Do not use Bilstiens shocks for drag racing !

[TrentNell]

as the title states on the front any way . they do not have near enough rebound valving and the front end was lifting so hard at the strip that the tires were toeing in even with a centerlink , braces , and hd tie rods , it will eventually break parts , i have a feqw things in the works to fix this i will post them up if the actually work :rofl:


here is my proof this was a relativly soft launch 10-12 psi like 1900 rpm ,like 1.85 60 ft , the front end comes up atleat 6-8" i always have the t-bar bolts all the way removed .
a side note the rear is doing a great job of not squating and for those wondering the rear end height from my rear suspension thread this pic shows it perfectyl it may have even raised an inch or two during launch .

 

[Vrabel]

KYB's arent that great either

 

[Gasuout]

Ive thought about this a few times on other trucks with similar issue .

Add limiting Strap to lower a arm .

I always thought you could drill a 3/8 hole on lower a arm and a 3/8 hole drilled in upper shock bucket mount , both holes towards rear side of each . Add a limiting strap when arrival at track to control rise . With the length of strap previously figured out . You could even have a few different lengths in 1" increments . I actually wanted to try this years back on ppe joes race truck . I figure it all out , but we never tried it . If 3/8 isnt strong enough then obviously bigger bolt 7/16 . I think 3/8 will get the job done . Until you break it .

Would this work ?

Ive heard others talk about adding chain . I thought a limiting strap from offroad would work better . And easily added and removed either at track or previous to coming . Then remove when finished racing .

Chain seems neanderthal to me . Works though if thats all there is available .

Thoughts ? Kinda like the old days of adding a chain from motor mount to frame on driverside of old school cars to keep it from ripping mount out .

 

[TrentNell]

john has the right idea mine is the same only different method i plan on making an adjustible bump stop for the upper control arm . this is were the factory has the current travel stop the upper control arm hits the bracket welded to the frame i will just have threaded bump stop that screw in from the top of the control arm and will hit the current stop bracket on the frame . at the track screw it tight and unthread it to dive home . i am going to build this in the next week or 2 . we will see how it works

on edit john i have a few buddies that sled pull and they have tried the straps dont know the quality but they would streach and only work for a single run and then would be to long . might have been cheap straps though .

 

[JoshH]

You think it might have something to do with how soft your rear suspension is?

 

[TrentNell]

one thing that makes me mad is i bought these shocks because every one says how wonderful they are i know many people run them at the track , while they do ride nice they are no performance shock off road or on , i hate when people over hipe a product . i spent almost 90 bucks a shock for these not much more could have gotten me some nice qa1's

 

[Micheal Tomac]

rancho 9000x (turned up to 9) are the only way to go for dragracing,

 

[McRat]

Stiffen up the rear.

Less rear tire pressure.

 

[TrentNell]

You think it might have something to do with how soft your rear suspension is?

as i stated the rear has not squated it actuallu looks like it slightly raised or is dead even , i will provide some pics of no launch hieght this pic is before i lowered the front all the way front went down another 2" or so , but the rear height has stayed the same , pic is from same day .

 

[TrentNell]

rancho 9000x (turned up to 9) are the only way to go for dragracing,

right now i agree i am trying to find something better

Stiffen up the rear.

Less rear tire pressure.

see post with pic i think #17 tried pressure's from 40 psi down to 25 that weekend .

 

[Gasuout]

john has the right idea mine is the same only different method i plan on making an adjustible bump stop for the upper control arm . this is were the factory has the current travel stop the upper control arm hits the bracket welded to the frame i will just have threaded bump stop that screw in from the top of the control arm and will hit the current stop bracket on the frame . at the track screw it tight and unthread it to dive home . i am going to build this in the next week or 2 . we will see how it works

on edit john i have a few buddies that sled pull and they have tried the straps dont know the quality but they would streach and only work for a single run and then would be to long . might have been cheap straps though .

Must not have been that good a straps . Try looking up , Mckenzie offroad .

They will stretch and you can go shorter if needed . They shouldnt be bad after a few runs , just a shorter strap needed .

I thought a strap with some stretch would be better and soften up the rize over chain . We know chain wont stretch . It will work also .

a little neanderthal , but hey if it works and is easy to install and remove at track . what the hell . Id try it myself . But no 2500 .

I am a neanderthal myself sometimes . ..... well alot of the time . I make do with what I can do with out spending big $$

 

[Gasuout]

This would also allow you to keep your nice soft riding shocks for street and just add this when going to track .

If you had some special shocks on it just for drag racing you would be changing out alot and it would get old .

Hearing Michael likes the rancho's would make me think this is the answer with his lengthy experience and results over the years . Definately know how to set up a truck for racing .

Im suprised though , I use to kill those POS shocks in no time on my old 2wd . Maybe they are better than they use to be . but again now your buying shocks again . At least they are adjustable ,so you can soften them up after racing . so thats a plus .

My damn old school thinking usually comes up with macgyver driveway fixs that are inexpensive .

been looking around ... http://www.offroad-engineering.com/limiting-straps.html

http://www.4wheelparts.com/Lift-Kits-Suspensions-Shocks/Limiting-Strap.aspx?t_c=1&t_s=101&t_pt=4145

http://www.tellico4x4.com/index.php/cPath/91_3390

We were going to try this on Joes truck but he sold it , getting the right length and accounting for stretch is key . Might be good to have a least a set of 1-2 inch shorter if stretch is too much . I guess this could get expensive .

Maybe I have just been around the dune buggies too much lately .

 

[NWTDIESEL]

I was actual going to do this gassuout, i was going to weld some little tabbs on my lower A-arms to hook a ratchet strap into but you think a hole in the A-arm would be better?

 

[TrentNell]

thanks for the info johnny :hug: i do apricaite everones input not trying to shoot down idea's . i will take any other sugestions i just think there has to be a better setup , i really liked how buck did his front suspension with the coil overs anyone know him well enough to get some info on spring rates shock length and such . i will be switching shocks dont know what yet , and either using a strap like johnny sugested or try my idea with the adjustable stops any other idea's ?

 

[NWTDIESEL]

thanks for the info johnny :hug: i do apricaite everones input not trying to shoot down idea's . i will take any other sugestions i just think there has to be a better setup , i really liked how buck did his front suspension with the coil overs anyone know him well enough to get some info on spring rates shock length and such . i will be switching shocks dont know what yet , and either using a strap like johnny sugested or try my idea with the adjustable stops any other idea's ?

Ill be pulling off my bumper and hitch just like you did in AZ. Need to put this girl on a diet!

 

[MMLMM]

I have 20 or so launches on Bilstiens and no issues yet...

Also I think a limiting strap would be bad idea, I looked into this last year...Ill find the post, there were a few guys that tried it that chimed in and had bad results....

 

[TrentNell]

I have 20 or so launches on Bilstiens and no issues yet...

Also I think a limiting strap would be bad idea, I looked into this last year...Ill find the post, there were a few guys that tried it that chimed in and had bad results....

keep in mind this is not something i felt in the drivers seat it stayed straight didnt pull much , it was not until i reviewed the vids and pics that i saw it , and hondarider552 told me my tires were towing in when he seen one of my runs . and my last time out with my procomp mx6 shocks it was there but not this bad and since then i have went with SD's centerelink .

 

[Gasuout]

I was actual going to do this gassuout, i was going to weld some little tabbs on my lower A-arms to hook a ratchet strap into but you think a hole in the A-arm would be better?

When we were racing ppe truck it had stock shocks and Joe was pretty in at Mckenzies offroad . We lowered the truck with keys , but the rize was too much on launch and needed to be controlled or limited in my opinion . We were down there one day and I saw the limiting straps and thought this would be easily installed and removed at track once you got it figured out on length and mount . I know they stretch , but thought that would soften the hit on rize . I thought chain would hit hard and try to lift tires and lose traction .

They wanted to use chain . Either way we never tried either .

Still been wondering if this would work . Again my main thought is ease to install right in the parking lot at track . Then remove when finished .

 

[MMLMM]

how about a shit ton of bunge cords....:rofl:

 

[Gasuout]

how about a shit ton of bunge cords....:rofl:

Even more neanderthal .... Nice !