What rear suspension setup will give you a better launch, soft rear shocks or firm rear shocks. I took out my stock rear shocks and put in some kYB 2KR's (which are softer then stock) and it feels like I may have decreased the traction???? But it could be me???
Does anybody know if it's better to have firm or soft shocks in the rear?

Thanx in advance.

 

To help weight transfer on launch, it's better to have softer shocks.

My thought is maybe your OE ones were better since they were worn out and causes the rear to squat easier...

Just my .02 though I could be wrong....

 

If you have street tires or DRs you shouldn't go too soft on the rear shocks. The rears control the rate at which the weight transfers and too soft a shock will break your tires loose.

You want the backs set to a medium setting and the fronts set as soft as you can go.

LCAs and relocation brackets help.

 

Assuming you are running where there is not much bite in the track then you want firm shocks. You want the front to be loose so it will rise and transfer weight to the back of the car. You want the rear shock to be firm so that weight transfer is not asorbed by the springs but is transfered to the tire. If you allow the rear to squat too much then you spring is not transfering the weight to the rear tire but is asorbing it. It really comes down to the car, track and suspension set up.

 

a typical 50/50 shock is your best bet for launching a street car.you actually want the car to evenly launch. if you watch a drag car closely, the rear barely moves down and if you look at an old gasser, the whole body lifts, not squats, and those cars dont spin at all. most rear drag launch springs are close to the same spring rate as a factory spring while the fronts are extremely soft. when i use to drag race my 69, it was also my daily driver for awhile, i bought longer bolts for my sway bar so that it would allow a little more travel on the front end and that helped alot and was still manageable on the street or if you go to the track you can unbolt it and then bolt it back up when you get ready to leave. i dont suggest driving without it because you may forget it is not on there and end up in a ditch.

 

Thanx for the responses guys.
I think I'll be putting the stockers back in.