Traction bars debate - good or bad on Mopars?

[torredcuda]

I see many guys do not recommend using "slapper" type traction bars on leaf spring Mopars due to the shorter front section. What I don`t understand is how are they different from a pinion snubber if properly set up? By properly I mean having the front snubber on the front spring eye not on the flat part of the leaf. If set up that way don`t they both control axle wind up similarly? Is it due to being on both sides instead of just the middle which causes issues or just the shorter front section?

[HP2]

Yes, the principle between the slapper bar and pinion snubber is similar in that both pivot up and use the cars weight against itself. The difference is that the slapper is pushing against a pivot point on the spring eye and as the body lifts, the arc of the bar will pull it back from its contact point on the spring. On the snubber, this lifting motion and subsequent rotation back does not put it into conflict with the pre-established arc of the spring because its simply riding against the trans tunnel.

Additionally slapper bars reduce clearance of the springs over things like speed bumps and driveways.

[torredcuda]

I wouldn`t think there is enough movement back away from the eye to have much of an effect on the spring arch if set up correctly, the lack of ground clearance is pretty obviuos and of course an issue on the street.

[RUNCHARGER]

Extra unsprung weight too.

[dodj]

I'm not a fan, but if you like the 'look', go for it.
A properly set up pinion snubber will constantly be whacking the tunnel on bumps. 

[CNUMB]

The ones on my car are for show only.. Wanted the early 70s look, had them on my 74 back in the day.. I do not believe these on my 71 serve any purpose as I do not race this car..

[mopartaz]

Not a fan, might as well go for the "full" 70's look, slot mags, air shocks , cb antenna, chrome barefoot pedals , truckin' bumper sticker stc. etc. Cool on a 70's van but not any car. I will give it a pass if its a "barn find" time capsule. That car looks too nice to have the traction bars on there.

[jimynick]

Ever the contrarian, I ran a set on my 340 4speed Duster and never hit any driveways, curbs, small children, etc. etc. and you could launch the car at 5000 rpm by walking off the clutch and the damn thing went straight with no wheel hop. As mentioned, going the full pinion snubber route will beat the bejeezus out of the floor pan if you're running the car hard. It is a 70's look, but then, so are hemis and you don't hear too much poo-pooing about those! your car, your call matey.   

[Chryco Psycho]

Used for traction there are better ways to achieve this , these were a cheap & dirty way to stiffen the front spring section , not a fan either .

[headejm]

If we are voting...I vote No.

Don't see too many E-bodies with traction bars. But as the man said...it's your car to enjoy as you see fit.

[usraptor]

The original owner of my 'Cuda had slapper bars on it as he was a big street racer in the 70's.     The car had been in storage since 1983 when I bought it and the traction bars were still on it.  I cleaned them up, repainted and reinstalled, primarily for the day 2, 70's look.  I also installed American Racing polished torque thrust wheels.  I do get a lot of comments about the the traction bar at car shows with people my age telling me they had them on their car back in the day.  As far as being practical all I can tell you is my personally experience.  If I feel like a good burn out, I don't get any wheel hop with them and I lay down a nice even stretch of rubber.      If I was serious about racing, then it might be another deal altogether. 

[torredcuda]

Not going on my Barracuda but possibly my `70 road runner as I am going for the Day Two look, it won`t be full on `70`s peace sign, Hi-Jackers etc. just a couple add ons such as slot wheels and maybe traction bars.  I would be doing it just for the look , I understand there are much better ways to achieve traction but every time traction bars are mentioned on a Mopar a lot of guys scream - "they don`t work, only for Chevys, it`ll break your rear end etc." I have never heard of anyone breaking a rear end or any other major issues with them so why are some guys so dead against them?

[HP2]

Ever the contrarian, I ran a set on my 340 4speed Duster and never hit any driveways, curbs, small children, etc. etc. and you could launch the car at 5000 rpm by walking off the clutch and the damn thing went straight with no wheel hop. As mentioned, going the full pinion snubber route will beat the bejeezus out of the floor pan if you're running the car hard. It is a 70's look, but then, so are hemis and you don't hear too much poo-pooing about those! your car, your call matey.   

As I said, the theory of operation is the same as a snubber and they will work if adjusted properly. Its just seemed most users of these just bolted them on without consideration of proper set up and this resulted in a number of bent main leafs. In all honesty, if your Mopar's springs are set up for drag launches, a snubber is ineffective because it will never contact the floor. The springs are doing all leverage and body separation for the traction action.

About 1980 I worked at a parts store in a shopping center with some reasonably large speed bumps, one of which was right outside our store. My Road Runner would would just barely drag the header collector flange over these bumps. Any car with 50 series tires usually did the same with the headers and traction bars. 60 series was hit or miss. 70 series didn't have any problems. I had 60s on my Plymouth.

Another item I witnessed with slapper bars was someone hitting the throttle hard while in reverse and the resulting axle twist shoved the slappers into the asphalt. It didn't break anything but did scuff up the bars and made for a short but spectacular spark show.

[70vert]

Traction bars were a low budget solution for a low budget vehicle.

Throughout the late 70's into the 90's I drag raced and street raced a 69 GTX and a 70 Challenger RT and never had a need for them. MOPAR build their performance cars right. For a lower price range / non performance car they would have helped and been cheaper than buying better springs & shocks. This is why they were popular and also why there is disdain for them by performance purists.

[Skid Row]

  That's why I have super stock springs and an adjustable pinion snubber.