Caltracs before and after on supercharged 5.7

Finally got to install my Caltracs and get some before and after videos put togther!

https://youtu.be/lCs12UCHqDI

Let me know what you think.

I am SUPER happy with the results so far.

Drivability on the street has no negative impact at all. I actually feel less roll and more planted when cornering. No noises or unwanted sounds/feels as of yet either.

Truck suspension details:
2016 5.7 Supercharged Tundra 4x4
Lowered 2.5/4.5 with SOS flip kit
Caltracs "lowered/flip" bars. (they make one for the flipped and one for OEM setup)
SOS airbag kit
TRD rear sway bar


(pic of the truck before install.. but CLEAN)

 

Dang, those definitely seemed to help out with the axle wrap quite a bit!
How difficult was the install?

 

Not bad. I did them in about 2 hours taking my time.

To be honest though I've taken my u bolts and springs off about 3 times now so I'm learning the little tricks lol.

I'd say it's a "plan a weekend day" kind of thing, to be safe.

That's without going through the trouble of removing the OEM bushings. I don't have a press or anything that resembles the right tools to do that, so I just kept the OEM because I'd seen a few others say that worked well for them.

 

Seems like they work well

 

YES!!!

my brother in traction.

Thank you for doing the video.

I've had mine for some time & love them. Caltracs has awesome customer service.

Zero wheel hop.



However...the install was not as pleasant. 6 hours - because of learning curve. BUT, it taught my college son a shit-ton of life skills.


and re-torque all that crap a few weeks later. trust me.

 

you can keep the OEM bushings ....I have a rattle because I forced the aluminum ones in ....the orig bushings are fine as long as you are not bracket racing.

I had one of those Yayo presses so I tackled the bushings....never again.

 

Any special technique to use the OEM bushings ? I talked to Cody at Caltrac and he said you can't use them and impossible due to bracket thickness of caltracs.

 

Great video Fireman and badass truck, definitely has that "Dont mess with me I bite" look going on.

 

no idea.

I used the Caltracs bushings.

but....dimensionally they look the same...it's just that the urethane is slightly squishy. the all aluminum Caltracs bushings are a solid slug of metal...no squishy

in hindsight...I can't see why the bushing would make a diff on our trucks. other than that little bit of squishy allows a tad of travel when under load. or maybe the urethane gets stressed. not my problem tho. I followed the directions.

however i have a slight rattle because I FORCED one of the bushings in. God's little reminder to be patient.

I just pack it with grease every blue moon...


and ...I painted mine red...because well...it looks good.


I was influenced by the @ViktorG install. I loved the old school look of traction bars.



and if the entrance to your place of business has a bumpy (slightly lunar) surface....you will clatter a tad. I've about gotten rid of it by putting another 1/4 twist on the tension.

 

Would these in theory also improve the throttle response/feeling when you jump on it since you’re not wasting energy compressing and wrapping the springs? These are on my to do list.

 

yes. I describe it as being less "lifty" when you hit the go pedal. I have not patented that term.


and...if it saves you from having to replace the damn u joint...you are one less stress point from harmony.

and you get a sticker.

 

The Caltrac brackets are more narrow than the OEM metal center bushing sleeve... So yes, technically they don't slide over assembled.

However.... Loosen the big nut on the bracket a few turns, pop off one of the small rings that hold the other side, and now there's plenty of room to open the bracket and slide the OEM metal center into the hole, then slide the bracket back together and pop the other side onto the hole... Put the snap ring back on and retighten the gigantic nut/bolt.

Once you get it on the actual spring it slides up into the mount just like OEM. I had no issues fitting the bracket plates in there after the OEM bushing was in the bracket.

 

Let's see em!

Ps.... Love the comment on teaching the kid those invaluable lessons! Awesome!

 

post #3

https://www.tundras.com/threads/caltracs-rear-suspension-question.87655/#post-2312398

 

Nice!

 

Man, I want a pair, but I want to see Caltrac vs SDHQ version.

 

I like how the sdhq set attaches. it does not allow any movement. My calctracs only stop axle movement when under acceleration. The sdhq's lock the axle in place

very nice. no chance of rattle.

 

Does the caltrac rattle? Almost $1000 difference between the two.

 

Might wanna check out BDS too, that's what I'm using and they are solid AF.

 

No rattle here. I think if you do it's because they don't have enough tension.

 

this right here.

once you get the tension right. no noise at all.

directions said 1/4 turn past snug. 1/2 turn past snug is my happy place.

I'll add that if you hit a sharp transient pothole, you could get a single slap clatter. this is because the axle is moving in the opposite direction of when you accelerate.

I only know this because the entrance to our warehouse complex is SHITTY. it qualifies as light off roading. and I may clatter if I don't navigate the ruts appropriately.

on the road....never a sound.

the SDHQ and others lock the axle in both directions.
knowing what I know now...I would have gotten the SDHQ's.....but I am NEVER touching those leaf springs again.

adding again...another thanks to @4firemandan for posting the vid. it validates the reason we need traction bars.

 

Efffff those leaf springs! Hahaha
I first pulled them for the flip kit... Then mostly pulled the u bolts to adjust the truck height..
Then snapped a freaking unbolt the was seized/stretched (over tightened originally)

I may or may not have been driving around on 7 good nuts and one welded to a very short u bolt leg.

So I had to get new ones which I said damnit if I'm going this again I'm putting traction bars in at the same time so I never need to touch this again! Haha

On the note of the sdhq and others that lock it out... I think there's no denying that they'd hold a little more, but I was concerned that the with my daily driver it could be a little too much. Plus they were way more money.

Curious to hear from anyone with those on their experience. I really like that we have OPTIONS!

 

I have the BDS. Been on for 'bout a year. Can't say anything bad, but the payload police on here would be crying about losing about 100 lbs or so. I will say mounting would be easier if one were to weld a wire to the nuts for the frame rail beside the gas tank because they will test your patience a bit.

 

Figured this is a good place to ask, would Roadmaster Active suspension do anything for axle wrap as compared to traction bars? Looks to have similar connection points although It Inherently moves where traction bars are more solid.

 

It will help, I have both, but for different reasons.

 

This is the current stance at the second from top shackle hole (2nd from the lowest) on the rear and the 2.5 front.

 

Does anyone have an opinion regarding the Caltracs vs the SDHQ traction bars?