DragRaceResults.Com    Bracket Talk    Bracket Talk Forum  Hop To Forum Categories  Tech Talk - by Abruzzi    Long Travel Struts?
Go
New
Find
Notify
Tools
Reply
  
Long Travel Struts?
 Login/Join
 
DRR Trophy
Picture of inferno camaro
posted
I'm getting my car repaired and thinking about going to a longer travel double adjustable strut instead of spending money going through my old single adjustable strange struts. Is there any negative to a long travel strut?

Thanks in advance for the input.
 
Posts: 465 | Location: Indiana | Registered: January 20, 2020Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Pro
Picture of Goob
posted Hide Post
"Conventional wisdom" says that you want as little suspension travel as possible in a fast, four link chassis car.

Could make an excessive wheelie situation worse?

More variables in vehicle reaction time?

Upgrade to a double adjustable front strut, with your history and performance level I'd say yes, but wouldn't try to reinvent your total setup.


"Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular."
Dave Cook
N375
 
Posts: 2157 | Location: Indy | Registered: November 21, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Pro
Picture of Goob
posted Hide Post
...Not unless you are going small tire / no prep / lil' gangster racing...


"Despite the high cost of living, it remains popular."
Dave Cook
N375
 
Posts: 2157 | Location: Indy | Registered: November 21, 2008Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Trophy
Picture of inferno camaro
posted Hide Post
I still really like the 32x14 radial. But it likes the front wheels up to work well. Was thinking long travel may allow more transfer of weight without having to carry the front tires 12" off the ground. I also don't want to make it not work on a bias tire. The car is getting the entire front clip replaced so now is the time to make any changes I may want.
 
Posts: 465 | Location: Indiana | Registered: January 20, 2020Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by inferno camaro:I still really like the 32x14 radial. But it likes the front wheels up to work well.


Are you re-installing the wheelie bars?
 
Posts: 3132 | Location: 53056 | Registered: December 30, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Trophy
Picture of inferno camaro
posted Hide Post
Smile It will have wheelie bars. If I run the radials, I may have to build shorter bars and possibly spring loaded to hopefully not unload the tires when they make contact with the ground. Going to make sure this doesn't happen again. Eventually would hope to get the 4 link and front suspension set so it didn't need to wheelie more than a couple inches. If that isn't possible, I would go back to bias tires. That's why I want to make sure long travel struts will work well with bias tires as well as radials.
 
Posts: 465 | Location: Indiana | Registered: January 20, 2020Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Sportsman
posted Hide Post
Since i crashed my camaro i am going to be redoing my car from the 4 link brackets foward. My car was mustang 2 front a arms. I am going to strut my front suspension and my chassis guy wants to go back with a long travel strut. Not sure why but that is what he wants. I guess he wants to get the same travel i had with my a arms. But i had my a arms limited to 1 1/2 lift. I wish i could give you some info on how it works but i aint there yet. I bought strange double adjustable struts with brakes. I will tell you that the price difference is substantial being the long strut is more expensive. I guess i will see. My car worked really good before i just hope it will be just as good after. I will be going from a pretty decent small block to a good big block and hope to pick up 3 or 4 tenths in the 1/8. Dont know if that will make a difference in how it works. I am strictly going to super street race this car and want to go from low 140’s to mid 150’s in the 1/4.

ep
 
Posts: 844 | Location: dodging double wides... | Registered: November 28, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post



DRR S/Pro
Picture of CURTIS REED
posted Hide Post
The advantage of having them are the options they offer in travel range.

The dis-advantage is how ugly they look when your front end is off. Laughing Hard
 
Posts: 3597 | Location: KIEFER, OK. | Registered: August 17, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Sportsman
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by pauley:
But i had my a arms limited to 1 1/2 lift. I wish i could give you some info on how it works but i aint there yet. I bought strange double adjustable struts with brakes. I will tell you that the price difference is substantial being the long strut is more expensive. I guess i will see. My car worked really good before i just hope it will be just as good after. I will be going from a pretty decent small block to a good big block and hope to pick up 3 or 4 tenths in the 1/8. Dont know if that will make a difference in how it works. I am strictly going to super street race this car and want to go from low 140’s to mid 150’s in the 1/4.

ep


I catn see how along travel strut is going to help with a super class car FWIW. The fact you had the a arm limited to 1 1/2" would make me lean toward a standard strut in the first place. Be interested to see where you end up, a mid 150MPH car in S/ST is making some steam and isn't going to need or want all that travel.


"I am not ashamed to confess I am ignorant of what I do not know."
Marcus Tullius Cicero
 
Posts: 1111 | Location: Las Vegas, NV | Registered: April 14, 2004Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Sportsman
posted Hide Post
Nothing i have is going to win best appearing so i dont care what they look like curtis as long as it works.

ep
 
Posts: 844 | Location: dodging double wides... | Registered: November 28, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
Picture of CURTIS REED
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by pauley:
Nothing i have is going to win best appearing so i dont care what they look like curtis as long as it works.

ep


Same. I just see the no prep guys running with not front end and think it looks dumb with those 3' long springs. JMO Not really putting them down at a useful tool or anyone who uses them.
 
Posts: 3597 | Location: KIEFER, OK. | Registered: August 17, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by inferno camaro:
Smile It will have wheelie bars. If I run the radials, I may have to build shorter bars and possibly spring loaded to hopefully not unload the tires when they make contact with the ground. Going to make sure this doesn't happen again. Eventually would hope to get the 4 link and front suspension set so it didn't need to wheelie more than a couple inches. If that isn't possible, I would go back to bias tires. That's why I want to make sure long travel struts will work well with bias tires as well as radials.


Based on THIS prior post and wanting to continue with radials, consider getting the rear of the car to separate much more at launch and down track. My car rear on same 32x14 but bias and 1 second slower separates more at launch and down track than what you’ve posted prior.

Adjustable front suspension travel limiters would allow for best set-up.
 
Posts: 3132 | Location: 53056 | Registered: December 30, 2009Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR Sportsman
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by Al Alguire:
quote:
Originally posted by pauley:
But i had my a arms limited to 1 1/2 lift. I wish i could give you some info on how it works but i aint there yet. I bought strange double adjustable struts with brakes. I will tell you that the price difference is substantial being the long strut is more expensive. I guess i will see. My car worked really good before i just hope it will be just as good after. I will be going from a pretty decent small block to a good big block and hope to pick up 3 or 4 tenths in the 1/8. Dont know if that will make a difference in how it works. I am strictly going to super street race this car and want to go from low 140’s to mid 150’s in the 1/4.

ep


I catn see how along travel strut is going to help with a super class car FWIW. The fact you had the a arm limited to 1 1/2" would make me lean toward a standard strut in the first place. Be interested to see where you end up, a mid 150MPH car in S/ST is making some steam and isn't going to need or want all that travel.


I cant say i disagree Al. I questioned it myself but i dont build cars so i stay in my lane.

ep
 
Posts: 844 | Location: dodging double wides... | Registered: November 28, 2007Reply With QuoteReport This Post
DRR S/Pro
Picture of Big Steve
posted Hide Post
quote:
Originally posted by pauley:
quote:
Originally posted by Al Alguire:
quote:
Originally posted by pauley:
But i had my a arms limited to 1 1/2 lift. I wish i could give you some info on how it works but i aint there yet. I bought strange double adjustable struts with brakes. I will tell you that the price difference is substantial being the long strut is more expensive. I guess i will see. My car worked really good before i just hope it will be just as good after. I will be going from a pretty decent small block to a good big block and hope to pick up 3 or 4 tenths in the 1/8. Dont know if that will make a difference in how it works. I am strictly going to super street race this car and want to go from low 140’s to mid 150’s in the 1/4.

ep


I catn see how along travel strut is going to help with a super class car FWIW. The fact you had the a arm limited to 1 1/2" would make me lean toward a standard strut in the first place. Be interested to see where you end up, a mid 150MPH car in S/ST is making some steam and isn't going to need or want all that travel.


I cant say i disagree Al. I questioned it myself but i dont build cars so i stay in my lane.

ep


Your car, your money. Ask your builder why and explain to you how you will benefit from long travel struts. Like others have said, does not seem necessary for .90 racing and may create huge wheel stands if not controlled properly
 
Posts: 2813 | Location: Moving back to the door side | Registered: April 30, 2010Reply With QuoteReport This Post



  Powered by Social Strata  
 

DragRaceResults.Com    Bracket Talk    Bracket Talk Forum  Hop To Forum Categories  Tech Talk - by Abruzzi    Long Travel Struts?

© DragRaceResults.com 2026