Airride + 4 Link = Traction?

[TheMonkey]

in a heavy fullsize car; '61 Bonneville. i can fit 245 tires. rear suspension arrangement is in stock 4 link design, but is a good design. all rear arms are replaced with tubular arms and poly bushings.

i would like to put in airride all around for ride quality and adjustability. but, i'm trying to build an all-around car, and wondering about launch. 527hp 550tq with TKO600.



QUESTION:
how would rear air bags affect traction at launch? seems that these air suspensions have been proven at the auto-x, but what about drag strip?

[oestek]

I would think the key would be in rear shock settings. Air springs are not linear in their rate, so they tend to rebound hard if not controlled. The 256-way double adjustable shocks AirRide Tech sells will let you set the rebound to be "stiff" enough to control a violent rebound on launch, reducing wheelhop. I think the air springs would allow for a pretty hard launch if set up right. You could also shorten the instant center by elevating the upper rear control arm mounts to help the tires apply more aggressively. It would be interesting to play with an air system at the track. Tuning air spring pressures will have a major part to play, and if you're competing, be sure to log everything... air pressure, temp, barometer, elevation.. they all have an effect on your air spring and need to be noted for consistency. I'm interested to hear opinions on this. Good question!

[cheapthrillz]

I was wondering the same thing. I will eventually build a '65 Galaxie and was planning to do airbags all around. Let us know if you find anything out...