Opinions on traction devices.

[Jimmys66]

I just redid my suspension on the mustang. I went from a full on drag car to a aggresive street car/mild track car. I removed the lakewood traction bars and I now have some mild wheel hop.

I'd like to skip the under rides. I've read that at least one of you is using slide a links. What other options are there for a car that is meant to handel well?

 

[SoCalCruising]

For a track car and stock rear suspension setup (not a Griggs, etc.), you have two basic choices:
1) mild springs, stiff shocks, poly or del-alum bushings, sway bar, and traction bar/CalTracs
2) stiff springs, poly or del-alum bushings, and properly valved shocks

I have #2, using GW springs, del alum bushings, and CureRide shocks. I have no wheel hop. The ride is very firm, but not teeth rattling (thanks to CureRides). #1 would probably yield a softer ride, but entails more "stuff" on the car. There are over-rider traction bars, but I believe they require some floor mods.

 

[Jimmys66]

I'm running 2 year old 4 leaf mid eyes with poly bushings and edelbrock shocks.

I bought 5 leafs originaly and removed 1 leaf. It was so stiff that it would actualy get air on one of the bumps around town.

 

[sentipede]

Keep the traction bars, the may be of use one day...


View attachment 464280

 

[Jimmys66]

Sorry about that. I saw the pics and I would have been really pissed. You seem to be taking it much better than I would have.

 

[MustangMatt1966]

I'm running 2 year old 4 leaf mid eyes with poly bushings and edelbrock shocks.

I bought 5 leafs originaly and removed 1 leaf. It was so stiff that it would actualy get air on one of the bumps around town.

how does removing a leaf make it more stiff, wouldnt it make it less stiff?

 

[85 Turbo Bird]

how does removing a leaf make it more stiff, wouldnt it make it less stiff?

I think he's saying that it was stiff with the 5 springs so he took one out to make it softer.

 

[68RCodeConv]

Caltracs are the best. Slide-a-links right behind them. Caltracs also sells mono (single) leaf rear springs to go with their traction devices. Will custom tune the springs to give you any ride height and stiffness you want. There's a guy on the FE forum with a 69 Mach with Caltrac springs and traction devices. No other mods in the rear - even has rubber shackle bushings. With a 511" FE motor and street legal tires he turns 10.5s in the quarter all day long. No problem launching the car.

 

[amorrow]

Speaking of traction devices...has anyone used Cobra Automotive's (www.cobraautomotive.com/images/torks.jpg) center-mounted torque link? Are these meant to be used in conjunction with override or underride bars? I already have override bars installed on my unfinished '65 Shelby Clone, and was wondering if anyone has any experience with these. Maybe this setup is worth looking into; I'm unsure how suitable these would be for a strip car.

 

[1320stang]

Caltracs are the best. Slide-a-links right behind them. Caltracs also sells mono (single) leaf rear springs to go with their traction devices. Will custom tune the springs to give you any ride height and stiffness you want. There's a guy on the FE forum with a 69 Mach with Caltrac springs and traction devices. No other mods in the rear - even has rubber shackle bushings. With a 511" FE motor and street legal tires he turns 10.5s in the quarter all day long. No problem launching the car.

Ahh, that would be Jay Brown, winner of the 2005 Hot Rod Drag Week Big Block N/A class.

 

[65 fastback]

Speaking of traction devices...has anyone used Cobra Automotive's (www.cobraautomotive.com/images/torks.jpg) center-mounted torque link? Are these meant to be used in conjunction with override or underride bars? I already have override bars installed on my unfinished '65 Shelby Clone, and was wondering if anyone has any experience with these....

amorrrow - You would use the center mounted torque link inplace of the traction bars (either overrider or underrider). The old Shelby style Traction Masters do prevent wheel hop on both acceleration and braking, but have a tendency to induce bind on rear suspension travel. If you already have the overrider Traction Masters in place a great modification is to replace the fixed bar with spring rods, a'la Cobra Automotive - http://www.secureperformanceorder.c...D=14&ClassID=186&SubclassID=887&ProductID=756 -

Tim

 

[amorrow]

Thanks for the recommendation, Tim. I haven't driven the car yet with the solid bars, but they're already installed. I'm thinking I'll just go ahead and install the spring rods before the fiberglass rear shelf and everything is installed if there's a significant improvement; I'm sure it'll be much easier just doing it now.

 

[Jimmys66]

I think he's saying that it was stiff with the 5 springs so he took one out to make it softer.

Bingo, that was exactly it. The 5's had no susp movement what so ever. They made the car bounce like a basketball.

 

[Jimmys66]

Speaking of traction devices...has anyone used Cobra Automotive's (www.cobraautomotive.com/images/torks.jpg) center-mounted torque link? Are these meant to be used in conjunction with override or underride bars? I already have override bars installed on my unfinished '65 Shelby Clone, and was wondering if anyone has any experience with these. Maybe this setup is worth looking into; I'm unsure how suitable these would be for a strip car.

I'm wondering also. They would look awesome under a car.

I've been thinking about a set of composite springs but, hate to spend the money until there has been more feedback. From my understanding the composite springs don't wrap up like a metal spring eliminating the need for a traction device. They do require a watts link or a panhard bar to keep them from moving back and forth.

 

[MustangMatt1966]

Bingo, that was exactly it. The 5's had no susp movement what so ever. They made the car bounce like a basketball.

ahh makes sense now..my bad