Suspension setup q's?

[gixxer750]

Well, my current suspension setup is good for....well nothing... maybe roadrace.

I've got KYB GR2's at all four corners, eibach springs. Thats it, stock everything else.

The car won't squat on a drag launch. It sits perfectly flat... which leads to massive wheelspin, a 2+ second 60's. I don't want an all out drag setup, but I'd like a 1.7 60ft. I run a 275X40X17 Drag radial, so that should hook a little.

I probably am going with KYB AGX fronts(I hate tokico), and I can set them softest. But the rear I've heard various things. I've heard from a good many domestic drag race guys that you want a hard rear shock to plant the tire, and I've also heard that you want a soft to make the car squat.

Both setups make sense. Both say you want a very soft front. With the hard ones in rear, you would have the car pushing down on the tire as the nose comes up. With the soft ones, it seems like it might hook, but are you losing weight transfer in the launch from the dampners taking it up?


Any tips or advice welcome(as long as it's accurate info.)

[Boost Lee]

Completely dependent upon setup, having a stiffer suspension in the rear is more ideal for us because when you dump out at 4,000rpms or have a big stall, off the line, all your pressure is exerted to the rear. You need something that will sit well with all that torque jumping to the rear wheels...but at the same time, you don't want it to be like horse-buggy stiff.


You've pretty much nailed the basic concept of soft>rear, though.

If you're drag radials are wanting to spin under load like that...then you definately need to think of something to do.

You relocated your battery ontop of your wheels? ;)

Any weight addition will only be for the better.


-Jeff

[Red7m]

Most of the Mustang guys around here run stiffer front springs and soft rear springs. The stiffer front lift the front while the softer rear sink to help with the weight transfer to the rear. Also remove the front sway bar to also help raise the front.

[drjonez]

what DRs are you running?

FWIW i pull consistent 1.8 60's on BFG DRs and road race suspension. tires make all the difference...

[gixxer750]

nittos :(

[drjonez]

whelp, there's your problem....

nittos need A LOT of heat to really hook....try doing a longer burnout. you should be able to get a 1.8 out of 'em....though it won't be as easy as it is w/BFGs or MTs....

[gixxer750]

They are shot now... I will be putting MT ET Street DR's on shortly.

I guess I'm going to run AGX's on the front on full soft. I'm going to take a set of stock traction arms and weld some angle iron on them for reinforcement.

I'll be replacing subframe bushings...and anything else worn out. and set in a little positive camber on the rear

Finally, we are going to try to put down some more power. Dynojet HP goal is
700+. I'll be going to 25+ PSI of boost and 50 shot of nitrous

[crazysupra2JZ]

i'm getting KYB GR-2 for the rear and the AGX for the front and Eibach springs. but not enough money for the front yet...

anyway my question is, would it be safe to put the Eibachs in for now with the stock TEMS struts? will it hurt them?

[flight doc89]

Are you really worried about hurting your 16-20 year old struts?

For what its worth, I hear that it is worse for the stockers on a lowered car, but i don't think it will matter.

Oh, and why hatin the tokico's?

[crazysupra2JZ]

from what i've read about tokico's, i'd rather not take a $400 risk like that. KYB's are cheaper and if i don't like how they feel i won't be too worried about replacing them.

but i guess you're right, i don't think it would hurt them after all these years.

[starscream5000]

Lot's of stories from people who have had tokico's about them blowing out rather quick...

[Slow66]

I've heard from a good many domestic drag race guys that you want a hard rear shock to plant the tire, and I've also heard that you want a soft to make the car squat.


The Domestic guys are saying that because of their solid axle setup. With a solid axle, you want to create "separation" from chassis to axle and drive the axle (and therefore the tires) into the ground to gain traction. Unfortunately we cant do that with IRS. Thats why most in our case use a soft setup to let the car squat to aid in traction/weight transfer (and just to reiterate, a good tire is required as dr.j pointed out)

If you can, try a bone stock higher mileage set of rears (but not blown of course) Thats what i had on for all of the 1.5x 60's.

[gilberjj]

1.5's would sure be nice. ill be dragging my car tomorrow, but im only looking to get low 14's or high 13's. haha.....

[Grimsta]

I can support those Tokico blow out stories. The previous owner of my car had Illumina's the blew out after 3 months, then i bough the car and 2 years later and only 10,000 miles (not much driving) they were blown again. So i got Bilsteins on TRD springs and have had reliable damping for the last 2 1/2 years. I've been able to get good launches with my car with no wheelsping in the rare occasion that i've dragged but they are however very soft for drifting and Time Trials so i plan on getting Megan Racings track coilovers, so it might be a good setup for your drag.

[prsrcokr]

I've been autoxing on my Tokicos for 1.5 seasons. They've been on the car for ~3 years. No leaking noticed so far....

Maybe some batches are bad? I replaced the old Tokico fronts when this set went on (was a couple years old) and one was weak (didn't rebound at a steady rate)
Brian

[1jzMoe]

I am running tokico's and eibach pro kit for like 3 years now with no problems, and went to the track a few day got a 1.6 reaction, and still no problems from them.

[gixxer750]

I'm now running eibachs/kyb fronts with stock rear struts

I have a BFG gforce T/A kdw tire in a 275X40X17 on the rear

New poly bushings throughout, reinforced traction arms, and a custom alignment with 1.25 degrees of positive camber. The car will now absolutly LEAVE on the street. I can launch on the two step at around 10 psi and 3600RPM and spin no more than 10ft until the car gains tractions(which is pretty good with almost 350RWHP available at 3700 on some boost.)

[IJ.]

Chris: Get a vid of a launch please?

[gixxer750]

I will once tune is done. I'll be producing quite a few vids here shortly. I just have to get to highspeed to upload as I'm on dialup :(

[dbsupra90]

I'm now running eibachs/kyb fronts with stock rear struts

I have a BFG gforce T/A kdw tire in a 275X40X17 on the rear

New poly bushings throughout, reinforced traction arms, and a custom alignment with 1.25 degrees of positive camber. The car will now absolutly LEAVE on the street. I can launch on the two step at around 10 psi and 3600RPM and spin no more than 10ft until the car gains tractions(which is pretty good with almost 350RWHP available at 3700 on some boost.)

stock springs in the rear as well?

good idea on the camber, that helps to get a better contact patch when the car squats. where do you have the toe?

[gixxer750]

I think toe was close to spec.

Eibachs in the rear. I think this helps plant it a little, as the springs start to stiffen the more the car squats.

I used to do 1.7 60's at a shitty track with stock struts and eibachs consistantly... I was only at around 290whp at the time too.

[AGlobalThreat]

Stock Suspension + No front sway bar = Amazing squats. Even with my H&R's and Tokico Blues when I had my front sway bar out the car would squat like no other.