[rat infested]

Hellp
Any you guys running a front clip?
I have one of the smith racecraft strange strut front clips ( nice bit of kit )
BUT
Having problems with a few chassis issues Like : set pre-load on ladder bars and after a few BIG LAUNCHES ( 1.33 60ft )
All the pre-load has gone !
Running a built to the hilt 12 bolt that has been severley braced
full 8.50 cage
chassis connector upon chassis connector
rear ladder bar "clip"
???? AAAHHHH ????

ANY ideas or previous answers would be appreciated
Ta

 

[Real McCoy]

Is your LB crossmember made well and installed to the frame connectors and roll cage so it is rigid? Are the 12 bolt axel tubes welded to the case and not moving? Are the ladder bars made well and not bending? Are the LB mounts on the rear end totally boxed in and not bending. Those would be the first things I looked at.

 

[rat infested]

Thanks for takin the time to help out
Thing is YES to all of the questions
this axle tube bracing / LB brackets etc etc were all done in by a T/Fuel chassis builder.
Only thing not done by them is front clip
Was wondering if anyone "Tied" the clip into the roll cage at the top mounts ?
axle bracing is superb
LB mounts connect to subframe AND through floor to roll cage
first thoughts were axle so thats when we "Braced" it
Just keep losing pre-load ??!!
ANYONE seen this before ?

 

[67 church]

I have seen this before on my own car. I thaught I had all the bases covered. You did say the axle was back braced? If not it needs to be severly braced. The rear end will bend like a banana causing the back side of the axle tube welds to break, then the break will work its way all the way around the tube. My remedy was a fabbed rear end, 9"style.

I would most certainly tie the front into the cage. Otherwise you are hanging everything from the fire wall. If the firewall is weak you could be bending the front. Is the paint on the "A" pillars cracked? this would indicate too much front end flex.

Could you take a few pictures? This may help track down the problem.

 

[rat infested]

Thanks for the reply
I have had a good look at ALL the bracing and welds on the axle
NO SIGNS of movement ( I already had an issue with the axle tube rotating which is why it was all back braced )
I will post some pics ( I think )
Do I have to download the to someone like photobucket first then attach the link ?
didn't look at your profile before writing this
Is your car a "Front clip" car or a REAL ONE with a tube chassis ?

 

[rat infested]

Thanks for the reply

didn't look at your profile before writing this
Is your car a "Front clip" car or a REAL ONE with a tube chassis ?

OOOOPS
just looked at your site
Sorry

 

[67 church]

Its a real one...... with a stock clip!

 

[Real McCoy]

What happens that makes you think you lost the preload? You set the preload how? Adjustable ladder bars or with the rod end? Then you run it and it is fine? Define fine, goes straight on launch? Then after more runs the car does what that says the preload is gone? goes left or right or?

 

[rat infested]

Thanks for the reply
Set Pre-load on double adjustable comp engineering L/B's
car runs good ( straight burn out and straight launch )
After a couple of runs
car starts to burnout and turn right ( running a spool )
launch starts to go right
check pre-load ( jack car from centre point on front clip )
all the pre-load gone and wheels NOW equal height off ground
have to put 2 to 3 turns MORE on pass side ladder bar !!!
Craig

 

[Real McCoy]

OK that explains alot there. You should be able to see something bending or evidence of flexing and you say you see nothing? Do you have safety straps or devices on the front rod end? The rod end is not bending?

 

[rat infested]

By " front rod end " i assume you mean on the L/B
If so yes it has the factory comp eng safety straps
and mounts are triple braced to floor/crossmember and welded through into Roll cage.

 

[Real McCoy]

Yes the front LB rod end was my concern. They can get bent sometimes. So you're sure they are not bent? Without being there to look, that's all I can think of to check.