do I need floating leafs with 3 or 4 link

[blazer2007]

I was wondering if I need to have the leaf springs on a floating u-bolt setup with a 3 or 4 link traction bar setup.I used to have one looooooong time ago on a camero on the track but is this setup still used,and the truck I,m going to use is mostly street,still need to hook up thou

[Super73]

I'm not too sure I under stand what you mean here.. A lot of guys are running Caltrak Bars with Leafs. From what I understand on your set up you are:

Wanting it low
Wanting air bags to raise it and lower it
Want optimal traction

IMO from a tunability stand point go to the junk yard and find yourself a 1960-1972 pick up. Pull the trailing arm set up out of it. Cross member, arms, rear, panhard bar, springs and get it in your truck. Or buy a 4-link or ladder bar set up.

Trying to use a very soft leaf with air bags for ride height control may impact hooking the truck. The air bag is going to want to keep the truck at a specific ride height you have it set to and is not going to allow the rear suspension to either seperate or squat properley for drag racing.

This brings me to ask what are you planing for the front?

It's not easy to have some things that will hook hard yet have all the cool features. There are comprimises.

[ripdog28]

Leaf springs and a 3-4 link is odd. I have never seen that set up. 3-4 link= coils/coilovers. Leaf springs are your point of load from the axle to the frame. 3-4 link is your point of load from the axle to the frame. I am confused as to why you would not just do one or the other.

[blazer2007]

I already have bags in the frontof the truck.the rear end setup I had in my camero was the rearend was free floating on the leafs,it could spin or slide forwards and back and the 3 link kept the rear in place,I guess back then it would have been a poormans coil over

[71Dragtruck]

I know what your talking about, lot's of Mopar guys ran ladder bar setups with floating rears in thier leaf spring cars. So ya no reason you cant do the same, and yes if you don't float the rear end it will bind on you.

[Super73]

I see.. So the leaf is used instead of the coil. Makes sens. I could see a bind issue if it wasn't free floating of the leafs.

But at that point, why not go coil over and mount your bag directly on the the axle behind the bag? You could fab up a quick piece to do both and weld it to the axle. A pad for the bag on top and a eyelet for the coil overs behind it.