Mallory Ignition 20189 User Manual

TRACTION BARS

Fits 78-87 GM Intermediate Vehicles (A/G-Body)

Malibu, Monte Carlo, Grand Prix, Regal, Grand National, Cutlass

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

#20189

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.

4. Lift rear of car up with floor jack and place auto­motive 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 G.M. axle snubbers located at front top of
housing bracket near rear wheels.

NOTE:

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

11. Remove factory axle snubber by prying out of
bracket. Attach rod end bracket in original snubber
location as shown using 7/16" bolts, lock washers
and support plates (supplied) and tighten securely.

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

13. Attach link assembly to rear end housing rod end
brackets (previously installed) using supplied spacers
on both sides of rod end. Secure with 1/2-20 x
2-3/4" bolt and self locking nut (supplied).

NOTE: DO NOT

ATTACH ADJUSTABLE LINK TO

TRACTION BAR BRACKET AT THIS TIME.

14. After both link assemblies are attached to the rod end
brackets on the rear end housing, carefully remove
support stands and lower vehicle to the ground. You
will need car on its own weight to adjust snubbers.

15. 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).

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.

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.

FORM 97140189 09/04

1

LAKEWOOD INDUSTRIES

LAKEWOOD IS A DIVISION OF THE MR. GASKET PERFORMANCE GROUP
10601 MEMPHIS AVE. #12, CLEVELAND, OH 44144 • 216.688.8300 • www.mrgasket.com

FORM 97140189

09/04

Made in U.S.A.

Printed in U.S.A.

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.

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 #20538 – 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.

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 beat 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.mrgasket.com

TUNING TIPS

TECHNICAL SERVICE