We ordered a set of Strange double adjustable front coilovers w/Hypercoil springs.They where supposed to be 600lbs but we got 700lbs.We went ahead and installed them to try and make a race but where unable to make it anyway.Just wondering if 700lb spring rate would be too stiff and how it will hurt or help.TIA
Also the car has wheelie bars,Strange rear and 90lbs springs,26x10 in. slicks,800+hp


Modified by dc2turbo at 7:47 PM 5/15/2006

 

They'll work.

 

Glad to hear that.THANKS

 

i always thought the idea was to have reallyt sofy front suspension on a fwd drag car. what am i missing here?


i should mention that i am asking seriously, and not being a smartass

 

From what I understand, you cant have the FRONTs soft, especially with Wheelie bars. With softer rate springs, the weight transfer of the Wheelie bars when it touches the ground will cause the front to bounce, and thats the last thing you want to do.

For the rear though, you want a SOFT suspension WITH a wheelie bar. Regular hard spring rates without wheelie bar.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by exospeedAMcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
For the rear though, you want a SOFT suspension WITH a wheelie bar. Regular hard spring rates without wheelie bar.</TD></TR></TABLE>

the really stiff springs in the rear are nothing more then a band-aid for an incorrectly valved or setup shock.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by exospeedAMcrx &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">From what I understand, you cant have the FRONTs soft, especially with Wheelie bars. With softer rate springs, the weight transfer of the Wheelie bars when it touches the ground will cause the front to bounce, and thats the last thing you want to do.

For the rear though, you want a SOFT suspension WITH a wheelie bar. Regular hard spring rates without wheelie bar.</TD></TR></TABLE>

i was told by Bothwell the exact oppisite on the front ends. it wont bounce if you have good shocks. if your running tokicos or KYB's then yes it will bounce with a light spring.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by miller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

the really stiff springs in the rear are nothing more then a band-aid for an incorrectly valved or setup shock.

</TD></TR></TABLE>
this goes for the fronts also. since my car wont be out to much ill let some of the specs go, we run 220lb front springs and 100lb rears. might sound crazy but when you get the shocks working right its a way better setup than heavier springs.(atleast on our car)

 

great, now im even more confused. lol

 

alot of people dont really invest time or money into a really correct suspension setup. everybody wants 800+hp street cars with kyb's and skunk2 springs,lol


and yes im talking to alot of my customer's too

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr.E.G. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">great, now im even more confused. lol</TD></TR></TABLE>

suspension is a science all in itself. shock valving,springs rates, high speed and low speed control, and each others cause and effect on one another.

how many guys out there are really playing around on shock dyno's or datalogging there suspension travel movements? suspension is a deadly tool in all forms of motorsports and drag racing is no exception

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by miller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">alot of people dont really invest time or money into a really correct suspension setup. everybody wants 800+hp street cars with kyb's and skunk2 springs,lol


and yes im talking to alot of my customer's too </TD></TR></TABLE>

lol!!!its funny how you said that cuz i went with stock shocks and a skunk2 setup with some special stuff i did to them and i was cutting 1.5-1.60 60' all day long

 

Alot of us are guily of focusing on the suspension last. I've seen so many race cars since the early 90s, and most of the guys out there are focusing on suspension, while we now know its a MAJOR factor in making our cars faster. Majority, especially if you're just starting out, go for the easy fix. Higher spring rates and crappy shocks. hehe.

 

the first 60ft is impotant i wont deny that, but alot of people would be suprised in how suspension dialed in correctly can effect the entire other 1260ft of the race track.

what about alignments? what about corner balancing the car's?

 

thats the big trick but it was actually the easy part, you have to corner balance and test ,test ,test i have been testing suspension for a long time so i kinda have it easy then most people, but wieghing and spring rates, rebound, compression, toe, and alignment as well as squat all play a huge factor in all of the suspension

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by miller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">alot of people dont really invest time or money into a really correct suspension setup. everybody wants 800+hp street cars with kyb's and skunk2 springs,lol


and yes im talking to alot of my customer's too </TD></TR></TABLE> wonder which cars are those lol

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GHOSTWORKS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thats the big trick but it was actually the easy part, you have to corner balance and test ,test ,test i have been testing suspension for a long time so i kinda have it easy then most people, but wieghing and spring rates, rebound, compression, toe, and alignment as well as squat all play a huge factor in all of the suspension </TD></TR></TABLE>

i cant wait to see a SFWD car pulling consistant low 1.5 60's and 4.0/4.1 330's. it will happen

 

**** prolloy a automatic

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by miller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">suspension is a science all in itself. shock valving,springs rates, high speed and low speed control, and each others cause and effect on one another.

how many guys out there are really playing around on shock dyno's or datalogging there suspension travel movements? suspension is a deadly tool in all forms of motorsports and drag racing is no exception</TD></TR></TABLE>

i've read several books on suspension, they just dont cover front wheel drive racing. i have always heard that you want soft front springs up fornt so when the weight transfers the front springs arnt assisting pushing the front end up.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mr.E.G. &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

i've read several books on suspension, they just dont cover front wheel drive racing. i have always heard that you want soft front springs up fornt so when the weight transfers the front springs arnt assisting pushing the front end up.</TD></TR></TABLE>

well i have read many books on suspension but i have also worked for a toyota atlantic team and trans am series teams in the past and the suspension setups are far different from other cars that i have had my hands on. i learned alot of ffwd suspension tricks while working on and setting up touring cars. you would be surprised how much translates over to drag racing.

it is true that you dont want a hard spring in the front of the car if you dont have to. like i stated earlier there is alot that goes into suspension set ups and dialing them in. its not a couple day affair to get it truly setup correctly and even at that you will always still be making minor adjustments.


the best way would be to datalog all your suspension points and read your tires wear pattern after each run and just test,test,test and do more testing to see what setting work best for your application.

 

exactly my point, many come here to get the easy way out sometimes which is not bad but things like suspension setups and complex situations that i have learned over the course of 13 years, sharing just isnt an option....if you figure it out yourself it makes you feel that much smarter... or stupid too

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GHOSTWORKS &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

lol!!!its funny how you said that cuz i went with stock shocks and a skunk2 setup with some special stuff i did to them and i was cutting 1.5-1.60 60' all day long</TD></TR></TABLE>

we used to cut 1.49-1.53 with tokicos and 1000lb springs in the front w/ a stock crx crossmember. but to get down to the 1.38-1.41 range we are in now, it took a completely different thinking mentality to get that far.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by therealpoorboy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

we used to cut 1.49-1.53 with tokicos and 1000lb springs in the front w/ a stock crx crossmember. but to get down to the 1.38-1.41 range we are in now, it took a completely different thinking mentality to get that far.</TD></TR></TABLE>

thats great see testing does pay off... everyone gots there own tricks they can do to get better 60'... i hope this is not a street car cuz that thing is hooking!

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by miller &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

i cant wait to see a SFWD car pulling consistant low 1.5 60's </TD></TR></TABLE>
If you consider 1.53 low enough, its already happening....

 

you go ART...

 

We where getting 1.4's with Tokicos and skunk 560lbs springs and no traction bars.I think the new setup and traction bars could only help even with the stiff spring.I realize there are alot of variables when talking about suspension setups and it is difficult to say how one spring rate will compare to another.Of course the only way to find out and dial it in will be at the track.I'm not asking for anyones secret recipe or anything.I just was wanting to know if anyone had any ideas on what to expect with a stiff front spring at the track and things to look for.I guess I'll just have to test,test,test and test some more.I just hope it doesn't take 13 years to figure it out