OK guys...and gals, I need some ideas on whats the best setup for rear suspension system... I want the car to be more streetable than strip but still be able to hookup well. My 9" rear with posi and 3.25 gear ratio is ready to put in and I'd like to do the suspension mods at the same time.. Some very specific ideas and opinions and even pics would be very appreciated
I went with 4 leaf springs from ESPO, with poly bushings and KYB gas shocks. Along with p275 drag radials it hooks well with a 3000 stall.. Scotty P
I wish I didnt have so many irons in the fire so I could design a simple bolt-on triangulated 4-link for use with coil-overs. Looks like a very simple thing to do and would work well if set up right. It would be similar to a FOX mustang, except the geometry would be a "little" better lol. Not that there's anything wrong with the FOX setup, it just could be tweaked some for better performance. In my book, it's one of the best designs for a street car this side of going fully independent.
Foxxy suspension I agree with mavman, its amazing how a little tweaking on a fox body style fourlink works so well with the right geometry. It would be neat to have a bolt-on style suspension that uses the leaf spring mounts for attachment. Now that would be a fun project. Given the "spare" time. lol.
Suspension Well being it is very early in the AM, I guess I will try to give an opinion on this subject with some java in my cup and a shakey hand. I have never understood why everyone wants to use 4 leaf springs on the Mav's. If you want it sitting sky high and maybe haul a ton of Cheby parts to the scrap yard, go for it. As far as getting better bite on the tires, it just compounds the problem. Along with ultra stiff shocks, those rubber donuts most likely will never get enough weight transfer to plant like they should. In my racing endeavors over the years have found out the whole suspension from front to back must work in sequance with each other. IE: Took the Mav with 6cyl springs front and rear, put on frame connectors, slap bars(later chgd to cal tracs) adjusted the pinion angle, and used regular 50/50 store bought shocks on back. 90/10 on front with sway bar removed and the top shock mounts spaced up one inch. With Mt's 28x9's and a stout 306 engine, got consistent low 1.60's 60ft times. When I built my 78 Fairmont, did not care for the factory four link set up so installed springs(3 leaf) from another Mav along with a 9inch and slap bars. Same basic setup as the Mav, and with a built 302 and 9in tires get 1.59--1.65 60 ft. These are all with very low gears in the rear and good track conditions etc. Helped #2 son build an 84 stang and decided to keep the factory rear suspension to see how it worked. Did install a 9in housing and boxed the lower control arms for strength, used some adjustable top links(made from tractor supply store stuff). Money is son's lack of, you know, with nearly stock engine and 90/10's struts up front and his addition of gas shocks on rear, the rear would just hop and twist around on launch. He gets mad and puts old wore out rear shocks that came with the 84 model and the darn thing first time out launchs straight and lifts the left front a few inches then rips off a 1.63 60ft on wore out 9in slicks. Weight of car, pinion angle and a million other things enter into the equation but basically the softer the rear suspension, to a point, the better weight transfer is for racing. I do think the four links are better and more easily tweaked for performance.
I know Old Guy is the definitive answer on all racing subjects. I have had good luck with the 4 leafs and gas shocks. With my old worn out 3 leafs the car woulod hop all about. With the four leafs and no slapper bars, wheel hop has not been an issue. My 60' are yet untried as the car is just now getting back togather, but the new leafs are a lot better for my car than the previous 3 leafs I had. The ride height is only 1/2 over where it was with sagging springs, so I am happy with that. I don't think this is sky-high but I would not mind hauling a ton of chevy parts either!
Well apparently my 3 leaf springs are worn out... I wouldnt have thought so with only 60,000 miles on them but maybe the fact there 34 years old enters in to it also... I am gettin alot of hop. Slap bars?,,,are we talkin traction bars with different terminology? I have new Monroe matics on the rear, I have a set of traction bars to put on. So with the new 3 leafs with the shocks and traction bars I should be ok? I only want to do this once
The reason that many of us install 4-leaf springs on our cars is because Mavericks are notorious for rear-end sag with the stock 3-leaf springs. Over time, the 4-leafs are going to "settle" because spring steel fatigues (if there's weight on it). Although 4-leaf might not be the best setup for drag racing, most of us aren't racing our Mavericks anyway, at least not seriously. For those of you who are, I suggest doing what Old Guy suggested. Otherwise, for a street car, the 4-leafs are a great way to get rid of that awful "sag" and also make for better handling. Just try taking curves with 6-cyl. springs, 90/10 shocks and no sway bar...hope you like being scared...
riporter Seems as though I have stepped on some toes with my post to you. Just trying to give my experience with the springs etc. Under different conditions and uses of the cars, 4 leafs may help. With no traction bars(slap bars down south) they probably help stop some wheel hop. I often forget that not all cars are set up for strip only as mine are and I apologize for that. And as for being all knowing about racing, if that were true about all good racers, we would all win every race. I can list all my wins on one sheet of paper but the losses would fill a 100 page book. As far as your car, I assumed that you had checked the springs and bushings and were in good shape, if they are shot replace with 3 or 4 leafs, it's your call. As far as driving a mav on the street without the front sway bar and 90/10 shocks up front, not a good thing to do. The shock mfg. prints on the shock itself "Not for street use" If you use traction bars and a 3.25 gear, traction should not be a problem anyway until you get to 4 to 500 hp range.
Nor here Old Guy. The "all knowing" was a compliment. I ALWAYS pay attention to what you say! TL said it well. All our Mavs are for different uses. Mine sees the strip 3-4 times a year and the 4 leafs are great for that.. Scotty P
Thx Yall, I'm gonna put the traction bars on tomorrow and see how much that helps...if its not enuf, I'll get new leafs...probably 4's to put on before the new rear end goes in. I would really like to try and get some 15x10's under it. I'll post again tomorrow after the traction bars go on.
ol guy.... i can probly speak for just about everybody here on the "ol guy" topic. you are IT. total respect. you forgot more than many of us will ever know.
