Traction enhancement discussion

[Daron]

I'd like to hear about successes and failures regarding traction devices that have been used on a Sy or Ty.
Any negatives when going with Cal-Tracs? What about the Competition Engineering "Slide-a-Link" setup? Anyone use it?
Slapper bars, dont like them, but anyone liking the results they give?
Also, I wouldnt mind hearing about before and after 60 ft times.

What about Al Dustans setup? Anyone been to the track with that yet?

 

[ParTyBoy]

Hunter's got a set of Cal-tracs on his Typhoon... Should be seeing him soon.. when I replace my differential... not sure if he used them before he painted his Typhoon though... cause basically it's been sitting in his garage for over a year and a half now.. 10 sec capable typhoon wasting away... I'll ask him when I see him...

 

[SPiN]

BG had caltracs on his sy and I believe he was seeing consistent 1.7 and sometimes an 1.6's back when he was running low 11's. This is when he was running 16" drag radials.

I think this is what he said b4.

 

[smeagol]

I did Cal Tracs & Flex a forms at the same time.. so it's hard to say what made the difference and how much it was.

I think the Cal Tracs are a good piece to use, but really only if you are using a sticky tire, esp something in a 275-315 range.

 

[myclone]

On 2002-03-15 14:03, Stanley Spadowski wrote:
I did Cal Tracs & Flex a forms at the same time.. so it's hard to say what made the difference and how much it was.

Can cal tracs be used with the flex a forms without any harm to the springs?? Just curious as this would save me a HUGE amount of fabbing on my own rear suspension if it can be done..

Im to the point of wheel hop now with the stock springs and stock SVXs. Ive cut some 1.70 60ft times so far and that aint too shabby IMO. :grin:

 

[jwaller]

I have used the caltracs and absolutly love them. they solved my axle wrap problem I was getting with the ty's rear suspension. BTW am am running 315's and leaving the line with 12 psi. 1.6's are common. now the only problem is that the caltracs; being they were designed for RWD vehicles is that they are lifting the front end, not so good for an AWD truck. a round or two on the bar should stop the squating and hence most of the lifting.

 

[Buster]

Caltracs are good, but they'll stiffen up the ride a little, you can adjust them so there's no preload, but then they clank like hell. My best 60' with Caltracs and BFG's was a 1.63.

Mark L

 

[smeagol]

I didn't see any wear on the several miles i put on my Flex a form/Cal trac combo. I suppose it depends on how much preload you set...if there is an actual *impact* from the Cal Trac to the Flex a form... i'm guessing you'll last a few launches...

I did a best of 1.62 60 with Nittos & Cal Trac setup, cold day. Best otherwise was 1.68 with Viper tires. VERY inconsistent without the CalTracs..1.7 one launch, 1.96 the next...

 

[Zac]

Does ride hieght play a factor with these product's? Meaning, if your truck is lowered you might get a better launch?

 

[InvisiBill]

What about those traction bar things that bolt on top of the front half of the leaf spring? Do those actually do anything? They're supposed to keep the spring from flexing, and thus stop axle twist, but it doesn't look like they'd do much...

 

[Saudi Sy]

How much are the Cal-Tracs?

 

[jwaller]

cals are ~ 320

 

[myclone]

On 2002-03-18 22:19, InvisiBill wrote:
What about those traction bar things that bolt on top of the front half of the leaf spring? Do those actually do anything? They're supposed to keep the spring from flexing, and thus stop axle twist, but it doesn't look like they'd do much...

I dunno which ones youre talking about.. If its the ones that look very similar to Cal Tracs but are on TOP of the spring/rear diff then I dont think they'll work. Reason is they look like they wouldnt fit in the space thats between the frame and rear diff. Not enough room in our stuff. I think they were more desinged for lifted 4x4s with plenty of clearance there.

Other than that I dunno.. Ive checked into just about everything I can find that would help in the spring wrap/wheel hop/traction department and there aint a whole lot out there. It either weighs a ton, isnt durable, or they don make it for S series trucks..

Dammit....

 

[SY732]

Anyone know how much caltracs weigh?

Does anything need to be done/modified to run caltracs and flex a forms together?

TIA
Kris

<font size=-1>[ This Message was edited by: SY732 on 2002-03-20 15:58 ]</font>

 

[jwaller]

BG ran flexs and cal tracs and from the pics Ive seen there was nothing special. also the cals I saw would weight about 40 lbs for all of it. If you remove the lower spring this weight is offset.

 

[SY732]

Are you saying your lower springs are 20lbs ea?

If that's true flexaforms are really a waste of money!

My complete stock springs only weighed 33lbs ea, flexers weigh 5lbs ea

 

[jwaller]

I didnt weight them but they were extremly heavy. I wouldnt doubt it.

 

[InvisiBill]

On 2002-03-18 22:38, myclone wrote:

I dunno which ones youre talking about.. If its the ones that look very similar to Cal Tracs but are on TOP of the spring/rear diff then I dont think they'll work. Reason is they look like they wouldnt fit in the space thats between the frame and rear diff. Not enough room in our stuff. I think they were more desinged for lifted 4x4s with plenty of clearance there.

Other than that I dunno.. Ive checked into just about everything I can find that would help in the spring wrap/wheel hop/traction department and there aint a whole lot out there. It either weighs a ton, isnt durable, or they don make it for S series trucks..

Dammit....

Hey, just checked JC Whitney's site, and they're a feature item this week. These things.

*Fit pickups, SUVs and vans with 2"W or 2-1/2"W leaf springs and at least 20" between axle and front spring mount
...
Springs work on stock, lowered or lifted trucks.

Being Junkyard Crap, I'm already skeptical. And like I said before, they just don't look like they could do much, just by design... But hey, what do I know?

 

[InvisiBill]

Anyone know about these things?

 

[Tydriver]

I have a question about this, Daron and I discussed this topic a week or two ago and was wondering what the effect is with LOWERING blocks in place.

What I mean is, I lowered the rear 2" with the use of blocks. Do to the design of the CALTRAC setup I was wondering if anyone has used them on a BLOCK lowered truck ? Either those or the ones made by Comp Limited (the slide-a-links). The design on the CAL TRACS makes me think that its gonna bottom out near the rod ends directly below the axle ?? Any Ideas ?? PLEASE I'm seriously contemplating this mod and I would appreciate any input from someone who has done it, or is in the 'KNOW' Thanks in advance.