Problem With HAL Shocks Unloading

Victory Racing · 07-16-2002, 01:30 PM

I notice that when the car launches it pulls the drivers tire then sets the car back down before it really takes off.

If you slow down the frame and watch it closely the front end seems to go up and then come back down before it ever really gets moving. I would think that it would carry the tires forward as it transfered up and down but this is not the case.

My car sits very low in the front end and pretty high out back. I think the stance may be a culprit as to why it isn't launching very straight. Also it sits on 26" Sportsmans up front and 28x12.50 ET Streets out back.

My complete suspension is as follows:

BMR Track Pack with Adjustable Torque Arm
HAL Struts w/HAL Drag Springs
HAL Shocks w/HAL Drag Springs
RK Sport Panhard Bar
Stock Front Sway Bar
Stock Rear Sway Bar

The only reason the front sway bar is still on is because the car get violent without it. It is in major need of an alignment I think.

TIA for any help.

------------------
Nick D'Agostino
**FOR SALE**
1997 Silver Camaro SS
ARE Built 396ci LT1
Moser 9" Rear End
HAL 12 Way Shocks
4L60E Race Built Trans
TNT Twister NO2 System

Best Times To Date
NA Time 12.15@111mph
NO2 Time 10.66@128mph

E-Mail For More Info

1995 Emerald Green Formula
Stock For Now
Times to Come

If you live life by the book, all you get is what has already been written.

I am a Proud Supporter of ......Boycott Lapeer Dragway

Hot Rod Hawk · 07-16-2002, 08:47 PM

What valving in the shock did you get?
Travel limiters up front also work wonders or was it more hose

Heck try um both!

Nick your correct about your rear ride hight, its hoochie high out back

[This message has been edited by Hot Rod Hawk (edited July 16, 2002).]

96z28flames · 07-16-2002, 10:13 PM

get rid of the hal springs up front they are wrong for f-bodys. the spring rate is wrong no matter how far you set the ride hieght it wont go up i had my chassis guy go through and fix it. he did it on his car, and a few others cars. hes even talked to hal about it and they said they were gonna fix it but.....

OneFlyn95z28 · 07-16-2002, 11:05 PM

I tend to agree with the HAL springs being to soft. They do not carry enough stored energy either.

I have started going up on my valve settings in the rear to help as well as in the front

good luck!

------------------
Ellis
Team Captain
Team North West F-Body
www.teamnwfbody.org

Victory Racing · 07-17-2002, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hot Rod Hawk:
What valving in the shock did you get?
Travel limiters up front also work wonders or was it more hose Heck try um both!

Nick your correct about your rear ride hight, its hoochie high out back

[This message has been edited by Hot Rod Hawk (edited July 16, 2002).]

Hoochie High eh Hawk

I am going to start playing with the ride height and valving over the next few weeks here. I will probably end up at Milan or Ubly doing Test Launches and seeing what works and what doesn't.

As far as what valving I have in them I am not sure really. ARE ordered them and put them on the car.

It will get figured out though no biggy.

The settings were 1 (lowest setting) up front and 3 out back. I have air bags in both the driver and passenger rear but at this point both are completely empty.

I spent all of last year building it, so now this year I will be tweaking it and testing it.

Then in 2003 I should be ready for NMCA stuff. It will only be my first season with NMCA, but I think I should fair alright in the field.

------------------
Nick D'Agostino
**FOR SALE**
1997 Silver Camaro SS
ARE Built 396ci LT1
Moser 9" Rear End
HAL 12 Way Shocks
4L60E Race Built Trans
TNT Twister NO2 System

Best Times To Date
NA Time 12.15@111mph
NO2 Time 10.66@128mph

E-Mail For More Info

1995 Emerald Green Formula
Stock For Now
Times to Come

If you live life by the book, all you get is what has already been written.

I am a Proud Supporter of ......Boycott Lapeer Dragway

Black Sunshine/ 00SS · 07-17-2002, 04:18 PM

Def should have an alignment. Mine was alot more squirly before I got one, after changing the shocks. The springs, I dont like em, to much travel in them.

------------------
hchap63@hotmail.com

01/SS, Black A4, TR224/112, ARE stage 2 heads, lid, FTRA, PMAF, PTB, Grott LT, true duals, NGK, ASP pulley, Vig 3200, LCA, poly TAB, Convo pros, ET Streets, 3300 raceweight. Little bit of juice..

Best ET: (All bolt ons) 11.496@116.42 (1.52)

Current best after Head & cam & nitrous:
10.88@124 (1.60)

Motown Muscle King of The Hill winner 6-8-02. Want some? Get some!!

RIP #3 Dirty Dale!!!

07-17-2002, 09:49 PM

Maybe the chassis is flexing and absorbing that initial bite of the tires. Do you have SFCs and a cage?

Rich

Victory Racing · 07-17-2002, 11:30 PM

The car has BMR SFC's and a 6 point cage.

I was playing with the shocks tonight and trying to figure out how to adjust ride height.

I didn't spend too much time with it, but that Spanner Wrench is one funny looking tool. I couldn't even figure out where it went.

Any help here would be great.

KTamez · 07-18-2002, 12:07 AM

You can only change rear ride height by changing the rear springs. Also you can lower the rear an inch or so by removing the rubber bumper on top of the shock, though I would snake a heater hose around the top coil of the spring to squelch some of the noise.....

The spanner wrench is for the front shocks and *wraps* around the nut(s) that the springs sit on..

------------------
Kurtis Tamez
LT4-396.com
97 Z28 LT4-396
94 Firehawk LT1-396
Team NW F-Body

Victory Racing · 07-18-2002, 12:54 AM

AHHHHH now that mkes sense.

I actually took the passenger shock completely off and was looking at it. Didn't seem like there was anyway to shorten things there, but I was damn tired so I figured I would ask here.

What springs are most of you cats running out back?

KTamez · 07-18-2002, 01:10 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by KTamez:
lower the rear an inch or so by removing the rubber bumper on top of the shock,

Meant to say spring there....

I just have a set of 95 Firebird V6 springs.... The Jury is still out on them.

-K

Hot Rod Hawk · 07-18-2002, 07:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by KTamez:
Meant to say spring there....

I just have a set of 95 Firebird V6 springs.... The Jury is still out on them.

-K

I also use this spring. Pick'd um up at a local gm salvage yard in waterford Nick.

Call Schrams Nick and pick up a set ~n~ slap um in and bring the car up to Ubly this Saturday....I'll bring a tape measure/you bring the spanner wrench.
If I can 60' in the high 1.4's so can you sir!