Hi,

I've been looking through this forum trying to find a solution to my problem and I believe I've found it but I still want to get further opinions to see if my assessment is right.

I've recently put a 700-R4 in my '82 Trans Am with an alumiunium drive shaft and I'm now having big issues getting traction as my tyres spin real easy on the track. I even dropped the tyre pressure down to 15psi but it made no difference. The tyres also chirp changing between 1st and 2nd gear.

Before I got the new trans in, I had a 200C and once borrowed a friend's 15" wheels with Yokohama's on and I got traction then, but the car started wheel hopping and fish tailing. I usually have 14" rims with Firestone steel radials on.

From what I've read, installing lower control arm relocation brackets would help me the most. Sure, I could get better tyres, but then I'd just be swapping one problem for another since I've shown that better tyres give me wheel hop.

So, would LCA brackets make my existing tyres grip better? If not, what would? I'd rather not have to put new tyres on at the moment, they still have plenty of tread on them.

Thanks

 

Yeah the relocators seem to eliminate most peoples traction problems. Check out this thread...

https://www.thirdgen.org/techbb2/sho...hreadid=199802

 

Cool, thanks for that. That'll give me something to work on.

 

Look to the TA first... upgrade that and I'll bet wheel hop goes away.

 

Dont try to tell anyone else that, most people on the board believe that the stock torque arm is 'adequate' for almost all applications. I have been lead to believe (by experience) that the torque arm is the source of my traction nightmare, Ive done everything else and cant best a 2.4 60ft.

 

THIS CAR has the stock torque arm.

 

Recently bought an '85 Berlinetta; 305 LG4, 700-R4, 3:08 open diff, 14" worn tires(!). I could spin the tire anytime I wanted, then bought a set of 15" Firehawks (235's). I could still spin the tire, but not as easy and still chirp them during 1-2 shifts. Then something broke, and I would have a scraping sound if I tried to take off quickly. It turned out to be a broken transmission mount. Put a new stock rubber mount in, and new rear Monroe SensaTrac shocks. I can barely spin the tires now. The traction is great.

Just wanted to throw my experience in.

 

the first thing u need to do is get some drag radials, BFGs are really nice. no amount of suspension mods will make regular radials hook like a drag radial. get the drag radials then the relocation brackets and such.

 

"Sure, I could get better tyres, but then I'd just be swapping one problem for another since I've shown that better tyres give me wheel hop. "

Not really, getting some wheel hop with better tires is probably because the tires are actually trying to grip. Then work to eliminate the wheel hop--mine stopped when I made some LCA relocation brackets. If the tires don't grip, the other mods become a waste.

 

I can't get to this site, are you sure the URL is correct?

 

Mmmm, you do have a good point there. Trouble is, I'm not sure if I can get stickier tyres for my 14" rims. I'm hesitant to go to a larger rim because I like the style of rims I have. Pros and cons of everything I guess. Would there be a way to make my existing tyres grip better? Spray some sort of compound on them, put bags of sand in the trunk?

 

What kind and size of tire are you running? They do make a drag radial in 215/60R14's. Or you could get a couple 15 inch 'junkyard' wheels and put some sticky tires on them.

 

Works for me.

 

before you spend mucho money on a new TQ arm, i suggest you just try a poly bushing in there.... im sure your stock rubber one is toast..

with a ply TQ arm mount, boxed stock LCAs and homemade LCA relocation brackets, i had my old car hooking hard... im bad at remembering numbers, and its been awhile, but i know it was sub 2sec..

 

I've got the 14" turbo cast rim, I think they are14x7 but I'm not entirely sure. I'm beginning to think that unless I come across some 15" turbo rims that I can use all the time, I may have to get some other rims. I know of someone selling a set of gold 16x8s from an '89 GTA for NZ$600 with tyres. But I don't think I can be shagged spending that much money given what I've recently spent on my new trans.

 

This is the bush that goes onto the trans, right? From memory, that looked OK. My rear sway bar bushes are rather toast, so much so they're almost charcoaled.

I've got some measurements for getting some metal cut out to box in my LCAs. It's a start.

Where exactly do the LCA relocation brackets mount?

 

Oh, I forgot to ask. Would it be worth my while getting new LCA bushes? Would the condition of these have that much effect on the performance of the rear suspension?

 

given how cheap they now are, i would just buy some aftermarket LCAs instead of welding on the stockers... the aftermarket ones come with new bushings, and somtimes new hardware.


the relocation brackets are welded on the axle over the top of the orignal mounting brackets... when i go to buy some for the 91, im probly going to get the spohn ones... his come with complete directions..

i recall several posts about them on here, with pictures... id do a search..

if you are boxing your stockers anyway though, yea, id put new bushings in there...

 

I've thought about it, but the trouble is that I'd have to import everything and the cost of freight bumps the price up noticeably.

Found the pics.

Yeah I'll be boxing them in, anything to save a dollar.