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  • 1996 - 2004 SN95 Mustang -General/Talk-
  • SN95 4.6L Mustang Tech

Springs: Hurt or Help?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sick96Stang
  • Start date Start date May 16, 2005

Sick96Stang

New Member
Aug 20, 2004
621
0
0
Gilbert, Arizona
May 16, 2005
#1
  • May 16, 2005
  • #1
It seems like everybody says that lowering your car with springs will hurt your 1/4 mile time since it lowers your center of gravity and hurts weight transfer, but I have heard a few knowledgable people say it will actually help you in drag racing? Can anybody enlighten me in great detail as to why it would help or as to why it would hurt.
 

JonJon

Founding Member
Aug 16, 2002
4,801
1
68
back in Marylands
May 16, 2005
#2
  • May 16, 2005
  • #2
Weight transfer. Depending on the springs you get, you could have more or less weight transfer. If you have less, you will have more trouble keeping the rear planted. If you have more weight transfer, you'll hook better

Drag springs cause the front end to lift a lot and transfer weight to the back.

now the technical terms behind all that, someone else will have to explain.
 

Sick96Stang

New Member
Aug 20, 2004
621
0
0
Gilbert, Arizona
May 16, 2005
#3
  • May 16, 2005
  • #3
JonJon said:
Weight transfer. Depending on the springs you get, you could have more or less weight transfer. If you have less, you will have more trouble keeping the rear planted. If you have more weight transfer, you'll hook better

Drag springs cause the front end to lift a lot and transfer weight to the back.

now the technical terms behind all that, someone else will have to explain.
Click to expand...

Next question what springs should I get that will help me transfer the weight back more and what springs should I stay away from?
 

Mike97gt

it doe snot
Founding Member
Jan 26, 1999
10,633
7
89
the people's republic of massachusetts
May 17, 2005
#4
  • May 17, 2005
  • #4
stay away from lowering the car.. lowering is almost never good for drag racing. unless you get shorter springs designed for weight transfer.

most of the mods you can do to help your car hook will hurt handling somewhat.

on my car i am going too use the stock springs for now and add a drag bag (airbag) too the right rear, remove the front sway bar ( better weight transfer with it removed) and i also plan too reinforce the tourqe boxes and do the contorl arms and drag struts/shocks at some point on 15 inch rims.
 
0

01SN8K

New Member
Jun 9, 2004
135
0
0
May 17, 2005
#5
  • May 17, 2005
  • #5
if you seriously want to drag then some good springs would be the eibach drag launch kit which includes the springs and air bag designed to transfer weight and help launch your car.
 

stangman16

Active Member
Nov 16, 2004
640
4
29
San Antonio, TX
May 17, 2005
#6
  • May 17, 2005
  • #6
MikeZ28 said:
stay away from lowering the car..
Click to expand...

You mean that Ford made our Mustangs look like 4x4 trucks for a good reason? (besides aftermarket upgrade possiblities?) I cannot stand how my '99 GT sits so high up. Would a 1" drop hurt all that much at the track?
 
B

Blue70

Active Member
Nov 1, 2004
160
28
38
Wilmington NC
May 17, 2005
#7
  • May 17, 2005
  • #7
stangman16 said:
You mean that Ford made our Mustangs look like 4x4 trucks for a good reason? (besides aftermarket upgrade possiblities?) I cannot stand how my '99 GT sits so high up. Would a 1" drop hurt all that much at the track?
Click to expand...

Not that much at all, just drop it and throw some 315 Nittos on the back, they more than made up for any losses I might have seen from the springs.

I'm lowered and don't spin on a track with some rubber laid down on it.

AND I dont sit higher than a Ford Ranger
 

stangman16

Active Member
Nov 16, 2004
640
4
29
San Antonio, TX
May 17, 2005
#8
  • May 17, 2005
  • #8
Blue70 said:
I dont sit higher than a Ford Ranger
Click to expand...

Hehe, good deal.
 

triggz

Founding Member
May 15, 2002
1,218
0
37
Gadsden, AL
May 17, 2005
#9
  • May 17, 2005
  • #9
Shorter springs don't hurt weight transfer, stiffer ones do. A shorter spring with the same spring rate will have minimal effects on weight transfer.

If you cut your stock springs, you'd keep a good transfer and get a lower ride height. It's not a horrible idea like people tend to think.

I have H&R super sports on my car, it hurt my launch a little bit, maybe +.5 on my 60's. But they are *way* stiffer than stock, and 2" shorter. A set of drag radials will fix that though.


But, as was stated earlier- the basic rule suspension of thumb is handling mods hurt you at the track and track mods hurt you in the corners.
 
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