maro z28

Air bags are on Thunder's site for $60. They're suppost to correct the "twisting" action the chassis experiences during launch that causes the left front and right rear tires to lose traction(left front leaves the ground-sometimes). Is this a wise buy to help traction or am I just being a dumb ***?

Injuneer

Putting an air bag in the right rear spring will help control the twist on launch that lifts the left front wheel and causes the right rear corner to squat. You could accomplish the same thing by using a "race style" rear sway bar, like the ones from Wolfe or Spohn.

maro z28

Wait a minute, you confused me. I thought the right rear tire experiences a lift during this twisting force. If it squat it would get more traction.

maro z28

Another question, if I went the airbag route, should I just get one for the right rear wheel or a pair(I assume the other one would be for the left front??)

Injuneer

You can't put an airbag in the front spring..... there's a shock inside. And why would you want an airbag to lift the left front, when its the left front you are trying to keep down?

Squating does not necessarily increase traction. Getting the rear of the body to lift on launch can drive the tires into the ground.

maro z28

Alone that line of thinking why would you want an airbag in the rear when you are trying to keep the rear down (on the ground to get traction)??

I thought the air bag was to basically "pre-load" the suspension. Don't airbags lift the body in relation to the wheels, putting a downwards force on the wheels?

respectirocz

the air bag may lift the rear of your car up but it will consequently force the rear axle down.

Injuneer

You are preventing the body from dropping on the passenger rear corner. As the right rear drops, the left front comes up. Its just like putting a stronger rear spring on the passenger side in the rear. It keeps the rear of the car level. The torque reaction to the pinion shaft load lifts the drivers side of the car and drops the passenger side. As this happens, the car gets really squirrely, pulling to one side on launch. Keep it level and it will launch straight.

Injuneer

Here's a perfect launch for a heavy, high HP car (1,350HP)..... car perfectly level, rear of body lifting over the tires, and front wheels just barely off the track surface.... no traction problems whatsoever.

maro z28

Eggcelent now I get it.