Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

I am having some problems dialing in my car now that I have installed the Cal Tracs mono leaf springs and bar setup. The car launches and then as soon as the front end is up on the stops the car seems to rock or buck front to rear 2-3 times before straightening out. We have tried the upper and lower holes and also played with shock settings. I went to a longer travel rear shock thinking I was running out of travel but that does not seem to be the case. I have been able to minimize the action but it does not go away completely. Right now I am running 3 clicks on the rear QA1 shocks (single adjust) with the Cal Tracs in the bottom hole with 1/4 turn of preload each side with driver in car.
The front end has the AFCO bushings, Moroso trick springs, and Cal Tracs 90/10s giving me 4.5" of front end travel. I am running 30x9 Goodyear radials and tried 20 psi and 18 psi with 18 giving me a slightly better 60' but still rocking.
My father also recently put the mono leafs and Cal Tracs on his car and is seeing similar bucking but not to the level that I am.
Thanks in advance for any help you can provide.
Chad

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

Put the bar in the top hole

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

I would try tightening up the back shocks.

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

I would call Calvert and talk to Travis or John. Best customer service in racing.

I thought my car had too much rise. I emailed a photo and they agree and sent me another pair of springs, no charge. I assumed they wanted the first ones returned and I sent them back, however they never asked for them.

Bill Lamb

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

Chad, you'll have to figure out what works for your car. The longer wheelbase cars, like mine, Shaul's Plymouth, etc. seem to like the bottom hole. Most of the really good running shorter wheelbase cars seem to be running the upper hole. My car bucked until I had the rear shocks hard enough, and enough pre load. I set my shocks as stiff as possible, and use one full turn of preload, set with me sitting in the car. Hope this helps. JB

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

Cal Tracs? you kidding,,put on a old set of Lakewood bars an forget about it,,,Cal Tracs are a pretzel making device for leaf springs

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

Nice second post and not even any factual information to support the statement.:rolleyes:

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

leaf springs wont live long when placed in a bind,thats what a Cal Trac bar does,sooner or later the front of the spring will be bent from fatigue. A Lakewood bar does a better job,no bind on spring.Check out the set up on Ficcachis car or better yet,Checkmate car of Mercures. With all the bind placed on spring,it actually stiffens the spring rate,ALL the spring is supposed to do is HOLD the car up.Steve and Pauls car will hook on a skating rink!

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

Don't you just love these no name no class snipers. I have made thousands of passes with Cal Tracs never bent a spring. Johns operation is first class.

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

Before my 69 camaro was built for superstock it was set up exactly like a smallblock stocker with the exception a strong bracket 350 engine/turbo 350. I had Cal Tracs( middle hole), original 4 leaf chevy leaf springs (off a 69 Nova), and Competition Engineering adjustable rear shocks. I had the springs rearched and don't remember the shock setting, but the car was a consistant 1.36 60'er. At one race it did four 1.36 launches in a row, with only the third number different each time. Footbrake car launching at 2500 rpm. It was easy to dial it in. I attribute the 60' numbers to the bars, shocks, and springs. I had a good combination and the bars allowed some tuning ability. Never once had any bounce or whatever that you describe. The Nova I am building will have the Cal Tracs, but I am not decided on the leaf springs. Hope I get as lucky again.

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

While I've never tested what I was told, I was told not to put traction/slapper bars on my Mopar because the front spring eye was too far forward and the bar would push behind it and cause a spring issue. Before John came out with his setup all I ever used were S/S springs, with solid front bushing and an adjustable pinion snubber. :cool:

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

Hell my dad ran 4 speeds for years with Ladder bars and leaf springs. Went 9.00 150 with a Hemi and a 4 speed. Guess you cant run leafs with bars.

haha

herb jr

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

LOL, might have gone 8.99 and 151 w/o leafs.;)

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

Thank you all for contributing.
I think a call to Travis at Calvert Racing will be in order.
Chad

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

changing from lower to upper hole changes instant center location, go back to the lower holes, start shocks on number 2 and stop binding the suspension with so much pre load.

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

Lower hole will soften the hit. Tighten up your rear shocks, I run the ranchos they recommend with my bars as level with the ground as possible. Just my 2 cents..

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

I had actually built a set of bars like the caltracs. I ran the bottom bar level with the ground. after running these for 10 years, the right rear stock leaf spring decided it didnt want to go down the track anymore, so I put some ladder bars and coil overs on it.

Re: Cal-Tracs Equipped Car "bucking" on launch
 

Can you get 5-6" ? That is what was suggested for my car.

OLDGOAT