[foyota281]

i have an 85 toyota pickup with 4.6l V8 and an 8.8 rear but i kept the stock leafs in it and i need to get them out and was thinking about running ladder bars but i want a nice ride for i like driving this alot any suggestions???

[stea]

I run ladder bars on my 39 with coil over shocks. It works for me. If you get the right spring on your coilovers the ride is just fine.

A triangulated 4 bar set up would articulate better but Im happy with my set up.


http://hotrodders.com/gallery/showph...cat/500/page/3

[willys36@aol.com]

You can run ladders successfully w/ leaf springs. Just need to articulate the front mount some way. I show two ways that has worked for me in the past in my Project Journal.

[farna]

You just need a link type traction bar with the leafs to keep the spring from winding up. Lots cheaper/easier than installing ladder bars, and won't affect ride as much. You could use slapper bars if budget is a major concern, but a 4x4 type traction bar isn't much more or much harder to install.

On a smooth road ladder bars will ride as good as any other suspension. Even a straight front axle rides and handles good on smooth pavement. When the going gets rough so does the ride though, since one wheel can't move far without affecting the other. All live rear axles are that way to a degree, but ladder bars will restrict movement more and decrease ride comfort ON ROUGH ROADS. The longer the bars the better -- no less than 30". Shorter will ride rougher.

[xntrik]

Parallel ladder bars completely bind the rear suspension action, regardless of spring type. The car has zero roll ability except for bending the rear axle housing. nuf said.

One ladder bar at the center stops spring wind up, but allows roll. Like the camaro torque bar suspension.

[willys36@aol.com]

The anti-roll feature is actually a benefit on pre-war leaf spring suspensions. Keeps those top-heavy cars from tipping over like they want to do. Sort of like a free sway bar. And you can't beat the looks. Mine work fine, not after jet smooth ride anyway.