I am wondering if I need a track bar installed on my daily driver Tacoma. I am wondering if the amount of axle wrap present is considered a lot for a daily driver. The truck is a 5 speed so I feel like I possibly have to transfer power more gently/slower than I would if I did have a track bar. If I don’t ease out on the clutch the truck takes off kind of clunky until the suspension is stable (I know it is a manual trans and all and you can’t just dump the clutch, 4/5 of the cars I have owned have been manuals). What I mean by clunky is that it kind of surges then slows on take off. I would like to limit my time riding the clutch and I am thinking a track bar may help get power to the ground sooner. I know it doesn't seem like very much time is required to get going but it adds up over time to increase wear on the clutch I think. Long question cut short...after seeing the video would you install a track bar? The most noticeable axle wrap occurs at 34 sec in the video link below. Thanks for any and all input.

 

Track bar or traction bar? Two different things. Track bar controls left to right movement, but being leaf spring rear, so long as bushings and mounting points are solid, that's not an issue. Traction bar helps prevent spring wrap, which is when you apply power via the drivetrain(engine, trans, etc...), the differential, by nature and via torque, wants to twist the diff. Which causes the leaf springs to twist since they are bolted to the twisting diff. Several manufacturers, Toyota included, went with spring under suspension to help remedy this. But spring over is much more susceptible to axle wrap, which is what you're seeing. You will notice alot of older muscle cars with ladder bars bolted to the diff tubes or slapper bars on the bottom of their spring packs. This helps stop spring wrap and allows them to apply power.

A traction bar would help, but it may be unnecessary. Depends on power, gears, tire size, uses(rock crawler, daily driver only?), etc. Are those OME springs? All-pro? They appear very soft, and I'm not sure Toyota did military wraps from factory. Anybody know?

Sorry for the long reply, I'm bored....

 

Thank you for helping me with my terminology. The leaf packs are All-Pros and they are incredibly soft. Would you bother with a traction bar after seeing the video?

 

No. It barely moved. The problem with axle wrap is the added stress on u joints. If it flexes far enough you will sieze your rear u joint and it will explode. You have a LOOOOONG way to go before that happens. At that amount you'll never have problems. It happens quite a bit when crawling off road and your tires start hopping...then you'll have lots of wrap and break stuff.

And your clutch will only wear itself greatly if it gets really hot. Being on the clutch for a second or two at every light will not cause excessive wear. Some people can get 300,000km out of a clutch, some can barely make it last a week.

 

Soft is good for off-roading. I don't think I would bother with a traction bar from what I saw. If you decide to get off road heavily, and add larger tires and lower gears, then maybe, but most traction bars will somewhat limit suspension travel. And there are some that hardly affect suspension travel. A little research here will help you determine which would be best suited for you, if you decide you need one. If you are on road 99percent of the time, and decide you just have to get one, the best ones in my experience are welded to diff tubes, and have a shackle at the front so that when the diff tries to rotate the traction bar will rotate up barely and pulls up against the shackle mechanism. When the suspension wants to flex down, as in rock crawling, the shackle will give the bar freedom to go down with the diff tube. I can't name a company that sells this type of traction bar, but maybe someone can post a link...

But like was stated, it doesn't appear that you need one yet.

 

bud built, 100% bolt on