correct alignment ?
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, AZ
correct alignment ? Last time at the track on 1-2 shifts my car was going sideways. I have stock suspension. Before goin g to traction-improving upgrades I'm taking it to the shop today to check alignment/suspension.
So - what is the correct parameters - 1)street car
2) drag racing - I'm going to the track tonight
thank you.
So - what is the correct parameters - 1)street car
2) drag racing - I'm going to the track tonight
thank you.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 3
From: Upstate NY
Re: correct alignment ? Is the rear going right on the shift?
How much? More than a tire width? It may feel like more than it is.
Torque reaction in the axle tends to unload the right rear and therefore the rear moves to the right, especailly if you are in the right lane and the track is crowned like a road.
It might be that your hard shift breaks the tires loose which can cause the same thing. If you are spinning them going into second and speed shifting, try lifting a llittle. It might be faster overall.
Front end alignment probably isn't the problem.
Try a couple psi less air in the right rear.
If you get multiple runs, try a few different things. One at a time.
Post your times!
How much? More than a tire width? It may feel like more than it is.
Torque reaction in the axle tends to unload the right rear and therefore the rear moves to the right, especailly if you are in the right lane and the track is crowned like a road.
It might be that your hard shift breaks the tires loose which can cause the same thing. If you are spinning them going into second and speed shifting, try lifting a llittle. It might be faster overall.
Front end alignment probably isn't the problem.
Try a couple psi less air in the right rear.
If you get multiple runs, try a few different things. One at a time.
Post your times!
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 393
Likes: 0
From: Tucson, AZ
Re: correct alignment ? </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Old SStroker:
<strong>Is the rear going right on the shift?
How much? More than a tire width? It may feel like more than it is.
Torque reaction in the axle tends to unload the right rear and therefore the rear moves to the right, especailly if you are in the right lane and the track is crowned like a road.
It might be that your hard shift breaks the tires loose which can cause the same thing. If you are spinning them going into second and speed shifting, try lifting a llittle. It might be faster overall.
Front end alignment probably isn't the problem.
Try a couple psi less air in the right rear.
If you get multiple runs, try a few different things. One at a time.
Post your times!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hm.. I was hoping front alignment could be the problem, since I replaced front rotors recently.
Yes, the tires spin on hard shift and car pulls to the side - I believe rear goes to the right, not left. I tried to lplay with tire pressure, but I had a crappy gauge (shows 5pci less, compared to the one at the gas station), so I'll go into that today.
Tires are street bridgestones RE730. 60' - 2.1-2.2 (I only had 3 passes and really bogged, esp. last time (worst - 2.23). Overall - 13.6&105 (3075feet elevation, 4000+ DA).
I know I need some upgrades, but could it be that realignment could help here? - not in the breaking-tire-loose department, but to avoid side-sliding?
<strong>Is the rear going right on the shift?
How much? More than a tire width? It may feel like more than it is.
Torque reaction in the axle tends to unload the right rear and therefore the rear moves to the right, especailly if you are in the right lane and the track is crowned like a road.
It might be that your hard shift breaks the tires loose which can cause the same thing. If you are spinning them going into second and speed shifting, try lifting a llittle. It might be faster overall.
Front end alignment probably isn't the problem.
Try a couple psi less air in the right rear.
If you get multiple runs, try a few different things. One at a time.
Post your times!</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Hm.. I was hoping front alignment could be the problem, since I replaced front rotors recently.
Yes, the tires spin on hard shift and car pulls to the side - I believe rear goes to the right, not left. I tried to lplay with tire pressure, but I had a crappy gauge (shows 5pci less, compared to the one at the gas station), so I'll go into that today.
Tires are street bridgestones RE730. 60' - 2.1-2.2 (I only had 3 passes and really bogged, esp. last time (worst - 2.23). Overall - 13.6&105 (3075feet elevation, 4000+ DA).
I know I need some upgrades, but could it be that realignment could help here? - not in the breaking-tire-loose department, but to avoid side-sliding?
Re: correct alignment ? I haave a theory as to why the car may be going right on the shift (if you can get the car on video tape, you should be able to verify this). Many of the F-bodies have a Zexel-Torsen "torq biasing" limited slip differential in them. The design of the torsen allows it to put about 2.2-2.6 times as much torque to the tire that is not spinning (the tire with traction). On the shift, you will unload the right rear tire. This causes the right rear to spin and causes the differential to transfer torque to the left rear tire which will cause the car to go right (go to the grocery store and push a cart by one end of the handle, the "off center" drive or thrust angle will cause it to turn). As a side note, just because a wheel is spinning, it is still putting down some power, the zexel torsen will put 2.6 times that amount of power to the opposite wheel. For example, if your right wheel is spinning and had enough traction to put down 100 ft lbs of torque, the left wheel may see 230 to 260 ft lbs of torque transferred by the diff. If you are ever stuck in the snow, etc....try grabbing the e-brake (lightly) and it will start moving because of this torque ratio. Sorry this is so long, try www.torsen.com for a full explanation. Hope this helps. Good luck....
Thread Starter
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 393
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From: Tucson, AZ
Re: correct alignment ? Thanks.
...well, yesterday I couldn't get any traction at all. Best 60' - 2.44, LOL <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
Tires were just spinning - I start slow - go WOT - spinning - take my foot of the gas - rolling - go WOT again - spin -..roll-..spin...3 times in a row. Same thing shifting into 2-nd and 3-rd (not much spinning)... ..but it wasn't really pulling [to the side]. Track prep was awfull... people had 60' droped by ~0.3 from their regular times... so cannot tell anything...
you are most probably right, alignment should be
Ok...
...well, yesterday I couldn't get any traction at all. Best 60' - 2.44, LOL <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
Tires were just spinning - I start slow - go WOT - spinning - take my foot of the gas - rolling - go WOT again - spin -..roll-..spin...3 times in a row. Same thing shifting into 2-nd and 3-rd (not much spinning)... ..but it wasn't really pulling [to the side]. Track prep was awfull... people had 60' droped by ~0.3 from their regular times... so cannot tell anything...
you are most probably right, alignment should be
Ok...
