what is the rule of thumb on setting the cal track system. I have a 10.5 tire and a mono leaf spring was suggested. I heard that an 1/8" off the leaf spring. Suggestions please. And also there are three hole settings also and how do i know which one to set on. Thank you for the input usterWork

John Calvert has taken the time to talk to me even when I wasn't buying anything. Good guy.

Soft inital hit - lower hole, zero preload
Harder initial hit - lower hole, preloaded
Even Harder initial hit - upper hole zero preload
Hardest initial hit - upper hole with preload

another one i found....

CAL-TRAC SETTINGS
Top hole – Hardest Hit

Bottom hole – Softer Hit, moves IC forward

More Pre-load, Softer Hit

Less Pre-load, air gap, harder hit

If car pulls to the right add a quarter turn of pre-load to the right bar and visa versa.

Set front shocks soft

Set rear shocks on #5, if car wants to porpoise go to 6 or 7 (harder).

If car spins, needs harder hit

Too much wheel stand…. Softer hit, restrict front travel

Information on how to set up your CalTracs suspension. ( Found this on another forum)


I thought I would make a POST FOR setup and issues that almost everyone has with Caltracs.
Also a place to start from for the first run/test pass along with how to adjust after you have a few passes. Start at the front and make sure the front control arms are not binding. This is one of the biggest issues. You can do this with after market bushings or control arms or just elbow grease. The control arms should fall on their own without having to push them down. The front springs need to be of a drag style that will give you the best weight transfer you can and MUST HAVE AT LEAST 5" OF UPWARD TRAVEL IN THE FRONT END. Shocks should be of a good drag style. I use the CalTracs shocks and there are great adjustable shocks for big wheelstanding cars. After doing all the above, SET THE SHOCKS AT FULL LOOSE FOR THE FIRST FEW RUNS. FOR THE REAR, same thing binding is the number 1 issue most the time it's in the shackels and the front leaf spring mounting bolt. Every car I see the bolts are over tightened. You should be able to push the rear down 5-6" easy without the shock or Caltrac mounted. Lube all bushings well and don't over tighen. Make sure theres no binding, any adjustment later will work. I always start in the upper hole and preload 1/4-1/2 depending on the appliciation. Shock settings ON REAR, I always start at full tight on extension. Know that the car is setup for a test pass; have someone video it.

The car will DO only a few THINGS now. IT WILL HOOK AND PULL A HUGE WHEELIE; IT WILL HOOK AND DO WANT YOU NEED; IT WILL HOOK AND pull left or right; IT WILL HOOK AND SPIN 20FT OUT; IT WILL KILL THE REAR TIRE BY HITTING IT WAY TOO HARD IF YOU HAVE DONE EVERYTHING UP TOP; I'M 95% SURE IT WILL ONLY DO ONE OF THESE THINGS.

IF IT HOOKS AND PULLS A HUGE WHEELIE THEN TIGHTEN THE FRONT SHOCKS. THIS SHOULD BE THE ONLY REASON TO TIGHTEN THE FRONT SHOCK. IF IT HOOKS AND PULLS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT THEN PUT A LITTLE PRELOAD ON THE SIDE IT PULLS TO. IF IT HOOKS AND SPINS 20FT OUT START, LOOSEN THE EXTENSION ON THE REAR SHOCKS 1-2 CLICKS AT A TIME TILL IT HOOKS AND STAYS ON THE REAR TIRE. IF IT KILLS THE REAR TIRE, YOU NEED TO PUT THE BARS IN THE LOWER HOLE AND ADJUST THE SAME AS YOU WOULD IN THE UPPER HOLE. IF YOU HAVE LOWERED THE CAR A LOT, THERE ARE OTHER TRICKS TO DO BUT FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE CalTracs cars OUT THERE, this will be ALL YOU NEED

What the heck Doug, you think you're a Doctor or something??

Quote:

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What the heck Doug, you think you're a Doctor or something??

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Hmmm I think he is..

Here is a picture from my residency training...lol

thanks guys,,,

Dougy...You crack me up!!

Wow Doug that was awesome i am starting over on my setup thanks

doug, thanks for the great info. can you give us the additional info / tricks for a lowered car.

So I'm presuming that the Rancho 9000's set on 9 would be the stiffest on extension?? and 1 would be the softest which would let the rear rise too quickly...right???

First test and tune this weekend with the new Caltrac/Mono set up so gotta make sure we understand the shock settings.

thanks for this informed post ,what do you guys make of this ? with my homemade caltracks i have set up in my crapa is lower hole shocks on 1, 0 pre load is the only way this will hook 2inch lowed blocks ,split mono leaf ,calvert 90/10 my 60 ft are 1.6 ,will it work better with a small air gap , with pre load it spins.

thanks mr. p i will add to my notes

Calling Doctor Howard, Doctor Fine, Doctor Howard... Calling Doctor Howard, Doctor Fine, Doctor Howard!