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Ladder bars?

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Old Jun 25, 2015 | 08:13 AM
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Default Ladder bars?

So my buddy picked up a fourth gen and his rear end is way different than mine. I noticed when he drove off you could see two bars attached to the rear end, they werent the lower control arms, they were positioned more toward the middle. I was wondering if these were ladder bars or what and what would be the advantage to this type of rear end vs one with a torque arm?
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Old Jun 25, 2015 | 08:56 AM
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Some old-school guys are still in the mentality that you can't get stock suspension to work. There is enough aftermarket bolt-on equipment available now to make them pretty much obsolete. Ladder bars induce a LOT of anti-squat into the car, but you have no adjustment on it or controlling your instant center point. Also they cause dramatic pinion angle change throughout the range of travel of the suspension
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Old Jun 25, 2015 | 09:33 AM
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^^^agree ! I'm old school back to the muscle cars of the 60s'. Ladder bars are great for launch traction,but every other aspect is a NEGATIVE. No normal movement for street driving,no maintaining of proper driveline angles.
I modified my LCA relos with extensions while still maintaining the torque arm for proper alignment. Launch traction was GREAT,no effect on normal driving and comfort.
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Old Jun 25, 2015 | 09:34 AM
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Can't believe someone would still do that, but......
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Old Jun 27, 2015 | 08:14 AM
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I thought ladder bars were for vehicles with rear "leaf" suspensions.
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Old Jun 27, 2015 | 09:09 AM
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Originally Posted by SteveC
I thought ladder bars were for vehicles with rear "leaf" suspensions.
Old guy #2 checking in. Leaf sprung cars used traction bars with the rubber bumper that met the spring eye. Coil sprung cars like the '70 Chevelle used ladder bars.
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