Mallory Ignition 20188 User Manual

FACTORY
BRACKET

FORM 97140188 02/11

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

#20188

1964-77 GM (A-BODY)

COIL SPRING TRACTION BAR

Congratulations! You have just purchased one of the finest
sets of traction bars on the market today. Whether it be
strictly street or professional competition, Lakewood
Industries has the proven engineering it takes for all
racing applications.

NOTE:
For best overall performance we recommend removing
the factory stabilizer bar (if equipped) when installing
these traction bars. If stabilizer bar is retained, inner
corner of traction bar mounting bracket may need to be
filed to provide adequate clearance on some applications.
This will not weaken the traction bar in any way.

WORK SAFELY!
Installation of traction bars requires working underneath
vehicle and should only be performed one side at a time.
USE EXTREME CARE AND CAUTION WHEN WORKING
UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. Never get near or under vehicle
until you are confident that it is safely supported and will
not move or fall from its raised position. DO NOT USE A
BUMPER JACK.

1. Place vehicle on solid level surface such as a garage
floor to insure safe installation.

2. Place wheel blocks or wedges in front of and behind
both front wheels to prevent movement in either
direction.

NOTE: ONLY WORK ON ONE SIDE AT A TIME.

3. Carefully place floor jack under rear differential
housing. Be careful not to damage seal or
companion flange shield with jack.

Lift rear of car up with floor jack and place auto-motive

4.
approved support stands under frame in front of rear
wheels far enough forward so that traction bar installation
will not be interrupted and the wheels do not touch

the ground. Lower floor jack to set vehicle on support
stands.

5. When you are confident that vehicle is secure, raise
differential housing up approx. 1” with floor jack.
Remove rear trailing arm bolt (one side only). If bolt
binds while removing, raise or lower differential housing
with floor jack until bolt can be easily removed.

6. Determine correct bar (right or left) for side you are
working on (when mounted properly traction bar will
be parallel with frame and snubber will align directly
under frame).

7. Attach rubber snubber to front of traction bar as
shown using lock washer and nut (supplied). Tighten
securely.

8. Place traction bar in proper position as shown. Align
trailing arm bolt hole, rear end bracket bolt hole and
traction bar bolt hole. Install 1/2” or 12mm bolts with
self locking nut (supplied) and secure only finger
tight. Your car will either use the 12mm x 90 bolts or
use 1/2”-20 x 4-1/2” long bolts.

9. AT THIS TIME, REPEAT STEPS 5 THRU 8 TO

INSTALL OPPOSITE SIDE.

10. When installation of both traction bars is complete,
lower and remove floor jack to gain easy access to
factory axle rubber snubbers located at front top of
axle housing bracket near rear wheels.

NOTE:

11. Remove factory axle snubbers by prying out of
bracket.

12. Assemble adjustable link using one rod end and jam
nut on each end as shown.

NOTE: DO NOT ATTACH ADJUSTABLE LINK TO

PERFORM STEPS 11 AND 12, ONE SIDE
AT A TIME.

TRACTION BAR BRACKET AT THIS TIME.

LAKEWOOD www.lakewood-industries.com

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13.

Attach both link assemblies to the rod end brackets

as
shown. Carefully remove support stands and lower
vehicle to the ground. You will need car on its own
weight to adjust.

14. Swing traction bar up until air gap between snubber
and frame is approximately 1/8”, then adjust link
length by turning rod ends in or out until lower rod
end will align with bolt hole in welded bracket on
traction bar. Attach with 1/2-20 x 1-1/2” bolt and
self locking nut (supplied) and secure only finger
tight. (Repeat for opposite side).

NOTE: WE RECOMMEND AN 1/8” AIR GAP AS

A GOOD STARTING POINT. GAP CAN
BE ADJUSTED TO SUIT YOUR DRIVING
REQUIREMENTS (SEE TUNING TIPS).

TUNING TIPS

Your rear suspension can be fine tuned for street or
strip. For a good ride, the snubber air gap should be
increased. For a firm competition ride, the snubber air
gap can be decreased. If vehicle torque steers (pulls to
left or right) under acceleration (due to the traction bars),
the snubber air gap can be adjusted to eliminate this
problem.

NOTE: For best results on most vehicles, passenger side
snubber air gap should be less than the drivers side air gap.

After proper adjusting has been completed, your Lakewood
traction bars will be a definite advantage in all of your
acceleration contests.

16. With proper traction bar snubber clearance and
all bolts in place, raise vehicle, place on support
stands, and tighten ALL bolts and nuts securely.
Finally, re-insert the stock axle snubbers over axles
with lubricating oil on tabs for easy installation.

17. Remove support stands and lower vehicle to the
ground. This completes the installation.

It is usually not necessary to weld any of the factory
housing brackets or axle tubes, but it is strongly
recommended for added strength and dependability.

Be sure to keep this instruction sheet for future reference.
Replacement Snubbers are available for your traction bars

from your local Lakewood retailer.
CATALOG #20530 – Rubber Snubbers (2/set)
CATALOG #20730 – Urethane Snubbers (2/set)

For the ultimate in traction performance, use Lakewood
Drag Shocks. Whether its Professional Competition,
Street/Strip, Pro Street, Street Machine or a Muscle
Car, Lakewood has the shock you need. Lakewood
Drag Shocks will provide superior operation over any
other Drag Shock on the market today. See your local
Lakewood retailer for application and price information.

TECHNICAL SERVICE

A highly trained Technical Service Department is maintained by Lakewood Industries to answer your technical
questions, provide additional product information and offer various recommendations. See your local retailer of Lakewood
products for specific prices.

For best results, Technical Service calls, correspondence and warranty questions should be directed to the following
address:

Lakewood Industries Phone: [phone]
10601 Memphis Ave. #12 8:30 A.M. - 5:00 P.M. EST
Cleveland, OH 44144 www.lakewood-industries.com

LAKEWOOD IS A TRADEMARK OF PRESTOLITE PERFORMANCE
10601 MEMPHIS AVE. #12, CLEVELAND, OH 44144

216.688.8300 • WWW.LAKEWOOD-INDUSTRIES.COM

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www.lakewood-industries.com LAKEWOOD

FORM 97140188

02/11