ladder bars

hardtimes · 04-02-2015, 01:44 PM

I have heard different things, but how should a ladder bar car be set up as far as the angle of the bars. I have heard level, down, and a few say up. what is right.
This is a 3000lb car w driver that has ladder bars/coil overs with Qa1 single adjustable shocks on the rear a 29x10.5 slick and runs 6.60's in the 1/8th mile NO trans-brake
What spring should it have I have heard 110 and 130. where should the shocks be adjusted to start with.

Mike Pearson · 04-02-2015, 02:33 PM

set your ladder bars up with 2 degree down angle with respect to the bottom of the rocker panel on the car. put a protractor or smart level on the rocker panel see what degree that is and make the bottom bar on the ladder bar 2 degrees more down angle. put 2 degrees down angle on the pinion. My car weighs 3165 and I have the same type shocks as you. I run 110 lb springs. I run my shocks 2 clicks from loose

Bob Mulry · 04-03-2015, 10:33 AM

Hi,

I think that any racer who wants to work on their suspension owes it to themselves to buy Door Slammers: The Chassis Book by Dave Morgan...

A very good read with a ton of info.....

I bought mine over 20 years ago.....

Bob

HandOverFist · 04-03-2015, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bob Mulry

Hi,

I think that any racer who wants to work on their suspension owes it to themselves to buy Door Slammers: The Chassis Book by Dave Morgan...

A very good rear with a ton of info.....

I bought mine over 20 years ago.....

Bob

Same here...it helped a ton working with my first 4-link and all the info is still relevant.

jmcarter · 04-03-2015, 12:22 PM

The book is only $43 on Amazon, hard to beat.

Dragsinger · 04-03-2015, 04:43 PM

Hard,

The setup Mike presented has worked well for me with three different cars. [the slightly down position]

I "think" with the average, slightly front heavy door car, that is a good setup.

In addition, a rear anti-roll bar will change a very good working car to an excellent package.

With three different situations, I have personally experience cars that were very consistent become copy machines with the addition of a rear anti-roll bar. [all three ladder bar setups]

A 1990 Firebird that I campaigned for several seasons with the above setup could and did win without changing the dial in over a race of 7 - 8 rounds. It ran an average ET 6.15 in the 1/8th.

Ron Gusack · 04-03-2015, 08:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mike Pearson

set your ladder bars up with 2 degree down angle with respect to the bottom of the rocker panel on the car. put a protractor or smart level on the rocker panel see what degree that is and make the bottom bar on the ladder bar 2 degrees more down angle. put 2 degrees down angle on the pinion. My car weighs 3165 and I have the same type shocks as you. I run 110 lb springs. I run my shocks 2 clicks from loose

What if the car likes a little pre-load on the right bar? Is that the 2* down bar?

Marty Rinehart Jr · 04-03-2015, 08:19 PM

No. The preload pulls the front of the ladder bar up.

Johnny Rod · 04-05-2015, 12:33 PM

No pre load!!! Because for every action there's a reaction.

hardtimes · 04-14-2015, 12:56 PM

I have qa1 single adjustable shock on the rear. my question is every time I tighten the shocks up the car works better. they have 12 adjustments I am at 7 from soft. car works better every time I tighten them, but it rides like a old haywagon. would like to get the car just a bit better should I tighten them even more or should I move the bars down one hole and loosen the shocks up some at this point.

04-02-2015, 01:44 PM	#1
hardtimes Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 32 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	ladder bars I have heard different things, but how should a ladder bar car be set up as far as the angle of the bars. I have heard level, down, and a few say up. what is right. This is a 3000lb car w driver that has ladder bars/coil overs with Qa1 single adjustable shocks on the rear a 29x10.5 slick and runs 6.60's in the 1/8th mile NO trans-brake What spring should it have I have heard 110 and 130. where should the shocks be adjusted to start with.

04-02-2015, 02:33 PM	#2
Mike Pearson VIP Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 2,454 Likes: 616 Liked 1,940 Times in 584 Posts	Re: ladder bars set your ladder bars up with 2 degree down angle with respect to the bottom of the rocker panel on the car. put a protractor or smart level on the rocker panel see what degree that is and make the bottom bar on the ladder bar 2 degrees more down angle. put 2 degrees down angle on the pinion. My car weighs 3165 and I have the same type shocks as you. I run 110 lb springs. I run my shocks 2 clicks from loose __________________ Mike Pearson 2485 SS

04-03-2015, 10:33 AM	#3
Bob Mulry VIP Member Join Date: Apr 2002 Location: Coarsegold, CA Posts: 1,016 Likes: 57 Liked 320 Times in 102 Posts	Re: ladder bars Hi, I think that any racer who wants to work on their suspension owes it to themselves to buy Door Slammers: The Chassis Book by Dave Morgan... A very good read with a ton of info..... I bought mine over 20 years ago..... Bob __________________ Bob Mulry 7516 STK A & M Motorsports Last edited by Bob Mulry; 04-05-2015 at 04:19 PM.

04-03-2015, 12:22 PM	#5
jmcarter VIP Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Richmond Hill GA (and Port Ludlow WA) Posts: 4,299 Likes: 2,390 Liked 3,194 Times in 975 Posts	Re: ladder bars The book is only $43 on Amazon, hard to beat. __________________ Jim Carter 2340 Super Stock 2340 SST/2340 Stock Set another place at the table

04-03-2015, 04:43 PM	#6
Dragsinger VIP Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Liberty City [East Texas] Posts: 1,760 Likes: 5 Liked 99 Times in 60 Posts	Re: ladder bars Hard, The setup Mike presented has worked well for me with three different cars. [the slightly down position] I "think" with the average, slightly front heavy door car, that is a good setup. In addition, a rear anti-roll bar will change a very good working car to an excellent package. With three different situations, I have personally experience cars that were very consistent become copy machines with the addition of a rear anti-roll bar. [all three ladder bar setups] A 1990 Firebird that I campaigned for several seasons with the above setup could and did win without changing the dial in over a race of 7 - 8 rounds. It ran an average ET 6.15 in the 1/8th. __________________ Larry Woodfin 471W

04-03-2015, 08:19 PM	#8
Marty Rinehart Jr Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Rineharts Performance Race Cars, Thomasville,PA Posts: 492 Likes: 300 Liked 333 Times in 75 Posts	Re: ladder bars No. The preload pulls the front of the ladder bar up. __________________ Marty Rinehart Jr 1125 SS STK SG SC SST

04-05-2015, 12:33 PM	#9
Johnny Rod Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Great River LI N.Y Posts: 90 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: ladder bars No pre load!!! Because for every action there's a reaction.

04-14-2015, 12:56 PM	#10
hardtimes Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Posts: 32 Likes: 0 Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Re: ladder bars I have qa1 single adjustable shock on the rear. my question is every time I tighten the shocks up the car works better. they have 12 adjustments I am at 7 from soft. car works better every time I tighten them, but it rides like a old haywagon. would like to get the car just a bit better should I tighten them even more or should I move the bars down one hole and loosen the shocks up some at this point.