fbekholden.com

For the meth monster project, I had grandiose plans to buy a set of Lakewood traction bars. After being stuffed around by a moderate-sized go-fast parts company, they finally realised that they did not have the part in stock, and would need to order from the US. A quick call around to a few of the other usual suspects makes me realise that everyone advertises them but no-one holds stock. The idea of waiting for their next order (... quite a few months) does not fill me with joy.

Time to bite the bullet, and build my own pair of traction bars. I'll share a dimensioned drawing back on the meth monster thread once I'm done.

I've got the steel tubing, square u-bolts and snubber sorted out. I'm a bit hesitant though in that it will involve welding the traction bar on to the "rear spring and shock absorber mounting plate" on each side. These are the squarish plates that the diff u-bolts pass through. It would be just my luck to weld the traction bar on, only for the engineer to change his mind and not like the idea. I thought I had a spare set of plates, but clearly I have stored them in a "safe place"... lots of hunting and no finding.

Does anyone have a spare set of "rear spring and shock absorber mounting plates", similar to the below photo, that they are willing to sell please? There's a beautiful fresh-painted set in Willunga, but not sure I am fast enough to knock those off without being chased out of town with pitchforks and torches

All FB/EK plates are the same (7412449 for LH, 7412450 for RH), though they are different to FE/FC etc.


Cheers,
Harv

Hands off!

I should have spares but can’t find where I’ve stashed them. Can’t find even the ones for the van, sorry.


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

I recall the bars bolting under the spring plate using the U-bolt ends.


FB ute fixer upper, EK van on rotisserie

The "universal" traction bars bolt under the factory plates, and use square u-bolts to clamp to the spring fore and aft:


This is what I was going to buy. Simple, but a little less tidy than the bespoke ones that Lakewood make for different cars. The bespoke ones replace the factory plates, but retain the mounting rubbers:


The bespoke ones have "ears" that allow you to bolt up the shock absorbers. It's a bespoke one that I'll make. I like the bespoke ones better, as they sit closer to the axle... measurements show I am going to be pushing the limits of the 100mm ground clearance requirement, so losing the factory plates will help.

Depending how it all ends up (including the angle the bar will get adjusted to so the snubber is preloaded), I'm hoping to have enough clearance to add the triangular "lump" underneath, and hence make up some saddle clamps and j-bolts (a little overkill, but cool nonetheless).

Cheers,
Harv

Much tidier I agree

FB ute driver, EK van project

I think I've got some spare Harv, I will look tomorrow morning.

Greg

Let me guess - Rocket ?????????

EK283 wrote: Sun Mar 28, 2021 8:25 pmI think I've got some spare Harv, I will look tomorrow morning.

Thanks Greg.

Blacky wrote: Sun Mar 28, 2021 9:19 pmLet me guess - Rocket ?????????

Normally yes, but not this time. VPW and EMA. Won't mention the mob that stuffed me around for weeks after I placed the order... medium sized trader who won't remain in business long if they operate that way

Cheers,
Harv

This has to be some sort of joke !!!

I looked everywhere, they are not where I thought they were, and actually they may have been the ones on my car.

I remember drilling them for the bigger u bolts but I swear I had 2 sets, I will keep looking.

Sorry Greg

You mean these?

Sent from my SM-G975F using Tapatalk

They are on there way to you now Harv.

Many thanks Brett - appreciated.

Thanks too Greg and Clay for looking. Suspect mine and your plates are all hiding in the same pub

Cheers,
Harv