ladder bar help

[kw89425]

i have a ladder bar car that i want to lower the ride height will i have to make any changes in the ladder bars?

[SST4530]

Depends on how you lower it.

[us7race]

Keep an eye on pinion angle if you keep that where it needs to be and don't lower the front mounting point it will hit the tires harder..mine always spins if I hit them too hard. but remember lowering the rear will help it transfer weight easier..always a plus.

[kw89425]

im going to lower it by the shock mounts

[us7race]

That is a good way to do it since you will have plenty of adjustability when you get done. Just remember to check and if needed reset your pinion angle to get it back where it needs to be...too much breaks u-joints and destroys driveshafts and transmissions..

[SST4530]

What he said! :o Strike that, I agree with Ed's statement below.

[edvancedengines]

Huh?

and don't lower the front mounting point it will hit the tires harder..mine always spins if I hit them too hard. but remember lowering the rear will help it transfer weight easier..always a plus.


How?
If you lower the body it is attached to the frame in most cars. That means the frame is also lowed which will lower the ladder bar front mounting location. That change will absolutely NOT Hit the tires harder. It will hit the tires softer. Think about it, or plot it out if you need to.

You are lowering the point of Instant Center. You are lowering the actual Center of Gravity. You are even slightly lowering what some call the squat/no-squat line.

Lowering the rear of a car also does not improve weight transfer. That is something we thought back in the early 1960's. We raised the front and we lowered the rears. Doesn't work. You will not see one serious working car at the track that is set up like this.

Now back to the question and I do agree with checking and re-adjusting your pinion angle.

If you car is like most cars I have seen with lader bars, lowering it might help it. Most I have seen have too much monkey motion going on.

Ed

[mcracecars]

Huh?


ditto...

[kw89425]

i want to lower it for looks but i still want it to work like it should when i let the little button go

[us7race]

Huh?

and don't lower the front mounting point it will hit the tires harder..mine always spins if I hit them too hard. but remember lowering the rear will help it transfer weight easier..always a plus.


How?
If you lower the body it is attached to the frame in most cars. That means the frame is also lowed which will lower the ladder bar front mounting location. That change will absolutely NOT Hit the tires harder. It will hit the tires softer. Think about it, or plot it out if you need to.

You are lowering the point of Instant Center. You are lowering the actual Center of Gravity. You are even slightly lowering what some call the squat/no-squat line.

Lowering the rear of a car also does not improve weight transfer. That is something we thought back in the early 1960's. We raised the front and we lowered the rears. Doesn't work. You will not see one serious working car at the track that is set up like this.

Now back to the question and I do agree with checking and re-adjusting your pinion angle.

If you car is like most cars I have seen with lader bars, lowering it might help it. Most I have seen have too much monkey motion going on.

Ed

You are right about hitting the tires harder..it will soften the hit (apoligize :wink: ) But I still think a car that is level or even just below level will transfer weight easier...

[Tod74]

i want to lower it for looks but i still want it to work like it should when i let the little button go

hahahaha I just saw your signature. :lol: When I get back from the track it isn't "Did you win?" it is " Did you tear anything up?" lol :D

[Bubstr]

I agree with Ed for the most part. When you lower the rear the difference in weight transfer is more of a fine tuning thing. Not a drastic change like changing down a hole on the front mounting point. Why is because weight transfer is dependent on the difference between the instant center and the center of gravity. You have lowered both although not at the same rate. Your front mounting point may drop 2 inches, but your center of gravity is suspended by front and back will only drop 1 or 1 1/2 (just numbers) This may be like dropping 1/2 or 5/8ths a hole on front ladder bar mount. Depending how close your holes are apart. This can be a great tunning device, but as the comics said on Saturday night live: Don't be a Snook, It's how you run, not how you look." Try it see what you think. At least with the help here you know what to expect and how to fix it if it don't work, or what you did if it does.