Race Car Tech Discuss anything related to road racing and auto X.

Shocks & Springs

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jul 10, 2002 | 10:43 AM
  #1  
blackscorpio's Avatar
Thread Starter
#1 F0RUM TROLL
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Naugatuck, CT
Shocks & Springs

Are there any benifits to going with stiffer shocks when drag racing? I know its better for road racing but what about Drag. Same question for lowering/ stiffer springs.
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2002 | 11:44 AM
  #2  
JerryLH3's Avatar
Rabbit hole specialist
Tenured Member: 25 Years
Community Favorite
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 2,852
Likes: 225
From: Tampa, FL
My knowledge of drag racing is limited, but I couldn't resist sharing what I do know in the new race car tech forum!

You actually want a soft set-up in the rear, it will help the car launch better. Can an experienced drag racer back me up on this?
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2002 | 12:18 PM
  #3  
blackscorpio's Avatar
Thread Starter
#1 F0RUM TROLL
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Naugatuck, CT
yeah i would really like to know. anyone?
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2002 | 12:35 PM
  #4  
PaulC's Avatar
Three spinning triangles
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 554
Likes: 0
From: Been all around this world and still call Texas home (Ft Worth)
yes you would want a slightly softer set up in the rear for weight transfer.

unless you driving your honda then you want to replace the shocks with steel rods to keep the weight forward.

also if your pulling hard enough you will want differnt shock rates on the front to keep the nose level as well. but 13b's dont have that much torque normally.
Reply
Old Jul 10, 2002 | 01:31 PM
  #5  
peejay's Avatar
Old [Sch|F]ool
Tenured Member: 20 Years
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 12,863
Likes: 570
From: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Stiffer is worse in the rear!

The only time it does any good is if you've lowered your car, which screws up the suspension geometry majorly and throws it into pro-squat mode, in which case you need to basically lock out the suspension because letting it move will be counterproductive. This is mainly an FC thing, not sure about FDs. However, for those of use who care more about performance than percieved looks, and therefore haven't lowered the car...

I was thinking of putting limiter straps on the front suspension. I figured, my car couldn't possibly lift the front tires off the ground, so when the front suspension topped out it would "clamp" the rear tires down harder. Or, if it DID pick the fronts off of the ground, hey, 100% weight transfer! (And mini-wheelstands are pretty cool too! ) I never got the chance to try this out, unfortunately.
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2002 | 07:04 AM
  #6  
blackscorpio's Avatar
Thread Starter
#1 F0RUM TROLL
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Naugatuck, CT
^
Reply
Old Jul 12, 2002 | 12:45 PM
  #7  
SPOautos's Avatar
Hey, where did my $$$ go?
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,413
Likes: 0
From: Bimingham, AL
Yea if you want to drag and road race I guess you'd need an adjustable suspension.

I use Eibach progressive rate springs and they seem to do ok for drag racing, they will let the car squat and transfer weight to the rear. The only prob is I dont know how good they will be for road racing.....I'll be finding out in the next few months though haha

STEPHEN
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2002 | 09:44 PM
  #8  
ErnieT's Avatar
Living life 9 seconds at a time
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,541
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon, Md
I drag race a lot. My set up seems to work very well. I have the M2 competition trailing arms and toe link set. This will improve your contact in the rear a lot. I also use the Eibach pro kit springs w/ 5way adjustable Tokico's. In the rear I put it on the softest setting. The front I leave on 3, which is right in the middle. I usually cut mid 1.5 60's.....
Reply
Old Jul 15, 2002 | 10:05 PM
  #9  
Silkworm's Avatar
Has been.. hangin' around
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 2,618
Likes: 0
From: Milpitas, CA
1.5 60's??????????

Good farking lord..

PaulC
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2002 | 07:45 AM
  #10  
blackscorpio's Avatar
Thread Starter
#1 F0RUM TROLL
Tenured Member 15 Years
 
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,132
Likes: 0
From: Naugatuck, CT
a 1.5 60' is impressive. Any Dyno numbers? or plots
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2002 | 03:33 PM
  #11  
ErnieT's Avatar
Living life 9 seconds at a time
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,541
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon, Md
Originally posted by blackscorpio
a 1.5 60' is impressive. Any Dyno numbers? or plots
I have not had the best of luck with dyno's in the past, so my friend Demetrios (Reactive Racing) tuned my car on the street with his Motec wideband. I must say its never ran better. On the street I only run around 13lbs of boost.
After I get 850cc primaries, I'll tune with race gas at 25lbs of boost. Should be well into the 500+rwhp range.
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2002 | 04:50 PM
  #12  
SleepR1's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,131
Likes: 2
From: IN
What rpm do you launch at?
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2002 | 04:52 PM
  #13  
ErnieT's Avatar
Living life 9 seconds at a time
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,541
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon, Md
Originally posted by SleepR1
What rpm do you launch at?
7000rpm and sidestep the clutch on Mickey Thompson ET streets.....
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2002 | 09:50 PM
  #14  
SleepR1's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,131
Likes: 2
From: IN
Seriously, what rpms do you launch at...??
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2002 | 09:53 PM
  #15  
ErnieT's Avatar
Living life 9 seconds at a time
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,541
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon, Md
Originally posted by SleepR1
Seriously, what rpms do you launch at...??
LOL....Im serious. When I go with my friend Demetrios to the track, he launches at 8000rpms. No ****! He races in the quick class at the IDRC races.
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2002 | 10:03 PM
  #16  
SleepR1's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,131
Likes: 2
From: IN
Geezus, that can't be good for the driveline and half-shafts
Reply
Old Jul 16, 2002 | 10:05 PM
  #17  
SleepR1's Avatar
Lives on the Forum
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 6,131
Likes: 2
From: IN
My 4000-rpm launches are "granny starts" in comparison to yours, Ernie...
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2002 | 06:05 AM
  #18  
ErnieT's Avatar
Living life 9 seconds at a time
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,541
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon, Md
Kaaz diff and chrome axels are all you need!
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2002 | 09:33 AM
  #19  
SPOautos's Avatar
Hey, where did my $$$ go?
Tenured Member 10 Years
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 4,413
Likes: 0
From: Bimingham, AL
How do you like the Kazz diff for daily driving? I've heard it isnt smooth thru tight turns, maybe they have different models though I dont know. Does it have any "noise" like some aftermarket rears do?

If you dont mind me asking, how much was the kAZZ diff and chrome axels? How much hp are they good for before they snap?

Thanks,
STEPHEN
Reply
Old Jul 17, 2002 | 01:32 PM
  #20  
ErnieT's Avatar
Living life 9 seconds at a time
Tenured Member: 20 Years
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,541
Likes: 0
From: Abingdon, Md
Originally posted by SPOautos
How do you like the Kazz diff for daily driving? I've heard it isnt smooth thru tight turns, maybe they have different models though I dont know. Does it have any "noise" like some aftermarket rears do?

If you dont mind me asking, how much was the kAZZ diff and chrome axels? How much hp are they good for before they snap?

Thanks,
STEPHEN
Some people have mixed results with the Kaaz. I've been lucky. When I had it first installed, it would chatter, but when I changed the diff fluid to the Kaaz fluid, it made all the difference. Now its like stock. The Kaaz ran me about $800 and the axels were about the same.
You'll need the axels if your pushing over 400rwhp.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:59 PM.