What is the torque spec for the traction bar clamps?

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

What snubber clearance gap does Lakewood recommend?

A 1/8" clearance 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.

How do I adjust the snubber gap on Lakewood traction bars?

Use the shims included in the hardware kit: add shims under the spring at the rear mounting bracket to decrease the gap, or under the spring at the front mounting bracket to increase the gap.

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

When properly 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, and the snubbers should not be used to level the vehicle.

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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 (duplicate of 845672), page 1: fits 1986-2000 Ford F-150 and 1973-87 Chevy/GMC 1/2-ton 2WD pickups, with prep and bracket mounting steps.

AI caption January 2011 · Photo 66 of 67

This document is the manufacturer's installation instruction sheet for Lakewood Traction Bars, part #21715, published by Lakewood Industries (a Mr. Gasket Performance Group Company), copyright 2001. The kit fits 1986-2000 Ford F-150 pickup trucks and 1973-1987 Chevy/GMC 1/2-ton 2-wheel-drive pickup trucks. The sheet opens with safety warnings about working under a supported vehicle (never use a bumper jack), then details preparation steps: leveling the vehicle, blocking the front wheels, and supporting the rear axle on jack stands without letting the axle hang. The nine-step installation procedure covers attaching the snubber with the supplied Ny-lok nut, positioning the traction bar with the rear mount bracket behind the axle and the snubber under the front spring eye, clamping the bar to the leaf spring, setting a recommended 1/8" snubber-to-spring-eye clearance gap using included shims, and torquing the front and rear clamps to 45-50 lb-ft. Final adjustment guidance recommends zero gap for competition vehicles and a 1/2" right-side / 3/8" left-side gap for street/strip use. Notes warn that the snubber end must angle up or be parallel to the chassis and that the snubbers must not be used to level the vehicle. A "Recommended Adjustments" section begins at the bottom and appears to continue on another page.

This document covers 1986-2000 (Ford F-150), 1973-1987 (Chevy, which may differ from this 1979 Ford Bronco.

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Frequently asked questions

What vehicles do Lakewood #21715 traction bars fit?: According to the instruction sheet, they fit 1986-2000 Ford F-150 pickup trucks and 1973-1987 Chevy/GMC 1/2-ton pickup trucks with 2-wheel drive.
What is the torque spec for the traction bar clamps?: Tighten the front and rear clamps to 45-50 lbs. ft. of torque.
What snubber clearance gap does Lakewood recommend?: A 1/8" clearance 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.
How do I adjust the snubber gap on Lakewood traction bars?: Use the shims included in the hardware kit: add shims under the spring at the rear mounting bracket to decrease the gap, or under the spring at the front mounting bracket to increase the gap.
What angle should the snubber end of the traction bar be at?: When properly 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, and the snubbers should not be used to level the vehicle.