Lowered 2002 - how do I improve traction?

Hello Folks,

I have a lowered 2002 and would like to get ideas on improving the traction and ride. Lowered with Eibach lowering springs up front and blocks out back with the stock leaf springs. Bilistein shocks up front and air shocks in the rear. Truck spins and wheel hops when launching hard.

I spoke with CalTracs and the truck is too low for them to work.

Hopefully others out there have tried different things and have some success.

 

It all comes down to what your end game is.

We are more lifted trucks and bigger tires. I never heard Launch on this forum before.

You need more weight being transferred to your rear axle! something like 90 /10`s upfront

What kind of tires wrinkle wall slicks tire pressure would need to adjusted to a comprise.

Is this truck street legal? A truck setup for a straight line sucks to drive on the street.

It has been many years since my Drag racing days .

Those Air shocks might be making things worse. Custom made traction bars .

As Drag cars seldom had frames.

I really hope this is not a 4x4

Have you checked out street truck forums

 

The blocks are why you have axle wrap. You should look into drop leafs to help with the ride and wrap.

 

You have axle/spring wrap. The blocks make the problem worse. You should look into building a traction bar if you want to keep the leaf springs.

 

Thanks so much for the replies. All very helpful. I agree I think the blocks gotta go. Anybody know who sells the lowering leafs?

 

Linked ford 8.8 rear

 

I don’t understand Sebz

 

Spring under solves a lot of axle wrap issues.

 

Any suggestions on where to source those types of leaf springs from rnish?

 

Look up S-dad mod. For you truck you'll need a pair of 98-04 4x4 leafs and will get about 3" drop and handle and ride great. I've done it and still have this setup on my 01 and love it.

 

Thank you Mtb_taco. I will definitely. That’s great information. I appreciate it.any pics of your truck lowered with them?

 

You don't have much weight in the back. What size tires are you using? And if you're open diff then you're going to be hopping all kinds of wheels, buy an LSD.

 

By lots of spare differentials with the gears you need.

Weld them up replace as they explode !

That was the hot set up when you could not afford a spool in my youth.

 

We still do that, but only with vehicles we don't care about. Hahaha

 

Ha ha Ha!! early seventies .

Then Chevy open differentials could be had at any yard .

I bet there was 25 within a 30 mile radius .

 

That must be nice. Around here, a rear diff for any Toyota truck won't last 2 minutes in the junkyard.

 

Try weight jacking with your air shocks. Preloading the right rear can do wonders. My drag car liked 50 psi in the rr and 5 psi on the left. The rear axle twists with the drive shaft (adds load to the right side) preloading helps that a lot. Coil spring cars got a station wagon spring or special wound heavy coil in the right. Sixties muscle cars with leafs often had a lot stiffer right rear - like an extra leaf in the mopar cars. My 442 liked soft "cheater slicks" - check Hoosier tire for some DOT legal softies

 

Thanks will give it a try for sure easy enough.

 

It’s 285/40-18’s in the rear. Was trying to get Nitto 555 R2’s but they are back order for months so went with their 555 G2’s. It’s a Ford 8.8 posi rearend. I might get some cement bags and put back there too.

 

Aw man, you should have tried out the NT05. They're hella grippy.

With removing the blocks and adding a bit of weight in the back, I think you'll be good.