Suspension 101

[bigboybodry]

Originally Posted by 1ronnieluv

Nice truck! Depends on the engine you are running. The moroso drag springs for the 70 chevelle will work fine. If you have a SB, run a SB spring and the same for a BB. I would keep the stock rear springs. If you do not mind me asking, what size rear wheel and tire are you running? I am building a 72 swb and I like how your truck looks.

31 10.5w on a 16" wide wheel the street tires are 29 15.5 sportsman
its a bbc with alluminun heads
I called moroso and they want to know the weight of the truck front and rear before the say what spring so I am going to try and find some scales.
the sb spring?

[bigboybodry]

I suck as a suspension man 3 sets of springs to find that I am going to have a big loss in front end weight.

[djracer]

Originally Posted by bigboybodry

I suck as a suspension man 3 sets of springs to find that I am going to have a big loss in front end weight.

Do What?

[bigboybodry]

Originally Posted by djracer

Do What?

I have installed 3 different sets of moroso front trick springs to find that I have to lighten up the front end. The heaviest spring 270 lb will not support the front end weight. You put any kind of weight on the front end and the headers hit the ground.
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[Super73]

Have you weighed the truck with you in it? What does the front end weigh?

It is not all spring rate, it is rate and height. In order to properly figure those in to the equation, one must know their front axle weight. No guesses.
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[1970 C10 MJW]

this is a cool write up man... but are you ever going to finish it??

[Stroop713]

Originally Posted by Super73

Have you weighed the truck with you in it? What does the front end weigh?

It is not all spring rate, it is rate and height. In order to properly figure those in to the equation, one must know their front axle weight. No guesses.
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My question about this is how are you weighing the front? I've helped corner balance a few cars and to get more weight on the front you lower the front or raise the back. So are you saying to corner scale the front to get the weight with stock springs or...?
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[Super73]

Drive it across the truck scale and have them give you front and rear weights. Obviously corner scales are the best.

My write up is not perfect, but there is a lot of thought in to it. Leverage ratio should stay consistent, and if you have stock front suspension, even better for what i have posted. but as you mention, lower the rear and weight should come off the front. It would be best to have the ride height you want to achieve when you drive across the scale, but that is not always possible.

I guess you could jack up the front, Pull the springs and shocks and put in some solid rods in place of the shock. But I wouldn't drive like that more than the 50' over the scales.
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[Stroop713]

Yeah lol I see so I guess I could cut the springs just to get ride height. That would save a lot of spending money. Awesome write up I was just curious about the front to back weight balance when trying to figure it. Thanks
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[Stroop713]

Another quick question where are you getting the spring height/compressed height/coil bind information at? I was looking into a few other moroso springs and i cannot find that info. thanks

[Super73]

I had to call them for that info. The last couple times I called though, they were reluctant to give me much info.
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[Stroop713]

Ok i was looking around and couldnt find it thats why i asked.Another quick one. On morosos website they say spring 47xxx rated for 1600-1800 front end weight. Is that per spring or total?

[bigboybodry]

Moroso sent me this spring chart when I was looking for a spring maybe it will help

[Stroop713]

Thanks that's a nice paper to have!
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[bigboybodry]

I thought so too

[moggey01]

Big Boy Santhuff shocks sells coil springs also. I have heard they have helped a bunch on a couple of Chevelles. By the way who built your headers? And what size are they ? I think I may do something similar, maybe a tri-y.
Thanks
Mark

[smallblockchev]

Super 73's link for front springs doesn't work for me. Anyone else have that problem?

[ptc]

This is a great article SUP73 but you should update your #1 POST with the links. they are all dead or missing links since 2009.

Understanding suspension setup for drag racing is just as important as it is for F1, Indy, SCCA, and any type of road racing car.

If you dont get a setup to work to get all your POWER to the ground and make "traction" then its all for nothing. The transfer of power to the track surface is what its all about and the suspension of your vehicle does this.

Airbaggers, lowriders, slammers, draggers.... this does not apply to you even though many of you make some incredibly nice suspensions in your trucks to do no work at all other than to go UP and DOWN ....

[77c10bowtie]

Any plans to update this in the future? Some great info in here