Don't know if I missed it, but all of you that were getting these, did it help or not? I don't recall seeing the after effect posted.

Thanks

 

Drag Shocks are a must for launching with any RPM at all. Without the shocks a gear will be a waste, even with the slicks. Only set back is they are not designed for street use. Very small design and made for straight line performance only. The rears are very easy to put on/off so stock shocks could be reinstalled. Fronts are a different story, not so easy to put on/off. Hope this helps your decision making.

 

"Drag Shocks are a must for launching with any RPM at all."...Drag shocks help weight transfer. With the Lightning being lower than a stock F-150, weight transfer will be an issue, even with drag shocks. Sticky tires are more important for a good launch.

"Without the shocks a gear will be a waste, even with the slicks."...I know a couple of Lightnings without drag shocks, one even has been lowered, that launch good without drag shocks. Both have gears too. Again, sticky tires are key to good launches.

"Only set back is they are not designed for street use."...I have driven my Mustang on the street for 4 years with drag shocks and have absolutely no problem with them. If you are concerned about 90/10 front drag shocks for street use, 70/30 shocks are a nice alternative.

"Very small design and made for straight line performance only."..."Very small design?" Huh? If you keep your anti-sway bar on the car, cornering will not suffer with drag shocks. If you take off your anti-sway bar however, you will have to take corners at a much slower pace than the typical Lightning owner.

"The rears are very easy to put on/off so stock shocks could be reinstalled. Fronts are a different story, not so easy to put on/off."...Yeah, it is really difficult to change the front shocks! The hardest part is that you have to jack up your truck to crawl under it! The rest is a piece of cake.

"Hope this helps your decision making."...?!!!!!

------------------
HotRodSix
'98 STX Flairside 4.2L Auto
Best 1/4: 16.03 sec. @ 85.9 mph
Dyno: 180 rwhp / 228 ft-lb




[This message has been edited by HotRodSix (edited 05-04-2000).]

 

Hey Andre, did you Texas boys cut off the heating oil supply to state of Michigan again?

 

No, but I guess we must have peed in his wheaties.

 

I put the drag shocks on last week didn't notice a giant improvement in 60' times. They aren't that bad on the street but rail road tracks have become a very slow place. I've removed the front and rear sway bars too. This too isn't that bad on the street but expressway enterance aren't a place to do 80 anymore. I'm going to try taking a leaf or two off the bottom of the rear springs and add a few extra spring clamps to see if I can get the rear to squat a little more at launch. I guess I'll find out if wheel hop becomes a problem.

HIGH RISK

 

Thanks for the response. I know alot of people were talking of getting them but never really posted their personal ideas AFTERWORDS.

Thanks again.

 

HIGHRISK
Did the "remove rear leafs thing and got a lot of wheel hop". Didn't try adding more clamps, might help? Just my $.02 worth, which its much it seems. Maybe I need to put in more $$$.

HotRodSix
Drag shocks compaired to Lightning stock shocks are, are very small and flimsy. Since they don't make any for the Lightning and having to make do with some off the shelf item. (Competition Engineering)
Fronts are a pain in the bottom, can't get an air wratchet to the tops, having to use two wrenches and only able to turn at half turns at a time. This would not be a weekend job I would like each time I wanted to go racing! As far as your stang, it doesn't weigh anywhere near what the "L" does and would not be near as hard on the shocks on the street. The drag shocks that are out there now that will fit the "L" are made for cars in the 3800 lb range not a 4700 lb truck. Sorry but I will not run mine on the street.
I have also run "Stickie" slicks and without the shocks they would not hold with any RPM at all, would only spin as witnessed by many on this board. It wasn't till the shocks were added that the truck has ever hooked up with any RPM at all.(I am not the only one who has experienced this either). This included the gear change also, which by the way made it worse seeing how it is eaiser to get the power to the rear wheels with the gears.
My sway bars are on and the truck does suffer on the street cornering. The nose drops down and sets up a very lose rear end. I don't usually corner fast but tried after installing shocks and noticed how different the truck felt. Oh yea, I have tried all three settings in the front and rear.
MRBBQMAN
Nope, don't need my fuel taxes to go up anymore! Paying enough to offset the need for heating oil .
PFA:
Take it for what its worth, I gave you my opinnion and you know what they say about opinnions......

 

Thanks guys!