Don Terrill’s Speed-Talk

Car weight with me in it 2400 lbs
Ladder bAr car
Tires 32x14x15. 9 psi pressure car runs 9.2
Saturday car left no problem was having issues keeping front end down
Toned it down was better. Was going straight
Sunday let go of tranny button front end lifted
Car turned right violently and moved
Tried again same result
Took car home. Pulled tires passenger side looks great
Drivers side outside is at a angle then centre is higher and inside
Is really scuffed and it's 3/4 inch bigger then other tire
I need new tires now but don't think it's only problem
Shocks r good going to scale car
The cross bar across from one ladder bar to other
How should it be set up. How tight etc
I'm going to take bolts out of front ladder bars hole
To see if there's preload
Anything else I should check
Hard to believe one day is fine next is crazy
Going for a wheel alignment
What should I get toe in set at. Caster and camber
Oh forgot to mention my friend thinks I'm dry hooking causing the big wheelies
Thanks

Off-hand I would think the front end is not the problem?
Since the wheels are probably off the ground?

If it started all at once, I would look for something broke or bent?

Is this a spool?

Possibly an axle is broke?

Lots of scenarios best to carefully check welds, rod ends, axle tubes, etc.
Or the slicks may be steering it also.

John Wallace wrote:Off-hand I would think the front end is not the problem?
Since the wheels are probably off the ground?

If it started all at once, I would look for something broke or bent?

Is this a spool?

Possibly an axle is broke?

Lots of scenarios best to carefully check welds, rod ends, axle tubes, etc.
Or the slicks may be steering it also.

Thanks for reply not to be confusing the wheel alignment has nothing to do with the car going right
It has to do with the car coming down after the wheelie goes left
It has full spool. Hard to believe axle is broke as when get car straighted out and floor car
It runs straight as a arrow. And no loud noises

It's not hard to check if the axle is broken, though?

Once it's on 4 wheels, the steering can keep it relatively straight.

I've had the ladder bar mounts on the rear end pulling out of the axle tubes, thus changing the pre-load on the bars also.
Plus bending the front mounts of the bars.
(usually one side)

As said, lots of things can be wrong, time to check everything.
Check for 'squareness' of the rearend to the front to back centerline.

Thanks john
Will first check preload on bars
Straightness front to back and all bars
Pull axles
Get new tires
Four corner scale the car

Had exactly the same experience with a similar car except 9.40's instead of 20's. Folded the PS lower ladder bar bracket about 45 degrees and the car did a hard right turn at launch. Got the car slowed and missed tree,etc, continued down the track and back the return road and it drove fine. Was pretty obvious when I got under it. I started boxing those ladder bar brackets on the front and rear after that and never had another problem. A real eye opener though!

You didn't say what type of rear springs you have (coil over, leaf?) but since it's 2400#'s I'd guess it's a coil-over car. I've had similar problems with my Cal-Track suspension when the leaf spring perch bends. Have since updated the quality of the perches but what I'm saying is when something out back bends or breaks it will create all kinds of havoc. Have also seen where the factory rocker panel has pulled away from the rear subframe on a unit-body chassis. You probably have a aftermarket frame but again, if everything isn't tied together (bent or broke), the car won't go straight! Look for bent / broke parts then look at bad shocks / springs; front and back.

Update
Measured today with plumb bob front end off control arm
Same place on both. Found the center of both. Marked
Measured drivers side and passengers side both same distant
Pulled both axles. Nothing wrong they look good
Was thinking I might as well pull centre section as I'm this far
And after that check with tires on drivers weight on ground
Pull drivers side bar make sure no bind and check passengers side
Has proper preload

Haven't changed wheelie bar settings?

Ed Wright wrote:Haven't changed wheelie bar settings?

No wheelie bars

Curious as to an update on the radical right turn on launch. Is that a correct interpretation of the problem you stated ? As earlier mentioned by John Wallace , seems like a broken axle or possibly the splines in the spool stripped. This is rare but if an old build, possible. Easy check that could tell if this is problem, try pushing car with wheel turned either right or left and note resistance or lack of resistance and rolling easily. You absolutely should consider running wheelie bars on a car this light and quick. The variation in tire height as stated would cause some right steer unless compensated for in chassis adjustments. When purchasing new tires you need to check circumference and try to keep them within 1/2"of total circumference( e.g. 92" for 1 and 92.5" for another as a set. Obviously having them measure the same would be ideal but not always easy. Phil D.

Have you washed the car or had some rain and perhaps water getting on the slicks ??

Might be interesting to see what would happen if you switched the the rear tires to the opposite side and see if anything changes.

Got new slicks
The old tired driver side one rolled crooked when. U rolled it on the floor
Inside of tire is feathered bad. Outside has a wavey. Pattern on it
The new tires r 1/4 inch from each other. Strapping them
I have the axles out they look fine
I have the center section out don't see anything wrong there
How can I check the spline in the spool. With the center section out
Beside feeling with my finger. Lol
Thanks

Nothing wrong with center section. Back in car now
Have to wait until next week to scale car