Squirlly Rear -End Solution?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Eau Claire Wisconsin
Squirlly Rear -End Solution?
Drove car today to check out new radiator set up. Temps were great, everything worked fine. Went down a back stretch of road for a good straight away just to get on it. The car ran great until the higher speeds were reached. The back end of the car was dangerously bouncy. Almost like I was going to lose control of the car 
i believe the solution may be to tighten up the rear spring, may be too loose? I installed a new rear spring (composit) a few weeks ago so I know theres built in adjustments that can be made. Any suggestions ?
Concerned Marine
i believe the solution may be to tighten up the rear spring, may be too loose? I installed a new rear spring (composit) a few weeks ago so I know theres built in adjustments that can be made. Any suggestions ? Concerned Marine
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
the shock and spring have to work well together, a stiffer spring is harder to control, on bump it's not a problem but on rebound it is, if the shocks don't have enough rebound dampening the spring will not be dampened on rebound and the rear will be jumpy, this will result in a twitchy rear end and is potentially dangerous, ifthe shock is completely inadequate you can easily loose control at speed when going over a bump.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,248
Likes: 48
From: westland mi
what kind of shocks u got back there? sounds like monroe's, they'll bounce your brains out, you need KYB's or better yet the bilsteins. i've had all 3 in that order, got rid of the monroe's after 1 drive w/the composite spring and switched to the KYB's for 10yrs till i road in a bud's w/bilsteins. I find the bilsteins are a little softer than the KYB's, just rite.
Pro
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 625
Likes: 0
From: The Villages FL
Rear End
Try Vette Brakes Smart Struts, that reduce camber change of the rear wheels and keep the tires more flat on the surface patch. It sure helped mine, and we put them on the Project Shark Attack car, too.
Spike
Spike
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Team Owner
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 40,374
Likes: 788
From: Redondo Beach, California
I think that if you switch from a steel to a composite spring, you have to also install new shock absorbers that match the composite spring. Steel springs have a lot of interleaf friction so you don't need quite as much damping (shock absorber action). Composite springs have very little friction and so therefore are very bouncy. High damping force shocks are needed with composite. (This is what I've read. Seems to make sense to me.)
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 829
Likes: 2
From: Scottdale Pa
Same thing happened to me in Oct last year, DON"T DRIVE IT until you get KYB's or Bilsteins. I went with the KYB gas shocks because they are slightly less money, but if I had it to do over, I'd spring for the Bilsteins. If you got an extra $100.00 go with the Bilsteins. I thought the back-end was gonna leave the ground, very very scary. Mid America had KYB's for $149.00 for 4. 
I almost forgot the most important thing. THANK YOU for your service to our country, and protecting us.
I almost forgot the most important thing. THANK YOU for your service to our country, and protecting us.
Last edited by Crab; Jun 13, 2005 at 04:40 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 7,456
Likes: 2
From: Coming home from Luckenbach Texas
Originally Posted by 68/70Vette
I think that if you switch from a steel to a composite spring, you have to also install new shock absorbers that match the composite spring.
VB&P sells special KYB shocks that match the composite spring.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 346
Likes: 0
From: Eau Claire Wisconsin
Thanks for all the responses, guess I'm bying new shocks when I return from my trip. Also, from all service members and especially the Corps, thanks for the support.
Gunny
Gunny
Last edited by MarineGunny; Jun 13, 2005 at 07:24 PM.