching up on the eye of the spring for the slappers to work best but I have seen very few sets made for mustangs that make it that far up....Mine run right up to the eye but with the reverse eye springs and my set-up if I extended the bars there would be no rubber pad between the bar and the spring eye LOL so I have them touvhing the leafs just behind the eye and they work pretty good. I am upgrading to a set of Caltracs Tho Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rharden 12 Report post Posted March 6, 2015 The old slapper bars I have are too short. I bought them years ago, 1970, from a local speed shop and they probably were not the correct bars for my car. At the time, I wouldn't have known. I trusted the speed shop sales guy to sell me the correct bars. My bar snubber is about four inches short of the front spring bushing or eye. I like the Cal Tracs and I think they would be the best as far as what is sold today, for a leaf spring suspension. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
coz 108 Report post Posted March 10, 2015 For leaf spring cars CALTRAC is the way to go. I have a set and it eliminated all wheel hop and really hooks up well. When I go to coilover I'll have a set to sell. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
rharden 12 Report post Posted April 1, 2015 For leaf spring cars CALTRAC is the way to go. I have a set and it eliminated all wheel hop and really hooks up well. When I go to coilover I'll have a set to sell. When will you be going to coil over? I would be interested, but I don't want to wait too long. Let me know. Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Opentracker 4 Report post Posted April 4, 2015 We have the Cal-Trac on our site and the feedback we have is they don't add a lot of road noise. The front alum bushing pivots freely and stops the twist of the leaf spring in the corners so the cars ride a little smoother and handle better. Being adjustable, they let the user set them so the car will leave straight. We haven't had any bad feedback at all and they do absolutely stop the wheel hop. http://opentrackerracing.com/product/calvert-racing-cal-tracs/ Quote Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
