Rear drag springs

I know there has been a thread on this, I searched, but couldnt find it.


I'm doing a fairly large build in the near future, after which I hope to make some significant HP gains. Considering that the 400 ponies she makes in stock form is enough to get the rear to hop around like a flaming bunny, I know I'll need to do something to tame it.


So heres the deal; The wife is in a good mood :wiggle: and I think I can squeeze one more part out of her before the major goat surgery.

So I ask you: Do I put in drag bags like I originally intended, or do the pedders rear drag springs. I dont have a ton of cash to spend, so a large setup is out of the question.

Thanks in advance for your input.

if your just trying to cure wheelhop at the strip then go bags, otherwise i vote springs.

I'm going to suggest the drag bags. I have used them with great results while at the track and on the street. I have been to the track with other GTO guys with drag springs and they still hopped like "flammin bunnies", but it might have been driving or tires...

Future plans for me are Drag springs with Drag bags incase of any chance of hop!

The Bags are Fine. But springs may do a Better overall job day to day driving. you can always add the bags...Frank

Add the springs. Way better than the bags. I will give you a good thing to think about. Using the bags won't help how week the stock springs are. Plus, the dampers will onlyt take so much abuse before needed replacement. A few choice bushings, and you'll have a solid feeling car with very minimal wheel hop. I have non at all now. But I have modded everything for handeling. No bag for me. At least this pat year. I did have them, and was not happy.

Add the springs. Way better than the bags. I will give you a good thing to think about. Using the bags won't help how week the stock springs are. Plus, the dampers will onlyt take so much abuse before needed replacement. A few choice bushings, and you'll have a solid feeling car with very minimal wheel hop. I have non at all now. But I have modded everything for handeling. No bag for me. At least this pat year. I did have them, and was not happy.

Weird... Last time we were at the track you were hopping like an SOB.... :o

Thanks for the advice. Its a tough decision, but I think I'm leaning toward the springs due to the fact that I can just add bags.

My First GTO, you have a PM comming with a few questions...

Weird... Last time we were at the track you were hopping like an SOB.... :o

Bad launch RPM's, and too high on the tire pressure.

Pedders 5/16 springs stopped my wheel hop.

Pedders 5/16 springs stopped my wheel hop.

How about the look? do you like the rake with the new springs?

Thanks for the advice. Its a tough decision, but I think I'm leaning toward the springs due to the fact that I can just add bags.

My First GTO, you have a PM comming with a few questions...

Now u got one...Frank

Pedders 5/16 springs stopped my wheel hop.

I'm hoping so, too. I just bought my 5/16 springs and shocks yesterday (yay!) and I'm going to test them out next week at the strip.

How about the look? do you like the rake with the new springs?


Not as high as i thought it would be, looks great.

Can't go wrong with the drag springs! Was a HUGE improvement over stock and absolutely NO rub with my 275 Toyo's on the 10" wide CCW's in back. I was worried about the raise being too high, but I think it looks great. Here is a recent photo from the side after a wash. Sorry for the rusty rotors as they seem to rust immediately with any water!:rolleyes:

http://www.ls2gto.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=64705&stc=1&d=1187734141

Thank you for the reassuring news. You just made my purchase even that much more justified! :)

looks like i know where im spending my extra 200 bucks :) 5/16 springs FTW

Maybe you guys can help me out. I bought some 275-40-17 MT ET DRs. I mounted them on stock suspension and you can guess what happened. I shredded them like crazy. Stupid me, I forgot to put the drag bags in first. I did that yesterday. It helped tremendously with clearance and rubbing. I even liked how they rode firmer than stock and absorbed some of the harshness of the road. But I realized this morning they were not holding the air and leaking. So now I want to fix my issues right. I want no rubbing issues AT ALL. I want a better feel out of my car than stock. This is my daily driver and I dont plan on going to the track more than a few times per year. I will however enjoy the occassional stoplight to stoplight or freeway pull. What should I do?

looks like i know where im spending my extra 200 bucks :) 5/16 springs FTW

I know Too...LOl.....Frank:)

Researching this for my roommate (I already dumped my mod money for the year in suspension lol).......

He has a 06 (M6) and wheel hops like crazy at the track. He either needs drag bags or some stiffer springs, probably even some bushings. Looking at spending the least money first to see what kind of results we get.

How much for 5/16 springs? Also, if just replacing these, would the car need an alighnment or should it be fine?

And for the guys that put in drag bags, I take it you have to always leave them in there since the bump stops are cut off? What if you later decide to go with some stiffer springs? Can you do so even if you cut them out?

Researching this for my roommate (I already dumped my mod money for the year in suspension lol).......

He has a 06 (M6) and wheel hops like crazy at the track. He either needs drag bags or some stiffer springs, probably even some bushings. Looking at spending the least money first to see what kind of results we get.

How much for 5/16 springs? Also, if just replacing these, would the car need an alighnment or should it be fine?

And for the guys that put in drag bags, I take it you have to always leave them in there since the bump stops are cut off? What if you later decide to go with some stiffer springs? Can you do so even if you cut them out?

The springs are 126.50 each and No need for a rear cradle alignment you won't need one just for a spring replacement just Don't Cut your stop to close or your spring May not seat ....Frank

The springs are 126.50 each and No need for a rear cradle alignment you won't need one just for a spring replacement just Don't Cut your stop to close or your spring May not seat ....Frank

So since I have cut my bump stops already for my drag bags I wont be able to mount my new drag springs?

So since I have cut my bump stops already for my drag bags I wont be able to mount my new drag springs?

No, Not at all Just DON'T CUT it to low as i said in my P/m to you...Frank

Yeah.. I kinda learned the hard way.... I cut a little to low and then ground the rough edge and burrs. I was going over the car before racing and noticed the driver's side rear spring was sliding off the perch. I just lowered the A-Arm, unbolted the shock realigned the spring, re-ran the line to the drag bag and it's been fine ever since. I will though be having a bead of weld put there to prevent it in the future!!

TheEricHarris- I suggest a better tire as well. If he uses a spare set of wheels at the track, I suggest ET Street bias ply (not the DRs) and drag bags, with this set-up the only time I see wheel hop is in the water box, for obvious reasons...

chirogto- from what I have seen locally at the track, you'll need drag bags with the drag springs. This is my future plan as it is. I have been using just drag bags for almost two years now and one side leak slightly. I re-ran the line as stated above and it is less of a leak but still does it. Anyhow, I am local to a few guys with drag springs and shock with other bushings as well, those cars are "hoppers" for sure, I practically swear by the by the use of drag bags now and I think the results of bags, drag springs and shocks would be simply insane for perfect launches!!

For those of you who put your own drag springs in....where you able to do so without any special tools. Mine havent come in the mail yet, so I havent been under the car to look yet. I know on my camaro I can just lower the rear end all the way down and pull them out by hand and put them back in the same way. Please tell me its that easy with the GTO.....

I guess I found my answer, missed this thread the first time.
http://www.ls2gto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=178380&highlight=replacing+springs

Where can you get the Pedders drag springs?

Brenton

http://westfield-et.com/product_info.php?cPath=21_33_25&products_id=41

Thats where I just got mine from. Arrived today, fast service and nice tech support. There are a few other choices but prices are pretty much the same or out of stock else where..

Awesome, thanks man!

Brenton

The Pedders +5/16" rear springs, along with good shocks and some poly bushings will just about kill most if not all wheelhop. They also allow 275 drag radials to fit into the rear wheel wells. Just replacing the springs alone might not eliminate wheel hop completely. Also get the Pedders GSR or Big Bore shocks. Minimal bushings would be the differential insert and crossmember bushings (I have Noltec bushings which are cheaper and works just as well).

Here is what my car looks like with the Pedders +5/16" springs. I think the mild rake looks great.

http://mywebpage.netscape.com/batboybain/vehicles/GTO-side-cropped.jpg