Suspension setups...shocks, overloads, ladder bars

LbzDMax07

Member
Dec 16, 2013
179
0
16
PA
At what point should one consider going from long bars to caltracs? I have long bars but thought about going to caltracs but not sure it worth it
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,756
5,931
113
Phoenix Az
i apparently need to make another sticky on axle wrap bars and cal tracs. i see this question ALOT :D
 

IOWA LLY

Yes, its really me
Feb 23, 2007
2,275
4
0
I love reading your posts on suspension setup and operation James. You have a very good understanding of things.

Sled pulling is a lot easier. Solid as possible in the rear. Lol

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LbzDMax07

Member
Dec 16, 2013
179
0
16
PA
i apparently need to make another sticky on axle wrap bars and cal tracs. i see this question ALOT :D
I read some on how they both work. I was just thinking unless I'm spinning then my long bars are still working good enough. Maybe I could launch at 10 psi with caltracs and cut a better 60 ft as compared to my current setup. I guess what Mike is doing will be a good example
 

c20elephant

C20ELEPHANT
Apr 25, 2013
2,065
0
0
Phoenix, Arizona
Front shocks are installed, rears accidentally never got ordered, but I ordered them yesterday. Cal tracs showed up yesterday and I have them mostly installed. Was up till 3am working on it. I had to remove both leafs completely to get those bushings out. I had to use the 100 ton press at my work, they were really in there good. Hopefully I like the look of the overloads being removed.

Luckily I was also able to save my u-bolts. The upper portion of threads had alot of corrosion built up in them. Took my wire wheel to them and then ran a 16x2.0 die down the threads and they cleaned right up.

Should have the truck up and going in a couple hours.

Did you replace the front leaf bushings while you had them apart.?
 

Awenta

Active member
Sep 28, 2014
4,090
2
38
CT
Caltracs put that energy back to work by applying it on top of the leafs.

Axle wrap bars do just that. Keep the axle from wrapping.

Wrap bars make burnouts easier.

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Awenta

Active member
Sep 28, 2014
4,090
2
38
CT
I love reading your posts on suspension setup and operation James. You have a very good understanding of things.

Sled pulling is a lot easier. Solid as possible in the rear. Lol

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk
X2 it's very interesting.

Sent from my SM-N910V using Tapatalk
 

Harbin_22

Active member
Dec 4, 2010
3,858
7
38
Southern Indiana
I think on lowered trucks, the axle wrap bars a so parrell with truck that they don't ride bad. I noticed very little difference with and without axle wrap bars. Caltracs suck balls on the street. First thing off my truck when I get home from racing. Absolutely won't run them on the street
 

Chevy1925

don't know sh!t about IFS
Staff member
Oct 21, 2009
21,756
5,931
113
Phoenix Az
I read some on how they both work. I was just thinking unless I'm spinning then my long bars are still working good enough. Maybe I could launch at 10 psi with caltracs and cut a better 60 ft as compared to my current setup. I guess what Mike is doing will be a good example

nope, thats not the case. everyone thinks cal tracs ONLY affects the rear, they actually affect the whole truck. when your suspension is pretty close to being dailed, you will notice how a change at the rear can affect the front if you are in tune enough with the truck.

I love reading your posts on suspension setup and operation James. You have a very good understanding of things.

Sled pulling is a lot easier. Solid as possible in the rear. Lol

Sent from my SM-N920V using Tapatalk

thanks iowa, im by no means the smartest and id like to put more time into drag racing setups with ideas i have but i enjoy going fast off road way more :D

I think on lowered trucks, the axle wrap bars a so parrell with truck that they don't ride bad. I noticed very little difference with and without axle wrap bars. Caltracs suck balls on the street. First thing off my truck when I get home from racing. Absolutely won't run them on the street

how many leafs you running though Kyle? im driving this built LBZ right now with perfectly flat axle wrap bars and all the leafs but the overload with bilsteins and it rides like crap. my truck rides smoother with angled down axle wrap bars and a full leaf pack. its by no means an apples to apples comparison but the angle shouldnt be the cause. the bar still moves in a circle while the axle moves straight up and down. the springs will twist up to make up for the bars moving in a circular plane. you generally wont ever see the twist in the springs unless you REALLY move the suspension (beyond 6-7" of suspension movement). that bind up combined with the fact the spring no longer can absorb horizontal hits at the tire with a spring that has such a high spring rate leads to a rougher ride.

ideally a triangulated axle wrap bar with a swing shackle properly placed in relation to the suspension is the best route but not the cheapest and requires welding. and now you have no way of adjusting and using preload like cal tracs
 

hondarider552

Getting faster
May 28, 2008
10,627
2
36
34
Arizona
I loved going over speed bumps with my caltracs on my old truck. damn near pogo'd me out of the seat :roflmao:

ejecto seat cuz!
 

SickLL7Crenshaw

Billy The Kid
Mar 10, 2013
1,088
34
48
31
Mexico
I pulled my overload and two leafs, and caltracs set with 3 full turns of preload with the rear shocks set at (4). Front has lowerin keys and bars are turned up to be 1" shorter then stock height with stock keys with bolts out. Front shocks set to (7) and my truck seriously rides like a Cadillac on these beat out shit roads here in eastern NM.
 

mike diesel

I'm alright.
Sep 6, 2012
4,005
0
36
SLC, Utah
Finished up the Caltracs install this morning. I've got the preload set fairly light right now.

It rides no different than before. I can definitely feel the caltracs load the axle when I get on it.

I like how it sits with the overloads out!



 

Josh154

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2015
1,220
85
48
Sioux Falls SD
Nice man. I'm heading out to the track next Friday. My Bilstein 5100s are about shot and squeaking already. I did pick some pyos up today though so I'm hoping to cut better 60s and hit 12s
 

Josh154

Well-known member
Sep 28, 2015
1,220
85
48
Sioux Falls SD
I sure hope so. I couldn't believe how light they were lol. Since last time at the track I got a tcm tune, added some preload to the bars, upped pw to 3100us, got pyos
 

LBZ1991

New member
Nov 21, 2014
215
0
0
Winfield, MO
Finished up the Caltracs install this morning. I've got the preload set fairly light right now.

It rides no different than before. I can definitely feel the caltracs load the axle when I get on it.

I like how it sits with the overloads out!



Mike you gonna leave the bars on the lowest hole at first? I've always heard the top hole works best?