'62 Bel Air traction bars 1/25

[fiatboy]

The Bel Air had coil-springs in the back.  Did it ever use traction bars, maybe ladder bars?  Thanks

[NOBLNG]

I would imagine they would have to be ladder bars.
https://www.speedwaymotors.com/shop/1962-chevy-impala-suspension-ladder-bars~65790-1962-47-451-1-949-16-488-14557

https://www.impalas.net/threads/ladder-bars-for-64-impala-ss.5690/

https://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/20536/

Edited May 25, 2023 by NOBLNG

[Shark]

If you look up some pictures of Larry Wilson's 1963 Z11 Impala race cars it had some long homemade bars from square tubing. Sox and Martin prepped this car for him.

[Ace-Garageguy]

It really helps to understand the functions of things, and "traction bars" and "ladder bars" do entirely different things. 

There's tons of misinfo and misunderstanding out there.

"Traction bars" (whether they're the original "Traction Master" style or the "slapper bar" style) are intended to limit leaf-spring "wrap up" under hard acceleration, by preventing the axle from rotating around its own center, relative to the car. 

The stock trailing arms on the '62 Bel Air do essentially the same thing, being welded to the axle housing, and pivoted forward on a line that would be about where leaf spring eyes would be. But as they're mounted at an angle to each other laterally, they also keep the axle from moving side to side relative to the car. They're kinda half a 4-link setup. Sorta.

"Ladder bars" also prevent the rear axle from rotating around its own center on acceleration, but because the forward ends are much farther forward, they take the rotational force from the axle and turn it into a lifting force where they mount, raising the front of the car to aid in rearward weight transfer (all of this is somewhat oversimplified, but it's correct in concept).

"Ladder bars" on a coil-spring car would probably replace the stock trailing arms (odd binding of everything, rough ride, and parts breaking occurs if they're not designed right and used in conjunction with stock trailing arms).

Because long ladder bars are usually parallel to each other, something more would be required to control rear axle sideways motion, like a Panhard bar or Watts linkage.

 

Edited May 26, 2023 by Ace-Garageguy
CLARITY

[fiatboy]

Well thanks everybody.  I sure got an education.