A ladder bar is a suspension component that prevents wheel hop on vehicles with coil springs. It can be used in drag racing and off-road applications, and the length and position of the bar control the vehicle’s instantaneous center point. The bar is constructed with two long bars and several smaller bars running between them, attached to the suspension using heim joints and grade eight bolts.
A ladder bar is a suspension component used to prevent wheel hop on vehicles equipped with coil springs. The ladder bar attaches to the rear end on the spring hanger and is connected to the frame in front of the rear tires. When the throttle is pushed suddenly and the tires start to get traction, the bar prevents the rear end from rolling and allows the rear tires to jump off the pavement. Wheel hop can seriously damage a vehicle’s rear end, axles, body and chassis if allowed to go unabated.
A ladder bar suspension can also be used on drag racing vehicles. This system uses a ladder bar that is attached to the rear and mounted to a cross member, typically at the rear of the driver’s seat. This type of suspension is usually used with a coil-over shock package mounted behind the rear axle. Prevents wheel hop by preventing the rear end from spinning under full throttle conditions. It also helps with braking by preventing the rear end from rolling under severe braking conditions as well.
In an off road application, such as a four wheel drive vehicle, a ladder bar is used to assist in traction. By preventing the rear end, and in this application, the front axle, from turning, the vehicle becomes safer in poor traction conditions. Again, this is also a method of improving the braking system by eliminating the lean that a wrapped axle provides.
The length and position of the bar control the instantaneous center point of the vehicle. Instant center is an imaginary line that runs from the rear axle to the center of the frame, where the upper and lower control arms intersect. Moving this point closer to the center of the vehicle aids traction by putting more downward pressure on the tires. Conversely, shortening this point will reduce traction. In a race car or off-road vehicle, this is very critical to how the suspension reacts under power.
The stair rail gets its name from the construction method used to create it. It consists of two long bars with several smaller bars running between them, like steps on a ladder. Typically in the shape of a modified arrow, the bars are wide at the rear and meet at the front. They are attached to the suspension using heim joints and grade eight bolts.
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