tractions bars...

[65notch]

hey guys, i bought some traction master traction bars from american pony parts a while back and they wouldnt fit onto the u bolts. they spacing was incorrect. so APP had me send them back and they compared them to what they have in stock and they match up. and they said " they should fit" but they obviously dont, as you can see in the pic i attached. i also had a forum a while back asking for specs of peoples u bolt spacings and compared them to mine. they match up. so i dont think its my car thats out of wack.

anybody that has any info and any problems like this, i would appreciate the help and what to do. thanks guys.

 

[brianj5600]

Looks like a po put a rear with 3" axle tubes. What rear end is in it? What is the width, wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface? You need spring plates for a 67 up.

 

[65notch]

Looks like a po put a rear with 3" axle tubes. What rear end is in it? What is the width, wheel mounting surface to wheel mounting surface? You need spring plates for a 67 up.

its the stock rear end. i just did a gear swap in it. 65 8" drop out. im not sure of the width. i could measure if needbe. i put new springs which were for 65-66 only, and the ubolts or for 65-66 only. the size of them match up to the specs everybody else told me too. i could also check in diff tag if sombody knows a site that translates it.

 

[4MuscleMachines]

measure the diameter of the axle tubes, it looks like you have 3" tubes when oem 65 Stangs have the tapered smaller diameter tubes.

 

[dodgestang]

measure the diameter of the axle tubes, it looks like you have 3" tubes when oem 65 Stangs have the tapered smaller diameter tubes.

Sure looks like the stock unslotted OEM spring/shock mount plate for a 65/6 mustang to me.

If it makes you feel any better....FWIW I bought a set of traction masters from American Pony and had the same problem but I did have a 3 inch tube rear, and I was running 67 spring/shock plates (this is on my 65). But IMO its the cheap arse china production. We dug an old set out of box in the garage (old as in from 1970 old) and the mount plates where quite different. I swapped in the old mount plate and bolted it up. You can weld a plate on the bottom of what you have and drill holes in the appropriate place.

 

[65notch]

measure the diameter of the axle tubes, it looks like you have 3" tubes when oem 65 Stangs have the tapered smaller diameter tubes.

they are tapered.

does anyone have this style of traction bar that can measure the width of the mounting bracket for me? i havnt compared that yet

 

[BigDaddyCee]

I just redid my rear suspension and added shelby style weld-on traction bars that have a similar mounting plate that bolts on under the spring plate like you show. The traction bar mounting plate measures approximately 5 inches from side to side and 4 inches from front to back and it fits nicely inside the spring plate and the U-bolts fit fine through both the spring plate and the mounting plate for the traction bar. I have a 8 in. rear that tapers toward the brake backing plates. My traction bars were purchased from Canadian Mustang (same as American Pony). Btw I have a 65 289 coupe. My springs are new 5 leaf and are 2.5 inches wide. Hope this helps.

 

[66Runt]

Jack the car up and place stands under the frame

then remove the Ubolts on one side and match up the holes between the spring mount plate and the traction bar plate. If your U bolts are not perfectly straight. Or if they are overtightened they will deflect the ends of the bolts far enough to not allow the plate to fit.
In the picture it looks as if the rear right nut is over tightened causing a deflection in the spring mount plate. Or it could be my tired eyes.

Scott

 

[65notch]

I just redid my rear suspension and added shelby style weld-on traction bars that have a similar mounting plate that bolts on under the spring plate like you show. The traction bar mounting plate measures approximately 5 inches from side to side and 4 inches from front to back and it fits nicely inside the spring plate and the U-bolts fit fine through both the spring plate and the mounting plate for the traction bar. I have a 8 in. rear that tapers toward the brake backing plates. My traction bars were purchased from Canadian Mustang (same as American Pony). Btw I have a 65 289 coupe. My springs are new 5 leaf and are 2.5 inches wide. Hope this helps.

i just measured everything... my axle. plates. springs ect match up to your specs, which would tell me i have a stock 8 inch right? my axle is 3" tapering to about 2 1/4" where the mounting flange is.

now for the traction bar brackets....i got a measurment of about 4 1/4 width by 3 3/4 front to back. which would but the incorrect ones i do believe.

does anybody know anyone high up in ranking at American Pony Parts? i think i need to give them another call. thanks

 

[Steve69]

I bought the the subframe connectors and
traction bars from american. I welded the
fram connectors in and I welded the
front of the traction bar to the bottom of
the subrame connectors.

Steve

 

[BigDaddyCee]

More Measurements

The measurement you have highlighted in green for the outside bolt to bolt that is 4 inches approx. I get the same measurment on my car. Also I measured the tapered part of the axle and I agree again. I get 2-1/4" - 2-3/8". Maybe your traction bar mounting plate is too small? Also note when you torque down the U-bolts it tends to spread/crush/bend the spring plate and spread the bolts apart. Could this be part of the problem. What would happen if you loosened the U-bolts would they relax and then you could get the mounting plate on? My springs/U-bolts and traction bars were all put on at the same time when they were new. But I definately noticed some flex/bending when I tightened everything down. I would tighten them down in an even criss/cross pattern similar to how you would do a 4 bolt tire.

 

[65notch]

The measurement you have highlighted in green for the outside bolt to bolt that is 4 inches approx. I get the same measurment on my car. Also I measured the tapered part of the axle and I agree again. I get 2-1/4" - 2-3/8". Maybe your traction bar mounting plate is too small? Also note when you torque down the U-bolts it tends to spread/crush/bend the spring plate and spread the bolts apart. Could this be part of the problem. What would happen if you loosened the U-bolts would they relax and then you could get the mounting plate on? My springs/U-bolts and traction bars were all put on at the same time when they were new. But I definately noticed some flex/bending when I tightened everything down. I would tighten them down in an even criss/cross pattern similar to how you would do a 4 bolt tire.

i did notice when i put the leaf springs on that the ubolts to flex out a little. but they are so far out there that it would be obvious.

 

[BigDaddyCee]

O.K. I went out and took a couple more measurements. It is from center to center on the side to side bolts. The distance is 3-3/4 " inches. The center to center measurement on the bolts for the front to back ones is 2-3/4" inches. If you can measure the holes center to center on the traction bar mounting plate you should get the same, if not then I say send them back. Good luck!