Thread: Traction problem

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You can install the tank in between the rear frame rails, it will help , but you definitely need a "Posi". You can get your non "Posi" unit to "lock up" for one launch but you need to reverse a good 20-30 feet put it in first gear and hit it . It should lock up both tires. You can fit a 10" wide tire on the rear. Is it the stock suspension? Meaning is it stock height. The trailing arms in these trucks are nice when they are set up right.

Originally Posted by Rgtrough

Hey BigTruck, ok we just called them traction bars. Never knew if they helped or not. It's worth a try. Thanks

You can also use these http://www.jcwhitney.com/autoparts/P...=group_listing And yes they are worth it and work, espcially with a Posi track.

Originally Posted by les4metal

i would also like some input on the subject, i have the same problem different truck. i have a 1960 short bed with trailing arms and coil suspension. i don't yet have a posi, put off due to rod knock, but i cannot hook up for the life of me. any ideas for my suspension setup?

also i was confused at techinspectors comment about on-launch weight distribution. when i do burnouts i always see my right rear tire marks, not left. is that because of my suspension. also i talked to a guy with a pro street camaro and he said i should try to put a fuel cell, pump, and all i can over the right rear tire to help improve traction, with or without a posi. i am so confused.

If you'll go back and read my reply once again, you'll see that I said the right rear gets light. The lightest tire is the one that smokes. The left rear gets heavy (has more weight on it from the chassis twist) and so does not slip. It grips and leaves no mark on the pavement.

Just a reminder, if your axle is not hopping up and down from the springs bowing up and un-bowing, a traction bar is unlikely to help much. They are designed to prevent spring wind-up from the pinion trying to climb the ring gear.

Put an air shock on the right rear only to make that tire heavier on the pavement and see what happens.

Even I have the same problem with my truck.

ok thanks guys. so the posi for sure? and about the air shocks, i've always heard of those being bad for drag racing, because they put more pressure, they lessen the weight transfer....shouldn't the rear suspension be softer? how do i properly set up the trailing arm suspension? what all is there to do?
right now it is stock height with cheapy spring clamps to drop it about an inch. i have the original springs and kyb shocks. i was considering going to the AGX adjustable shocks or a coil over all together. but now with air shocks back in the picture, what would be the best choice for my little amount of dollar?
also, what about front suspension? it came factory with coil overs and i can get some QA1 or strange shocks for a pretty good price. which is more important, front or rear suspension??????

oh and i don't have ANY sign of wheel hop at all.....i don't think i get enough traction now to even get that much out of it.

Here's a link for you. Lots of really great information to go through.

Hard to get the trailing arm suspension to hook up... just not much to work with or adjust and the arms are too long to get them to weight transfer much.... A pair of 50/50 drag shocks on the rear and 90/10's on the front will help some, but big problem with a pickup is there is so little rear weight and the front weight is so far forward it's hard to get it to transfer. A posi will at least get power applied to both wheels. Moving the fuel tank and battery as far back as possible will help a bit. The lack of weight transfer can be cured, but the process is neither cheap or easy.....

Originally Posted by les4metal

ok thanks guys. so the posi for sure? and about the air shocks, i've always heard of those being bad for drag racing, because they put more pressure, they lessen the weight transfer....shouldn't the rear suspension be softer? how do i properly set up the trailing arm suspension? what all is there to do?
right now it is stock height with cheapy spring clamps to drop it about an inch. i have the original springs and kyb shocks. i was considering going to the AGX adjustable shocks or a coil over all together. but now with air shocks back in the picture, what would be the best choice for my little amount of dollar?
also, what about front suspension? it came factory with coil overs and i can get some QA1 or strange shocks for a pretty good price. which is more important, front or rear suspension??????

I'll give you one thing for sure. You sure are hard-headed.
For the third time......install an air shock on the right rear only and see what happens. Pirate a shock out of the boneyard and make it work if you're short the green to buy a new one.

Seems like your making it a bit harder than it is... Get wider/better tires, flip the rear leafs under the axle and throw the air shock on the rear. It's cheaper, will hook up, etc. No point in buying posi unit, high end suspension, etc for a street truck. I had the same truck but a long bed and I know that it didn't hook up worth crap. Wider and better tires helped but still wasn't great but again, it was a street truck daily driver. I just got used to getting a roll first and slowly put my foot into the throttle and going, especially in the rain. You said you want to do this cheap so the air shock is the way to go. If not then look into Cal Tracks (maybe wrong on spelling) and wider/stickier tires and a posi rear unit.

Originally Posted by techinspector1

I'll give you one thing for sure. You sure are hard-headed.
For the third time......install an air shock on the right rear only and see what happens. Pirate a shock out of the boneyard and make it work if you're short the green to buy a new one.

What Richard is talking about is anti-squat....he's trying to head you in the direction of the right tire lifting into the suspension of your truck, therefore lightening or " lifting" that tire.
You definitely need a posi and some more geometry work, but that air shock idea gives you a base point to start because it will show you tire plant and squat for a start.

awesome thank you guys so much for all your help. sorry tech, i don't mean to be hard headed i just like to be able to understand new things a little more in depth. so an air shock and posi are in store. and tires......i have a set of 275 Dunlops on it right now. and i heard anything like a drag radial gets hard during normal street driving and weather???? the only reason i was even considering a coil over set up for the rear is because i can get comp engineering set up for about $150, and if it was worth it i'd only have to do it once and i'd be set for ever. i don't plan on getting rid of this truck any time soon it was my first and i'm hoping to have it really nice for my kid. plus i really like have the factory coil overs up front....i have some QA1s up there and like them. plus the fact that they are rebuildable is nice too.
this truck is my daily driver, but i live about 2 miles from work.......and all i care about right now is making this a real badass daily. thanks for all your guys' help, really i appreciate it.

now for a posi unit, does anyone have any experience with POWERTRAX? i was thinking of doing that so i don't have to change my gears or carrier. my friend just got one a few months ago and it seems to be fine.....but he hasn't improved his 60 foots at all.....he has a 69 firebird. it's not as loud as i expected, because of what everyone says...i could live with it.......but how reliable are they? how much power can they take? they are less than half the cost of a full posi unit, i like that part

oh and air shock in right rear means passenger side right?

thanks again

Originally Posted by les4metal

oh and air shock in right rear means passenger side right?

thanks again

yes, passenger side.