Having some set-up issues

My car has developed a serious push, and for the past 3 races we can't chase down the problem. If it helps the cars exit is flawless, drives off the corner excellent.

 A little history. Last season things were great, we were winning and even set a track record along the way. Our local track shut down, so this season we had to start traveling so we could race. We ran on a medium bank 3/8 track, and the track we run at now is a high bank 1/4 mile.

 I run a stock clip Late model, coil-over rear,
1-1/4" splined bar. at 2950lbs. 56% left side, 49.5% rear, and near 54% cross. Springs are 550RF, 500LF, and 200's across the rear.

 I realized when we started on a new track our old set-up would not be perfect, but had no idea it would be this bad. I really thought a few adjustments and we would at least be competetive....not the case.

 We have made improvements every race to be a mid pack car (obviously not good enough), but everything we have tried to loosen this car up on entry has had little to no effect. Even drastic changes like swapping the front springs sides, which I would have thought would have changed the cars entry, maybe even making the car terribly loose and atleast we would know the car can change.

 The car has been squared, right side tires are lined up correct. Now I am no set-up guru but I like to think I can change this.

  I have talked to a few track regulars about there set-ups and found we are pretty close, but have noticed all of them run a far stiffer RR spring than us anywhere from 500lb-700lb RR.

  What I am really looking for is a good base line to start with for a high bank 1/4 mile. Especially Springs and shocks.

 Any help would be appreciated, and I have read every book out there. Maybe don't quite understand it all, but I hope I'm getting there.


  Terry  

I'd think a good first step would be trying a far stiffer right spring,  the reason for this being that a 14 degree track will cause your right AND left springs to compress (the critical angle for when it starts doing this is regaurded to be 12.4* or so).

Is there a reason that you haven't tried stiffer rr springs?  It seems like you might be trying for a BBSS setup? if so, it isn't uncommon to have a stiffer than normal rr spring.

as for a good baseline, I can't really help you there... it seems like you'de have a better shot at finding a good starting point from the guys at your track.  

I can't understand how a stiffer RF spring would help a already tight car. Like I said though I am no set-up guru.

 Any other ideas out there?


  Terry  

I ment a stiffer right rear, sorry I left the "rear" off in my post.  

Yeah I also missed that, I just assumed you meant RF I guess. Stiffer RR it is.


  Terry  

Our setup on a 1/3 mile extremely high banked track was 350RF 350LF 550RR 225LR, and a 1.5" sway bar.  We run in the Super late model series, 2750lb,500hp, coil overs in all four corners with Penske shocks.  When we go to this high banked track, you have to raise you ride height about 0.5".  

We go from 185lb front springs to 350's and raise the ride height 0.5" because on high banked short tracks, the transition from strait stretch to corner is harsh, and the car will easily bottom out, especially when we are hitting 120+ at our track.  

YOU NEED TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE NOT BOTTOMING OUT.  As a driver, you may not be able to feel if you are bottoming out on a high banked track.  Even if you are just barely touching, it WILL give your car and extreme push.  

If I were you, I would soften up the front at least 100lb, and throw a big RR in it, that will give you a little more bite in the middle.  

Are your Rear shocks rebound adjustable?  If your track is smooth, take some rebound out of the right rear, that will help kick the RR of the car up on corner entry and help transfer the weight to the LF.  

Might also want to check for something binding/rubbing. Take springs & shocks out, set car at approx attitude when going into turn, and jack suspension through full travel. We chased a drag link rub for three races a couple years back. Not fun for driver when things bind up.  

So soften up the front springs 100lb, and what would you suggest as a starting point for the spring rate on the RR? And that makes sense as when I bought the car from a big mid-west shop they had atleast 100lb difference in the fronts like you say, but our home track was so rough I had no choice but to stiffen them up to avoid hitting rack bolts every corner entry.

 Also I realize nobody wants to give up there hard earned numbers on what shocks to start with. But if anybody could give us a idea where start with shock valvings it would be greatly appreciated. I only get to run the car 5-6 times a year, and as soon as I started making headway this year... it was over.

 I run Bilsteins at this time, but will be upgrading  to a rebound adjustable shock for next season. Like I said any shock help would be great, we are a extremely low budget late model team, with NO room to test different shocks every week. I have to run what I've got.


Thanks