caltracs vs slide-a-link?

Posted By: sshemi

caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/07/12 11:52 AM

share your thoughts please.
This is for a more street than strip car with man trans.
I like the slide-a-links because of the tubular design so you can adjust it loose at the street allowing the spring to do its work.

Is there really any big difference between them traction vice?

Posted By: jbc426

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/07/12 12:04 PM

I've never tried slide-a-links, but I do have my Caltracs adjusted with them backed off all the way, as far as they can go for the street.

They still work incredibly well and ride smooth except on the harshest bumbs.

When they are adjusted for the track, they are too harsh for normal street use on anything but the smoothest streets.

I am running AFCO Double adjustable shocks and they help tremendously, for what it's worth.

Posted By: an8sec70cuda

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/07/12 04:03 PM

You can also back the Cal-Tracs off to loosen them up for the street.
The Cal-Tracs are definitely a superior setup.

Posted By: sshemi

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/07/12 06:41 PM

Quote:

You can also back the Cal-Tracs off to loosen them up for the street.
The Cal-Tracs are definitely a superior setup.

can you help me understand that? to me they look almost identical.

And how can you make the caltracs all loose? its still a solid rod right?
If you loosen the slide-a-links all the way it does nothing, its like its not there.

Help me understand

Posted By: StealthWedge67

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/07/12 07:07 PM

Cal tracs are NOT just a solid rod. The rod is threaded at both ends, reverse of each other, so they are completely adjustable. My buddy has slide-A-links on his Nova, and I have Cal-Tracs.... There is no comparison materials quality wise. The slide-A-links seem to be a light-weight tube that is threaded on the inside, while the caltracs feature heavy guage materials, and the ends of the adjustable bar have a large nut welded into the ends. Cal-Tracs have a beautiful powder-coated finish, while the Slide-A-Links, I believe, are anodized. Also, Calvert offers a complete system designed to work together. I don't think Competition Engineering even makes a reccomendation on spring rates to use with their bars (???).

Buy the Calvert stuff!

Posted By: sshemi

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/07/12 07:53 PM

i have used slide-a-links before and i like them, they work good at the strip and you can back them off at the street to let the spring do its work.
I dont understand how the caltracs can let the spring work as the bars cant get any longer or shorter as the leaf spring does?

And i dont hink you need calvert springs to make it work, they are just single leafs witch help unsprung weight.
Aldough i believe you need a "weak" spring with alot of wrap up to make it work good.
I dont think a super stock spring is any good for example.

Posted By: StealthWedge67

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/07/12 08:38 PM

Quote:

I dont understand how the caltracs can let the spring work as the bars cant get any longer or shorter as the leaf spring does?

And i dont hink you need calvert springs to make it work, they are just single leafs witch help unsprung weight.

I'll preface by saying that I,ve never worked with Slide-A-Links. I've just watched a buddy work with them. (Edit: Ive taken a good look at the Slide-A-Link install instructions)

You'll have to explain to me how leaf springs change length.... They arch, but they do not change length. All the moving parts in the bar section of the slide's would make me a little nervous. I like the fact that the Cal-tracs adjustability is at the spring, not in a slidable section of the bar.

As far as the Split Mono's, I think you're over simplifying things a bit. They are a (2) part spring with different spring rates front and rear to optimize the way they work with the bars. They're not absolutely necessary, but they are a combo proven to have the ability to plant some pretty fast cars.

I'm not saying the Competition Engineering stuff doesn't work, I'm sure it works just fine. I'm just saying that I'm very happy with my choice to go with Calvert, and I'd go this direction again without hesitation. I do adjust mine to have zero preload on the street where they ride very nice, and quickly adjust preload into them for the track where my car flat sticks on 255 drag radials.

Posted By: b1dartsport

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 12:37 AM

If I were you I would not run the competition engineering setup on the street. I know someone who did and he damaged the tubes after only less than 50 mi of street driving. The Cal Trac setup is much more heavy duty and can be adjusted to almost the same ride as stock suspension. Just my

-Randy

Posted By: clovis

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 02:53 AM

And i dont hink you need calvert springs to make it work, they are just single leafs witch help unsprung weight.
Aldough i believe you need a "weak" spring with alot of wrap up to make it work good.

I just traded out my "weak" original 6 cylinder springs for the Cal-Trac mono's and I have to say that the car 60fts slightly better but it is far more consistent at this point (1.397/1.385/1.396). When I weighed the mono's against the stock springs it was just a few pounds lighter per side. As much as I hated shelling out the $400, I will have to say that the monos were a good investment. With the whole set-up together Cal-trac, mono, ranchos and 90/10's I feel confident in making adjustments and the car is working better now than ever. I see a consistent 1.35 60ft in my future.

Attached picture 7241069-june240%.JPG

Posted By: sshemi

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 08:36 AM

By "weak" springs i dont mean low duty low spring rate

Posted By: sshemi

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 08:49 AM

Ofcourse the leafs dont change length, sorry about that, yes they arch and flattens when at load meaning that the distance from the front mount to center of the leaf is increasing. Same for the rear part of the spring. Orherwise you wouldnt need the rear shackles. This is why i dOnt see how the caltracs allows the spring to arch where the slide-a-links do

Im not saying what works and not as i have only tried the slide-a-links.
Guess i wanted to learn how it works and the differences.
Seems like there aren too many slide-a-link users out there

Posted By: alice

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 10:15 AM

I'm not saying the Competition Engineering stuff doesn't work, I'm sure it works just fine.

Posted By: MR_P_BODY

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 12:08 PM

Quote:

I'm not saying the Competition Engineering stuff doesn't work, I'm sure it works just fine.

Alice why do you cut and paste on all of your post...
looked at a few of your post and each was just a
cut and paste statement from someone else

Posted By: cudaboy

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 01:01 PM

Quote:

Quote:

I'm not saying the Competition Engineering stuff doesn't work, I'm sure it works just fine.

Alice why do you cut and paste on all of your post...
looked at a few of your post and each was just a
cut and paste statement from someone else

Look at "her" profile. Spammer.

Dennis

Posted By: Kiddart

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 01:31 PM

I am having a hard time following this thread. If not mistaken the original question was to ask what the differences and reation of each to the suspension from the slide a links to the calverts??? I think.

My brother has the slid a links on his dart he likes them but complains alot of the rear end feels as if it kind of floats or walks. hard to explaine its a feel thing. he did change from a ss spring to a HD spring it feels better to him, the spring rates are the same. thats all i know about that. I would like to see two guys that run each system explain why and what they like about each system.

on a side note I told my brother to swap out the rubber on the slide a links to a billit spacer then see how it reacts??

Kiddart

Posted By: Dean_Kuzluzski

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 01:46 PM

Quote:

on a side note I told my brother to swap out the rubber on the slide a links to a billit spacer then see how it reacts??

Pretty sure that those bushings are polyeurathane, not rubber, which has a higher density. Go to aluminum and it would certainly be a harder hit but even the softer metal may mushroom out over time. The polyeurathane is probably more resilient. Billet would find the weakest link.

No one has mentioned the "rotation forces" that are managed by both systems when the "pinion tries to climb the ringgear". Soooooo, the leaf spring, like a 4-link, would be getting stretched (in theory) and the add-on traction bar system of choice would be "in compression". Just trying to help some understand............and when there's minimal HP applied there'd be some amount of gap for street driving????

I like the input about how much the CalTracks are beefier in construction. Those are the ones for me!

Posted By: an8sec70cuda

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 02:48 PM

Quote:

Quote:

You can also back the Cal-Tracs off to loosen them up for the street.
The Cal-Tracs are definitely a superior setup.

can you help me understand that? to me they look almost identical.

And how can you make the caltracs all loose? its still a solid rod right?
If you loosen the slide-a-links all the way it does nothing, its like its not there.

Help me understand

If you look at the front pivot point of the Cal-Tracs setup, you'll see that if you shorten the bar, it will take all the preload off of the spring. You can back it way off where there is an air gap and the bar will never put pressure on the spring even if you run over a railroad track. There is a lot of adjustment on the bar...heim joints on both ends.
The Cal-Tracs don't have the goofy bushing and they are made of much thicker/stronger material. A friend of mine and headsup racer switched from Slide-a-links to Cal-Tracs and was very happy after doing so.
The Cal-Trac setup is just a better system, period.

Posted By: sshemi

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 04:14 PM

Now whe are talking. Aldough i have used the slide a links and disagree with all the bad things said about them and the poly bushing does not need to be changed out to one made of alu.

My consern was if the caltracs (when loosened) lets the spring work.
And it seems that it does (aldough im not 100% convinsed) so i guess the caltracs are a better design.

Posted By: an8sec70cuda

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 04:58 PM

Quote:

My consern was if the caltracs (when loosened) lets the spring work.
And it seems that it does (aldough im not 100% convinsed) so i guess the caltracs are a better design.

Have you even looked at a Cal-Trac setup before?
http://calvertracing.com/caltracs.php
It's pretty simple.

Posted By: sshemi

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 05:19 PM

Yes i have thats why asked about the difference between them.

Posted By: Bad340fish

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 05:22 PM

The cal trac system also utilizes an aluminum bushing in the front spring eye.

Posted By: 6PKRTSE

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 08:21 PM

My buddy has slide-a-links on his 69' Camaro. They dont seem to help his car hook hardly at all no matter how we adjust them. I have Caltracs on my Challenger. I prefer the Cal Trac design myself. I have not had a chance to test mine yet. Cal Trac's work from what I have ever seen. I don't see anyone knocking on the door of 6's in the 1/4 on slide-a-links. There are several cars on Cal Tracs going 7.0's at over 200.

Posted By: StealthWedge67

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 08:28 PM

Think of it this way: You can adjust the same gap in or out of either system before you start to add "preload" into the spring. With the Slide-A-Link system, that gap is in the sliding bar tubes. With the Cal-trac system, that gap is directly at the spring. It's essentially the same effect, but the Cal-Trac bars are simple and strong, while the bars in the slide-A-link system have a buch of sliding and moving parts.

Posted By: b1dartsport

Re: caltracs vs slide-a-link? - 06/08/12 09:56 PM

Another thing to consider: John Calvert is a Racer,his product has been tested and beat on by the man himself. Anybody who has any contact with John or his company knows they are no BS. I know of racers who were on the phone with John for hours getting there combo together and he stands behind his product 100%.