Anyone ever compare super stock springs and cal tracs?

[Chargerguy74]

I'm hearing good things about both.

[Chryco Psycho]

cAL TRACS SHOULD WORK BETTER [I hate caps lock ]

[Ghoste]

I brought this question up on another forum and got a lot of different answers but basically, a properly tuned set of Cal Tracs outperform the Super Stock leaf springs.  Most of the guys using them said they are not a great street/strip setup but better for a track only car.

[Chargerguy74]

Cool, thanks for replies. I'm leaning towards cal tracs, I think they're cheaper too last time I compared.

[RD]

what springs are they using with the caltracs?  monoleaf, HD, stock? inquiring minds want to know. 

[Ghoste]

The people who seem to have had the best results with them have been using a monoleaf.

[firefighter3931]

The caltracs are very harsh driving on the street when there is some preload adjusted into the suspension. If you plan on street driving it a lot the best way to enjoy your ride would be to loosen them off...or you'll lose all the fillings in your teeth.   They do work extremely well at the track...a friend runs them on his cuda and the car is dead on consistent.  

Ron

[Chargerguy74]

I do plan on a lot of street driving, but not much cruising. It'll definately be just a friday night car....hard driven most the time. Just take it out to tune up the chevies.

[sandman21]

There was a good article on the CalTracs a few months back in MM.  I will see if I can find the exact date...

[BrianShaughnessy]

The caltracs are fine for a street car too.    I just use the regular R/T springs with them.   Not a lot of preload and a medium setting on the ranchos and the car holds the road and goes straight if ya nail it.   They beat the crap out of those BFG radial t/a's when I hit the go pedal tho.    I don't see any need for me to run a rear sway bar with them (so far).   

[CFMopar]

You can try building your own traction bars

http://www.hotrodsandhemis.com/Traction.html

One of the many things I have on my list to do 

[Chargerguy74]

Excellent read, thanks for the link! I guess my question now would be what springs would I want to run with the caltracs???

[Ghoste]

Full race, I'd go with their recommended monoleaf.  Street and strip, I'd use the Hemi (HD) type of spring.  A mainly street app, I'd stay with the stock spring.

[Chargerguy74]

Thanks ghoste, I was thinking that would be the way to go.....Hemi springs

[Chargerguy74]

What about caltrac bars and super stock springs?

[CFMopar]

I dont think you can run caltracs and ss springs because the way ss springs are designed.

[Chargerguy74]

that's what I originally thought, but wasn sure.

[Ghoste]

The SS springs are a pretty stiff unit in their own right as you already know.  Same reason the Cal Tracs work best with their own monoleaf.  They are designed to allow a certain amount of spring flex (and resulting axle windup) to plant the tire and then ease out of it as the car gets rolling.  Oversimplifying it I know, but I'm not an engineer and that's about as well as I can explain the dynamics of it.

[firefighter3931]

Caltracs won't work with a SS spring because the front segment (SS Spring) is too stiff. In that type of application the SS spring and Caltrac bar end up fighting each other. Caltracs are designed to take the flexing front segment and transfer the load back to the tires.   The HD springs are fine with Caltracs or their own monoleafs. My buddy with the cuda runs the HD springs with Caltracs at the track and loosens off the preload when he street drives the car for a more comfortable ride.

Ron

[Ghoste]

Would it be accurate to think of them as an adjustable stiffener for lighter duty springs?

[Chargerguy74]

Thanks for the good info guys. Still haven't come to a final decision, the HD springs and caltracs would cost a bit more than the ss springs, but it also looks very easy to make my own ''caltracs'' as well.

[Ghoste]

Be aware that the ss springs are going to ride like a farm wagon and change the stance of the car.  I think also that you have to change the front hangars to use them.

[Chargerguy74]

Be aware that the ss springs are going to ride like a farm wagon and change the stance of the car.   I think also that you have to change the front hangars to use them.

yeah, the hangers part is correct.

[Ghoste]

Doesn't Competition Engineering or somebody like that make something very similar to the Cal Tracs?

[CFMopar]

slide a link

[Ghoste]

That's it.  How does that unit compare?