What torque should the traction bar clamps be tightened to?

Tighten the front and rear clamps to 45-50 lbs. ft. of torque.

What snubber clearance gap does Lakewood recommend?

A 1/8" gap between the top of the snubber and the front spring eye is recommended as a starting point. For competition vehicles, eliminate the gap; for street/strip vehicles, use a 1/2" gap on the right side bar and a 3/8" gap on the left side bar for a better ride. Shims in the hardware kit adjust the gap.

Can I use the snubbers to level my truck?

No. The instructions say not to attempt to level the vehicle with the snubbers, as this will cause radical preloading and torque steer problems.

What angle should the snubber end of the traction bar be at when installed?

With the vehicle on a level surface, the snubber end must angle up or be parallel with the chassis; the vehicle should never be operated with the snubber end angled down.

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Lakewood Traction Bars #21715 Installation Instructions - Ford F-150 & Chevy/GMC

Lakewood Industries 21715 traction bars installation instructions, 1986-2000 F-150 and 1973-87 Chevy/GMC

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Lakewood Industries #21715 traction-bar installation instruction sheet, page 1: fits 1986-2000 Ford F-150 and 1973-87 Chevy/GMC 1/2-ton 2WD pickups, covers vehicle prep and bracket/clamp mounting with 1/8 inch snubber gap.

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This document is page one of the official installation instructions for Lakewood Traction Bars part #21715, made by Lakewood Industries (a Mr. Gasket Performance Group Company, ©2001). The kit fits 1986-2000 Ford F-150 pickup trucks and 1973-1987 Chevy/GMC 1/2-ton 2WD pickup trucks. The sheet begins with safety warnings about working under a raised vehicle and prohibits use of a bumper jack. Preparation steps cover leveling the vehicle, blocking the front wheels, and supporting the rear axle housing on jack stands (not under the springs). The nine-step installation procedure covers attaching the snubber to the traction bar with the supplied Ny-lok nut, positioning the bar under the leaf spring with mounting clamp plates on top of the spring, adjusting for clearance around U-bolts, brake lines, and shock mounts, setting a recommended 1/8" snubber-to-spring-eye gap using included shims, and torquing front and rear clamps to 45-50 lb-ft. Final adjustment guidance recommends zero gap for competition vehicles and a 1/2" right / 3/8" left gap for street/strip use. Notes warn that the snubber end must angle up or be parallel with the chassis and that snubbers must not be used to level the vehicle, which causes preloading and torque steer.

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Frequently asked questions

What vehicles do Lakewood #21715 traction bars fit?: The instructions state they fit 1986-2000 Ford F-150 pickup trucks and 1973-1987 Chevy/GMC 1/2 ton pickup trucks with 2 wheel drive.
What torque should the traction bar clamps be tightened to?: Tighten the front and rear clamps to 45-50 lbs. ft. of torque.
What snubber clearance gap does Lakewood recommend?: A 1/8" gap between the top of the snubber and the front spring eye is recommended as a starting point. For competition vehicles, eliminate the gap; for street/strip vehicles, use a 1/2" gap on the right side bar and a 3/8" gap on the left side bar for a better ride. Shims in the hardware kit adjust the gap.
Can I use the snubbers to level my truck?: No. The instructions say not to attempt to level the vehicle with the snubbers, as this will cause radical preloading and torque steer problems.
What angle should the snubber end of the traction bar be at when installed?: With the vehicle on a level surface, the snubber end must angle up or be parallel with the chassis; the vehicle should never be operated with the snubber end angled down.