Stiff rear shocks for drag racing shocks and Eibach drag-launch springs That's only temporary though, I've got a D&D tubular K-member, tubular A-arms, and Strange coilovers that will be going up front, in addition to subframe connectors with welded torque boxes, and X2C uppers/lowers. If the rear of the car squats right away then the rear shocks are too loose. My Trans is a TCI th400 with 3000 stall. The closer the front mount of the rear-end leaf spring is to the rear axle, the harder the suspension hits the rear tires (of course, you can overpower a tire). May 21, 2021 · Setting your suspension up for drag racing success encompasses several tuning items; QA1's Tim Anderson explains what to look for in this article. Apr 21, 2016 · Too stiff of a spring and/or too much compression in the shocks and the weight won't transfer the way in which you would like it to. , adv. You need to test and retest to make the most out of your adjustable shocks. tubular upper and lower a arms, qua dbl adj coil overs up frt. Mar 12, 2015 · I’ve found that the QA1 single-adjustable (one knob) rear shocks are the next logical step up, and are good for cars with 350 to 500 hp. A: Tire shake is a function of the suspension moving with more force than the shocks are adjusted to “dampen”. rigid or firm: a stiff collar. ” According to Saffell, one of the biggest physical differences between the mono and twin-tube shocks is the way in which a mono-tube shock dampens more effectively to control tire shake. : He was stiff from back pain. The Benefits Of Buying Drag Racing Suspension Kits And Components Drag racing suspension components provide improved handling with their robust design that reduces flex. Double vs Jan 11, 2022 · I literally have a rear suspension A Body drag racing setup video dropping tomorrow around 5:15 PM ET, but the exact same principles apply to the G Body and the geometry is nearly the same. com 800-632-2320 AFCO Racing Products manufactures both single and double adjustable shocks for drag racing applications. Oct 18, 2021 · Learn the basics of how to stiffen rear suspension properly to improve your vehicle's performance. Lee Jun 21, 2021 · Purchasing and dialing in your drag racing shocks can be one of the best investments to get the most out of your drag racing vehicle. Consider selecting the AFCO BG-Big Gun series Shocks as Drag radial competitors require a unique valving package to control the rear suspension and properly apply the radial tire to the track. Too much rebound and the shock will transfer the weight back to the front too quickly, unloading the rear and allowing the wheels to spin. The rear has bmr fab anti roll bar. I run 14 psi in the radials. Establishing shock length travel is important. What works on a front wheel drive car? I've searched all over the internet but cant find many experts. Dec 21, 2021 · Just turn the shocks to full soft (still firmer than stock). The adjustment mechanism is both precise and effective. For a Drag Radial setup, is it better to have a soft spring to support the car like a 100lbs/inch spring compressed 7 inches, or a firm spring such as a 350lbs/inch spring May 19, 2023 · The suspension is designed to keep the tires in contact with the earth at all times, which increases the drivability of the car. Feb 3, 2021 · I wouldn't expect an adjustable drag shock to have the same ride quality as an OEM replacement piece or a shock/strut combination used for road racing and/or handling. The goal is to match the damping values with the level of force/energy passing thru the shocks. Rear-wheel-drive cars with rear coil springs and two upper and two lower control […] 1. Shock settings? Firm compression in rear with soft rebound? Firm rebound in the front? Stiff springs in the rear The patented Viking Crusader™ shock absorbers and struts were developed based on requests from the pro-touring community, along with the small tire and high horsepower drag race customers. What do you think, guys ? And what do you think about the spring rates ? Agnaldo Cesar Eclipse 95 GS-T FWD (manual) Nov 12, 2009 · I never hear anyone here talking about front coilover shocks on their drag cars. Aug 14, 2000 · Will 90/10 shocks (front) and 50/50 shocks (rear) help a stock 3300 lbs. you use soft front springs to get the front up in the air. It's easy as one, two, three! Here are some helpful tips to improve you May 6, 2024 · Discover whether soft or stiff springs are better for your suspension needs with our expert comparison and advice for optimal performance. Feb 2, 2021 · The only definite and common thing with almost all GM A-body cars, is that with the factory ride height, and all the factory stock rear suspension components, the IC length is much too long for drag strip starting line traction for any A-body car having more than about 350 or 400 HP under the hood. Dec 11, 2019 · Race and performance news, how-tos and technical articles from RacingJunk with a focus on drag racing, feature builds, race results and industry products. Camaro, with stock suspension except for traction bars, to get better traction in drag racing or will it hurt it. Come join the discussion about racing, builds, pro mods, hot rods, events, turbos, nitrous, superchargers, and more! May 5, 2009 · Rear Spring Rates For Drag Racing? Jump to Latest 39K views 21 replies 10 participants last post by 90boss Nov 10, 2009 6 As I understand it, softer suspensions result in more overall grip because the tires remain more in contact with the ground. powerful: stiff winds. Dec 7, 2012 · I have done a bunch of searching, and found lots on front spring rates, but only a couple threads on rear spring rates. Does anyone have any suggestions on what i may be able to do to combat this problem. thanks. , -er, -est, n. Strange Drag Race coilover shocks are highly responsive, consistent, and can be easily adjusted to adapt to slight changes in atmospheric conditions. Mar 11, 2008 · Jut keep in mind that the stiffer the suspension the more uncomforatble it will be on the streets. Does anyone have em in the front, or have any experience using them? If so, please share your successes or failures with them to Aug 10, 2006 · I have a 1965 Mustang 289 coupe. Jul 22, 2008 · I'm looking for a way to improve 60' times by modifying the suspension. And a good drag racing suspension setup requires the rear supension to be very stiff in order to minimize weight transfer, but that can be very dangerous for a daily driver. While all three words mean "difficult to bend," stiff may apply to any degree of this condition. Nov 12, 2013 · Let the suspension squat and absorb the hit or run a stiff spring and make it hit the tire. 08 gears, stock suspension (UPR) all solid rear with stock V-8 springs in the rear, UPR ARB 14" 150 coilover in the front, 235/60 Drag Radial, etc I run the front struts on the lowest setting, and the rears 6 from the lowest. Nov 29, 2021 · Many suspension issues can be overcome with the correct shocks, a finely tuned setup, and continued support from your shock provider in tandem with your team. I just ordered some 3 halfshafts, which come with solid dana spicer Feb 16, 2024 · Drag racing shocks can make a big difference in your drag car's performance. Jul 16, 2012 · My combo- 393 stroker, turbo, powerglide, 3. How is the word stiff distinct from other similar adjectives? The words inflexible and rigid are common synonyms of stiff. But I don´t know if the front would be better as soft as possible or in a mid range. Mar 14, 2018 · These can be set full soft at the drag strip to help weight transfer to the rear tires on launch. Jan 26, 2016 · Should I try a radial slick or a street drag radial tire? I have a 72 monte carlo with stock type suspension. Jan 23, 2023 · The main goal here is to emphasize proper rear suspension design combined with sufficient shock length to prevent the shock from either bottoming or topping out, which can disrupt traction and make it difficult to diagnose. These cars include GM intermediates built in 1964–1977 (A-Bodies), 1978–1988 (G-Bodies), 1994–1996 Impala SS cars (B-Bodies), and 1979–2004 Ford Mustangs (Fox-Bodies). Jun 6, 2009 · In this CAR CRAFT rear suspension tech guide Jeff Smith explains the differences between setups and how to set up your musclecar for maximum traction on the street and while drag racing - Car May 9, 2014 · A-Arm Suspension System for Chassisworks 4×2″ Crossmembers and Front Clips This is the first of a three part series from Chris Alston’s Chassisworks on tuning and calibrating for better drag race performance. Stiffness Extension of a coil spring, caused by an axial force, Stiffness is the extent to which an object resists deformation in response to an applied force. If you are stiff or part of your body is stiff…. VariShock shock absorber’s broad range of adjustment is suitable to the three categories of suspension tuning: ride quality, handling performance, and drag racing. May 19, 2015 · So for the rear shocks I just followed the instructions provided by Viking - 0 being softest and 18 stiffest - 2 knobs: C - compression and R rebound - baseline setting for drag racing - see the photo View attachment 268161 I have a pretty sheet of paper from Afco that has numbers that really don't work also. Dec 27, 2021 · Learn more about 6 of the most common racing suspension issues and possible solutions. the stiff rear springs plants the tires instead of waisting energy on compressing springs. These Viking Crusader shocks measure 23¾ inches in full extension and 14¾ inches fully collapsed, for a total shock travel of 9 inches. I run a 500lb rear spring in my 84 stiffest factory spring ever offered in a C4 Corvette. 5’S, AND TRUE 10. 5 SLICKS (ALL CUSTOM VALVED SMALL TIRE) SHOCK SETTINGS WILL BE FROM FULL STIFF: NOTATION WILL BE AS FOLLOWS 10 C = 10 FROM FULL TIGHT ON COMPRESSION 15 R = 15 FROM FULL TIGHT ON REBOUND (EXTENSION) May 21, 2015 · Race and performance news, how-tos and technical articles from RacingJunk with a focus on drag racing, feature builds, race results and industry products. Of course its a leaf and I only have one so I guess that converts to like 250lbs per side. We all want to get the best performance out of our drag vehicle, and a properly tuned drag race suspension enables the vehicle to launch straight while transferring weight to the The patented Viking Crusader™ shock absorbers and struts were developed based on requests from the pro-touring community, along with the small tire and high horsepower drag race customers. So why is a stiffer suspension more desirable for a performance car? What is the benefit of having a stiff suspension when going around a fast corner? Is it weight transfer? Does having a flatter chassis even out the load on the tires on fast/tight corners so that you Feb 7, 2018 · Drag Racing Suspension Admin Charles Tom RauchFeb 7, 2018 Admin Where can I get some stiffer stock position rear springs? What is the stiffest rear spring anyone has run successfully in a Fox Mustang? I'm 1785lbs front 1390 lbs rear and have a slightly stiffer than stock Eibach V8 rear spring in my car. I have used Afcos and run the extension about 80% of the way to full soft, compression is typically a over middle on the stiff side. , v. Aug 30, 2016 · Check out Chassisworks’ Drag Racing Suspension for 1982-’02 F-Bodies Get Hooked Up! Chassisworks’ Fourth-gen Camaro Drag Race Torque Arm Rear Suspension System puts power to the pavement Nov 17, 2021 · Do you want stiff suspension for drag racing? A drag race car should run the lightest front spring rate possible, without letting the shocks bottom out when making a pass. Feb 16, 2024 · Drag racing shocks can make a big difference in your drag car's performance. Drag Race Coilover Shocks & Street Coilover Shocks Strange Coilover Shocks for drag racing vehicles allow you to take back control of your radically modified drag racer in a lightweight aluminum package that is fully adjustable (single or double). You're at the drag strip and need to make adjustments to the rear shocks on your car. stiff, rigid, inflexible mean difficult to bend. I think I've seen FWD drag cars with the wheelie bars about 100 inches behind. Click to expand Dec 6, 2021 · Our O/T Mustang road racing car has a very low IC and has a lot of squat [so low that actually promotes roll understeer into corners which is good for side bite] To compensate for this is has very stiff rear suspension, which would normally cause oversteer so the rear anti roll bar has been totally removed. I don't mean to sound pretentious, but when you have your settings on full soft are they all the way to the left (counter-clockwise)? Mar 5, 2020 · Adjusting That Rear End: Get Traction Under Control March 5, 2020 Mark Williams 4-Link Setup, Adjustable Shocks, BMR Suspension, Calvert, drag racing, Leaf Springs, Moroso, QA1, Suspension, Traction Rear coilover shocks have always been a good way to add a lot of adjustability and tuning to the rear of a drag car but few people understand the process to installing them and setting them up. My car is set up for handling, but I don't have too much difficulty getting decent quarter mile times. STIFF definition: 1. I may even go with a rear-coilover setup. Want to handle better on an autocross or road course or stiffen up the rear for drag racing? Turn the shocks up to stiffer or even full stiff. I have air shocks on the car and evn when i pump them up the body manages to squt and hit the tires. Heavy-duty racing suspensions also are designed to be adjustable so you can fine-tune your vehicle for the best traction and handling. Jun 22, 2025 · Below is a curated guide to five top rear suspension parts that cater to a range of drag-focused builds—from rigid drag shocks to four-link kits and upgraded arms. [2] Stiff definition: rigid or firm; difficult or impossible to bend or flex. The stiff suspension protects the tires from being damaged by high velocities, pressure, and friction during races. Jul 31, 2017 · So why would a soft spring allow for more grip than a stiff spring? The simplest way to understand this is to imagine a car with no suspension at all. My car is worse Jun 14, 2017 · Combine that with high %AS in the rear, and "90/10" shocks (very stiff compression, very soft rebound in front; opposite in rear, I believe), and you'll hook like crazy, but the car will flop around like a fish doing anything else. AFCO recommends making 2 (TWO) clicks per adjustment to fine tune the chassis. Aug 9, 2016 · The systems approach to building a rear suspension applied by Chassisworks to their Eliminator II Drag Race rear suspension all but ensures success. I've heard this for drag racing, but not for auto-x or road racing. Join us for a closer look at the kit. Feb 16, 2024 · Drag racing shocks can make a big difference in your drag car's performance. ) The leaf springs are a heavy duty type used for drag racing ( I don't know if there is such a thing?) I swear this is the stiffist rear suspension i have ever seen on the rear of a camaro. stiff /stɪf/ adj. Dec 29, 2014 · If the front of the car does not rise first then the front shocks are too stiff or the rear shocks are not stiff enough. This helps to keep the rear tires firmly planted on the pavement with more consistency. firm or hard: 2. Drag car alignment is critical as you know for your safety and the safety of the other driver. Mar 12, 2015 · The opposite is true with most rear-wheel-drive cars with leaf springs if the car is making a lot of horsepower, as they already have a pivot point too far rearward. Learn what to look for in the best rear shocks for drag racing Jan 10, 2020 · This video from QA1 provides a quick explanation of rear shock tuning that every racer needs to see. The below information is a good starting point for installing and setting up rear coilover shocks on a drag car but your car should be tested and adjusted afterwards to find what works best. To make an adjustment, stifen the rebound first, then stifen the compression to help hold down the tire once it gets applied. Feb 22, 2012 · In drag racing, you don’t have the heat problems of other forms of racing, so a lot of these gazillion-tube shock technologies are a moot point. Feb 17, 2004 · A high rate rear suspension will then allow the rear tires to unload with a minimum of angular travel. D-specs have the best tradeoff between full soft for drag use to medium stiffness for handling of anything available. not easily bent or moved: 3. consider a 72 with leaf spring suspension and gas shocks. The front suspension feels stiff, when Sep 18, 2020 · Most drag racing and performance suspensions include some shape or size of adjustable shocks as the norm. With input from Steve Smith, the Lead Technical Writer for QA1 High Performance Suspension and Driveline, we will concentrate on your front suspension and provide some in Sep 3, 2009 · Setting up an IRS/Drivetrain for Drag Racing Suspension / Brakes / Chassis Jun 3, 2013 · If your car wheelstands and your front strut or shock rebound setting is full tight, then a stiffer spring will allow you to run looser settings on the front shocks or struts. Sep 16, 2009 · C3 Tech/Performance - Rear End for Drag Racing - I want to beef up my rear end for drag racing. Jun 14, 2017 · Combine that with high %AS in the rear, and "90/10" shocks (very stiff compression, very soft rebound in front; opposite in rear, I believe), and you'll hook like crazy, but the car will flop around like a fish doing anything else. Stock Chevelle rear shocks are roughly 1½ inches shorter. For example, your rear shocks should be as stiff as possible before a loss of traction occurs. If it's a really bad surface I tighten up rebound then add weight to the rear of the car. Full stiff is NOT recommended for just driving around on public streets, it is very punishing on bumps and such. single adj koni rear shocks, moroso rear trick springs and adj upper controll arms and tubular lowers non adjustable. Here's a guide to what's available and some options to hook up your car at the dragstrip. I beleive the shocks are 90/10's but I'll have to double check. That … Mar 13, 2015 · This post looks at muscle cars with rear suspension systems using coil springs with two upper and two lower control arms. I'm pushing about pushing about 460hp out of my SBC and I plan on spraying it with no more than a 100hp. Learn more. See examples of STIFF used in a sentence. Mastering the shocks and springs is as definitive as putting the best racing engine together yet missing on the tuneup. Leave this connected for drag use and set to full soft or disconnect for street use. A drag racing and high performance leader, their heritage is in drag racing along with what they like to May 16, 2015 · I now run a auto-x coil-over setup with the MM struts and shocks and have fitted the QA1 front/rear coil-over setup for drag racing recent typhoon out here took away this weekend to take the car to the track with the new suspension First time at the track with slicks I’m running Viking Crusaders in the rear with around 15 psi etdrags stiff wall 5800rpm launch 5c 10r Any tips I’m very new and don’t know where to start Apr 23, 2008 · After I gave him the details, he said that for front wheel drive cars you want the front suspension softer than the rear. Don't drive thru your shocks with that big power! Jun 6, 2010 · I've never used the rear shocks you have so I dont know how the clicks change the shocks. To a complete extent; totally: bored stiff. This setup naturally introduces more oversteer due to softer front springs, so if you've got a more rear-biased car you can run softer rear springs, and compensate with stiffer front dampers, along with increasing rear camber and softening rear ARB. I only hear of drag racers speaking of rear coilovers with their ladder bar set-ups. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more. Jan 13, 2015 · Strange builds the rear housings for Ford’s Cobra Jet Mustangs (Photo: Jason Sakurai). Also, I was thinking "feet," but typed "inches" when I described the wheelie bar location. I already have the 6 cyl torsion bars on the front, and the suspension has all been rebuilt. . [1] The complementary concept is flexibility or pliability: the more flexible an object is, the less stiff it is. Apr 21, 2005 · wannarun said: you don't want soft rear springs on a drag setup. com Jan 10, 2020 · This video from QA1 provides a quick explanation of rear shock tuning that every racer needs to see. Most Corvette drag racers use as stiff of a rear spring as we can get. I can see where the tires are all cut from the Jan 21, 2007 · What's the best way to set up the front suspension on a drag car, using the the original suspension. These shocks were originally intended for use with either a ’66 Buick LeSabre or an Olds Starfire (B-body cars). Turning the knob counterclockwise creates a softer shock setting, while turning the knob clockwise stiffens it. Celebrating their 50 th anniversary, Strange Engineering has been manufacturing driveline and suspension components for all forms of racing and high performance vehicles since their inception in 1964. I read the guides to drag racing and still don't completely understand what everything actually does. Drivers can get an effective ride if they have their vehicle’s suspension well-tuned. MENSCER MOTORSPORTS REAR SHOCK STARTING SETTINGS AND TUNING INFORMATION FOR DRAG RADIAL (275/315), 8. Weight distribution and stiffness of rear suspension and high tire pressure likely go a long way as first steps, but adding weight is a dicey game to play because it slows the car down, so it’s a search for the sweet spot between gaining traction vs losing acceleration from higher mass. You can adjust their damping characteristics to suit varying tracks and/or track conditions to eliminate wheel hop and tire shake. I usually set up the rear shocks as hard as possible. ok I put a set of H&R sport springs which lowered the car 7/8 of an inch. QA1 single-adjustable shocks have one knob at the bottom with 18 different adjustment settings. Dec 6, 2021 · Navigating the shock options available in the racing world can be confusing territory. Sep 19, 2013 · Adjustable shock absorbers are becoming popular in drag racing. when i get off the line the body squats and catches on the tires. Dec 24, 2007 · Also, having Koni shocks, my brother told me these shocks are only rebound adjustable, so you could adjust the rear to full stiffness so that when you launch, any weight transfer to the rear will be highly damped and you will minimize osciallation of weight towards the rear. Mar 9, 2007 · Hi Just wondering In terms of launching a car from a stop - and hooking up, planting the tires, transfering weight, etc, Is it better to have a soft rear suspension or a firmer one? Please explain your answer. Jun 28, 2009 · A forum community dedicated to drag racing drivers and enthusiasts. 1. that means you are taking pressure off the rear tires. Aug 16, 2012 · I would like to know some pointers on how to set up suspension on awd car. What’s the pros and cons of stiff and soft sidewall slicks? Running a full body car, naturally aspirated big block (1100-1200hp), 4-link, 2760 pounds race ready Tire size 33/16-15 Discussion about Dec 9, 2005 · Rear: Strange 10-way adj. Jul 16, 2012 · I have K-sport coillovers with adjustable shocks, 13 kg springs front and 15 kg springs rear. If I duplicated a thread could you please redirect Oct 31, 2001 · C3 Tech/Performance - Best suspension setup for drag racing? - After reading a few posts regarding suspension the past few days I have decided to show my ignorance and ask this question. Aug 26, 2023 · A good compromise would be to leave it set up great for handling and add drag bags in the rear springs and then you can stiffen up the rear springs for drag racing and then deflate them for regular driving and other uses. Use a very stiff rear swaybar. This makes my "essentially all" more reasonable. See full list on penskeshocks. In a stiff manner: frozen stiff. stiff may apply to any degree of this condition. If you’re going to lay a solid foundation of understanding how to tune the rear shocks of your racecar you’ll need to become familiar with the concepts of rebound and compression. Mar 13, 2015 · This post looks at muscle cars with rear suspension systems using coil springs with two upper and two lower control arms. Aug 30, 2007 · On a poorly prepped surface or when the track starts getting greasy I tighten up the rear rebound which reduces separation, wheelie and hit to the tire. Definition of stiff adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. With these vehicles, there are situations that require rebound forces in excess of what standard passive adjustable shock absorbers and struts can provide. Unlock the full potential of your drag car's suspension with this Drag Racing Rear Shocks Refresher! 🔥 Whether you're racing prep or no prep, your rear shocks play a crucial role in controlling May 14, 2001 · It possibly has the incorrect shocks or 2. If you are working on today’s grid, this single match should point you in the right direction without needing extra hints. not moving or working easily: The garage door handle gets stiff in the cold. Our records show that this answer, which uses 7 letters, first appeared in the puzzle published on November 24 2025. Not just specific numbers but what does everything do and change. In what contexts can inflexible take the place of stiff? stiff adjective (HURTING) If a part of your body is stiff, it hurts and is difficult to move: 19 hours ago · After checking every entry in our 7 Little Words archive, we found exactly one answer that matches the clue Scare stiff 7 Little Words. 2. (of a person or animal) moving with difficulty or with pain, as from cold, age, etc. I take it racing but i am having a huge problem. AFCOracing. How to tune rear shocks for drag racing also known as tuning coilovers for drag racing.