The Lakewood 21312 and 21313 traction bars are designed for installation on 1964-1972 GM A-Bodies and 1978-1987 GM G-Bodies. Installation requires securing the lift bars to the vehicle’s frame and lower control arms using supplied hardware. The documentation emphasizes safety precautions and proper preparation of mounting surfaces. This article details the installation instructions based on the provided documentation.
Safety Precautions and Vehicle Preparation
Prior to commencing installation, the documentation stresses the importance of safety. The vehicle should be placed on a clean, level surface, and the engine must be turned off. Wheel blocks should be positioned both in front of and behind all four wheels to prevent any movement during the installation process.
To further ensure safety, the rear of the vehicle must be raised and supported by approved automotive support stands. These stands should be positioned approximately 6 inches inside each control arm, ensuring adequate load capacity. It is crucial to confirm the vehicle is securely supported before proceeding.
Preparation of the mounting surfaces is also critical. All undercoating and rust must be removed from the inside of the frame and the rear end lift bar mounting areas using a paint scraper. This ensures a clean, solid surface for proper hardware attachment.
Front Lift Bar Installation
The installation process begins with preparing the lift bars themselves. Grease fittings are to be driven into the 1/4-inch holes located at both the front and rear of each bar. This is accomplished using a 1/4-inch deep well socket and a small hammer. A small amount of bearing grease should be applied to the ball end of each grease fitting to temporarily secure it to the socket during installation. Each fitting is then individually driven into its respective hole.
Following the installation of the grease fittings, the ends of the front bar bushings should be greased. Nylon washers are then aligned over the steel inner bushing; the grease will temporarily hold the washers in place. The inside of the front frame lift bar mounting brackets should also be greased.
Each lift bar is then positioned into the front frame brackets, aligning the bolt holes. The correct bolts, supplied with the kit, are inserted from the inside of the frame. Self-locking nuts are then attached through the outer frame holes using a socket and extension.
Rear Lift Bar Installation
The rear lift bar mounting plates are attached using the supplied hardware at the stock GM lower control arm bolt holes. Proper bolts are placed through these holes and secured with lock washers and hex nuts. The documentation notes that thread locking liquid can be used if desired, but does not mandate its use. It is important to note that fasteners should not be fully tightened at this stage.
The ends of the rear bar bushings are greased, and nylon washers are placed over the steel bushings. The documentation does not specify a method for temporarily holding the washers in place, as was described for the front bushings.
Hardware and Component Details
The Lakewood 21312 traction bar kit includes specific hardware for installation. The documentation references the use of bolts, self-locking nuts, lock washers, and hex nuts. The documentation also mentions a small bushing used exclusively with the 21312 model. The documentation indicates that bolts are used in locations where welding is not performed.
GM A-Body and G-Body Compatibility
The Lakewood 21312/21313 traction bars are specifically designed for compatibility with GM vehicles. The 21312 model is compatible with 1964-1972 GM A-Bodies, while the 21313 model, and the 21312, are compatible with 1978-1987 GM G-Bodies. The documentation provides a visual diagram indicating bolt locations for GM A-Body installations.
Final Tightening and Inspection
The documentation does not provide specific torque specifications for the fasteners. It simply instructs users to attach the hardware as shown in the provided diagrams and to avoid fully tightening the fasteners until all components are properly aligned. A final inspection should be conducted to ensure all hardware is securely fastened and that the traction bars are correctly positioned.
The provided source material is insufficient to produce a 2000-word article. Below is a factual summary based on available data.
Conclusion
The Lakewood 21312/21313 traction bar installation requires careful attention to safety precautions and proper preparation. The process involves installing grease fittings, aligning bushings and washers, and securing the lift bars to the vehicle’s frame and lower control arms with supplied hardware. The documentation emphasizes the importance of clean mounting surfaces and secure fastener attachment. These traction bars are designed for specific GM A-Body and G-Body models, as indicated by the part numbers.