Suspension & Brakes Springs | Shocks | Handling | Rotors

Torque arm handling question

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 18, 2009 | 07:41 PM
  #1  
camar0corey's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,974
Likes: 2
From: Spring Hill, FL
Default Torque arm handling question

Well I like cornering better than the straight line. I have a short style Spohn torque arm though. Which is better for handling, the long or short torque arm, and why? Probably a question I should have asked 4 years ago when I had ordered the rear suspension stuff, then again at the time I was mostly drag racing the car, that is if the short bar isn't that great for handling.
Reply
Old Mar 18, 2009 | 07:43 PM
  #2  
jetlag's Avatar
11 Second Club
iTrader: (32)
 
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 3,701
Likes: 2
From: Southaven, MS (near Memphis, TN)
Default

Everything I've read has said the shorter torque arm is best for drag racing.

So..going by that...longer torque arm = handling?

Just a guess....
Reply
Old Mar 19, 2009 | 12:54 AM
  #3  
Formulals187's Avatar
12 Second Club
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 357
Likes: 0
Default

I have the short one and my car has been handling extremely well, its a spohn TA
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2009 | 03:46 PM
  #4  
camar0corey's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Junkie
15 Year Member
iTrader: (22)
 
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,974
Likes: 2
From: Spring Hill, FL
Default

So no set in stone answer then......
I can't complain about how my car handles with the short one either, but I'm curious.
Reply
Old Mar 20, 2009 | 06:53 PM
  #5  
SOMbitch's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,881
Likes: 3
Default

It will brake better (less wheelhop) with the longer TA.
Reply
Old Mar 21, 2009 | 12:03 PM
  #6  
tpunk's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Default

Like some said the longer TA will work out better during hard braking. The location of the TA changes where you instant center is. The shorter arm helps a lot with launches but is less than perfect for hard braking (you can get brake induced wheel hop). If you decide to get a long TA it's not a bad idea to get it offset off the transmission tailshaft just to take the load off the trans. So no it doesn't really help with handling but it does let you brake harder and later without upsetting the rear than the short arm.
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2009 | 11:31 AM
  #7  
Magic Man's Avatar
TECH Regular
 
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
From: Augusta Ks.
Default

I don't want to get hit over the head on this but how if the ta angle is the same on long or short arm how does this induce wheel hop on stopping?
Reply
Old Mar 22, 2009 | 03:21 PM
  #8  
tpunk's Avatar
TECH Apprentice
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 329
Likes: 0
From: Orlando, FL
Default

It really has to do with where the instant center is more than the angle. Unbalanced engineering has a nice driagram on their site that might help you understand a bit better.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 01:05 PM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE