Expert: Dan Liddy - 7/16/2008

Question
I HAVE A DODGE NEON THAT WE TURNED INTO A DIRT TRACK RACE CAR. IT IS A STOCK CAR WITH ALL THE GLASS REMOVED AND ROLL CAGE PUT IN WITH A 5 POINT SEAT BELT. THE PROBLEM I AM HAVING IS THE BACK END BOUNCES TOO MUCH. I PUT IN A NEW STRUT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE BUT THAT DIDNT HELP. SEEMS LIKE THERE IS NOT ENOUGH WEIGHT ON THE REAR. WHEN I HIT A RUT IN THE CORNER IT HITS HARD, TOO HARD. IS THERE ANY WAY TO MAKE THE SPRING STIFFER? OR IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE I CAQN DO?

Answer
Start by having the car scaled (weigh all four corners )  You should have as close to 50-50 weight distribution as you can get.  If you need more weight in the rear, move th e battery back there.  Depending on the rules you may want to put a little ballast in the LR corner, not much, after all your engine has to pull that too !

Next, you may have to add real racing shocks to the rear, adjustables that you can change settings on.  They are aa bit pricey but if you can get ahold of Dasign Products in Cal.  , they can probably help.  I'm not at my computer so I can't look up websites and such, but he's real good at stuff like that.

I would say that for starters, you need to adjust them for maximum rebound and medium bump , take notes of the car's actions on a few hot laps, and try another setting .

Let me know how this works and feel free to write again !

Dan Liddy
Sarasota, Florida