

With cars of around 300 to 350hp, you can afford to be less picky. They need to be balanced from front to rear, and the only proper way to do that is to adjust the settings incrementally and then test. The correct shocks are a worthwhile investment and are dialed into your specific needs. Having the proper springs on your car is pointless if your shocks can't control them. But, sudden steering adjustments at high speed can lead to dip and sway as you attempt to get the vehicle back on course. If you don't correct the wheel, you won't launch straight, wasting precious seconds. You can prove that this happens by having someone film you and zoom in on your hand.
#Hooked on dirt race gear drivers
Many drivers are so accustomed to this happening that they don't realize how it affects the car. This also affects the rear tires and, ultimately, traction.

If your car lifts the driver-side front tire more than the passenger side, you've got a bad case of body roll. When going from sitting idle to maximum acceleration, suspension works to provide maximum traction. What's happening when you're not launching straight? Launching a car successfully is a combination of rear suspension, rear shocks, front travel, and front shocks. Once you understand what happens when you launch your car and what it does or doesn't do, you'll have the advantage over your competition because your settings are customized to your vehicle. You've spent as much money as possible under the hood, and now you want to get traction under control.ĭrag Racing Suspension Performance IssuesĪs we explore issues you might face with drag racing suspension setups, keep in mind that every application will require a different setting, depending on vehicle weight, suspension geometry, available traction, and horsepower, to name a few. Top drag racers understand that an adequately tuned drag race suspension is critical. For your vehicle to launch straight while transferring weight to the rear tires in a controlled manner and smoothly back to ride height again, you need a properly built and tuned suspension setup. Sure it's part of the equation, but equally important is your car handling the way you want it. The best way to win a drag race isn't to squeeze more power out of the engine.
