Plastic backers vs Aluminum vs Steel

[KnappAttack]

Plastic will flex not bend. Plastic will NOT hook as well due to the flexing. We tried them drag racing and I will never go back to them, even on a trail sled. I suppose it is better than not studding though. Mike Knapp#17

 

[Mighty]

Plastic will flex not bend. Plastic will NOT hook as well due to the flexing.

I can vouch for this. I had a 97 MachZ that had the track replaced under warranty. Both tracks were identacle except for the backers used. I had 240 studs with Aluminum backers on the first track and 240 studs with Plastic on the replacement. I used the same brand studs and the same stud pattern, only difference was the backers. Hook up was horrible with the plastic. If I wouldn't have been able to do the direct comparison I wouldn't have believed it.

 

[STORM-CHASER]

I can't remember the brand I used this year but last year I had the same on the Rage. It wasn't as bad and that was using the Woodys 5/16 aluminum backers. I do know that on both tracks I set every stud to 12ft-lb and the recomended from Woodys is 8-15. maybe I should try the round backers?

Woodys has changed there mind on this now they recomend 15lbs on all studs , and you should check them at 100 miles , then you should be good to go.

 

[Grimm]

A couple of possibilities:

It sounds like you had used an inferior brand backer or maybe it was a bad batch.

What length of studs did you use with respect to track lug height? If they were over the reccomended length, this may have caused the backers to buckle.

 

[STORM-CHASER]

I would be talking to the company that made those backers, what brand are they????????

 

[BA APEX]

I have plastic backers on wifes sled never had any problems (been 4 yrs)

hey STORM-CHASER,
do you have any problem with you center stud rubbing the top of the mono shock? if you can, feel the top of your shock & see if there is any wear.
i had my center studs ruin my shock, but could be because by backers were angled(head wasn't flush with inside of track) pm me when you find out.

 

[STORM-CHASER]

hey STORM-CHASER,
do you have any problem with you center stud rubbing the top of the mono shock? if you can, feel the top of your shock & see if there is any wear.
I had my center studs ruin my shock, but could be because by backers were angled(head wasn't flush with inside of track) pm me when you find out.

The picture is of my vector has the proactive skid.I did have some marks on the bottom of the shock I thing it was because of the wheels were junk. I will be watching to see if there is any wear, I think with the mono you should avoid that part of the track , changeing the woodys pattern a little.

 

[fourload]

I've used both. Plastics do last but aren't as rigid.I now only use woodys aluminum 5/16 round backers. They are easy to install and last....

 

[NY_Nytro]

Re: backers

The weight objection of steel backers is BS. If you have 20 to 40 pounds of snow and ice in your suspension, is 2 or 3 pounds going to matter?

Your using HP to spin the snow. Snow in the tunnel does not add to rotating mass

 

[rafikie]

thanks for all the replies. I think I'm going to order some aluminum round backers a give them a try

 

[Grimm]

I prefer the round ones as well. On my old sled, I had squares ones that were a pain to install and keep square to the track and occasionally they would spin 45 degrees after riding. I don't think the corners on a square backer is very friendly to a track in this position, could possibly puncture the track.