How to get some rear traction when running a KB

[Durrman]

Hey All,

I put 4.10s in the rear end a couple years before I put the IC KB kit on. I put 18x10 rims on the rear with NT05 295 tires, and I can still light them up all day long in first and second, sometimes 3rd.

What are some suggestions for getting some rear end traction?

I'm leaning towards working my way to a complete MM setup (PH bar/TQ arm). Where should I start? I'm thinking extreme duty lower control arms, and FLSFC. Is that going to help much?

Would it be too much (ie short tire life) If I just replace the rear tires with NT05Rs instead?

[littlemags]

lower gear....(numerically)
or get sticker tires....

[Durrman]

How sticky can I go before I break something in the trans/rear end?

Any recommendations on a sticky tire for the street? I only drive the car when it doesn't look like it is going to rain, and mostly just to the local Mustang club meetings.

[vertigyn]

Toyo Proxes R888's.

And a lower gear.

FLSFC are a must in my book but I don't think they'll help your traction issues.

I don't know much about the SRA's as I have an IRS...but the control arms never hurt.

Are you still on the stock Transmission? Mine didn't last very long with my KB...blew 2nd when making 475rwhp.

[Flash88]

ditch them rubberbands and put a real tire on there. a.k.a 15" wheel with ET streets. Just cause you have a wide tire doesnt your traction will be 10x better.

[j rick kirby]

Ta/phb

[na svt]

-higher gears (lower numerical) like 3.55s
-sticky tires
-adjustable upper control arms
-lower control arms

[Durrman]

I guess I better price out 31 spline axles and diff, so I can change it all if I swap out the gears for 3.55s. Then I can get sticky tires...

[shame302]

Originally Posted by vertigyn

Toyo Proxes R888's.

Yikes. That'd be the day when i put 680 dollars worth of tires on the rear of my car.

[vertigyn]

Originally Posted by shame302

Yikes. That'd be the day when i put 680 dollars worth of tires on the rear of my car.

You can sometimes find deals - my current set was only $300 for the pair.

Buuuut....they are the best **** tire I've ever owned! SVTPerformance.com has a whole thread about people raving on these tires. They really are amazing.

[Nekasrof]

Right foot control works best.

[WickedO3]

I have m/t 305/35/18 drag radials and I destroyed my rearend completely only launching at 3k rpm on my 2nd pass ever at the track... I only have 4:10s intake and full exhaust.. The tires came off a 740rwhp 03 cobra and hooked wonders for him.. 9.91 @ 138mph with psi in the rears

[Nekasrof]

Originally Posted by WickedO3

I have m/t 305/35/18 drag radials and I destroyed my rearend completely only launching at 3k rpm on my 2nd pass ever at the track... I only have 4:10s intake and full exhaust.. The tires came off a 740rwhp 03 cobra and hooked wonders for him.. 9.91 @ 138mph with psi in the rears

The factory 28 spline rear + DRs = broken rear. Been happening since day 1. When you rebuilt the rear, I will assume you went to a 31 spline set up?

[TRmachwon]

Originally Posted by shame302

Yikes. That'd be the day when i put 680 dollars worth of tires on the rear of my car.

Pay to play. You want traction? Gotta get sticky tires. Seems kinda silly to spend thousands of dollars on a power adder and supporting mods then complain about spending money on the pieces of rubber responsible for harnessing all that power.

[Mach828]

Originally Posted by TRmachwon

Pay to play. You want traction? Gotta get sticky tires. Seems kinda silly to spend thousands of dollars on a power adder and supporting mods then complain about spending money on the pieces of rubber responsible for harnessing all that power.

Exactly. Good tires aren't inexpensive. OP should stop messing around and buy some R888s.

Why have a 500hp setup, when all it does it spin the tires.

[Durrman]

What kind of tread life are R888s going to give me?

I have NT05 all around on the car right now, and only the rears need to be replaced. How would the NT05R stack up against the R888? I think I would prefer to have the same tires all around the car. R888s are 260-300 for 295 (rear) and 265 (front) from tire rack, so not that much different from NT05s. I guess I could spring for R888s all around, and then take in some track days and auto-cross.

And setting aside tires, and looking at suspension, will I notice any improvement with LCAs? (assume sticky tires...)

[Mach828]

Originally Posted by Durrman

What kind of tread life are R888s going to give me?

I have NT05 all around on the car right now, and only the rears need to be replaced. How would the NT05R stack up against the R888? I think I would prefer to have the same tires all around the car. R888s are 260-300 for 295 (rear) and 265 (front) from tire rack, so not that much different from NT05s. I guess I could spring for R888s all around, and then take in some track days and auto-cross.

And setting aside tires, and looking at suspension, will I notice any improvement with LCAs? (assume sticky tires...)

My buddy has the R888s on his Eaton swapped Mach. I put NT05 street tires on my Mach, and he put the R888s on his at nearly the same time. I got 8k miles on my NT05s before they hit the wear markers, and had to buy new tires back in December. We both daily drive our cars. His R888s still have a ton of tread left on them when I saw them last month.

Point of story being, his R888s seem to be lasting at least twice as long as the NT05s that were on my car.

[Durrman]

Originally Posted by Mach828

My buddy has the R888s on his Eaton swapped Mach. I put NT05 street tires on my Mach, and he put the R888s on his at nearly the same time. I got 8k miles on my NT05s before they hit the wear markers, and had to buy new tires back in December. We both daily drive our cars. His R888s still have a ton of tread left on them when I saw them last month.

Point of story being, his R888s seem to be lasting at least twice as long as the NT05s that were on my car.

This is good to know. I'll have to price out a full set or R888s, and keep it in consideration. How are they in the rain? I try to avoid the rain, but sometimes get caught out in it.

[Mach828]

Originally Posted by Durrman

This is good to know. I'll have to price out a full set or R888s, and keep it in consideration. How are they in the rain? I try to avoid the rain, but sometimes get caught out in it.

He says they are okay in the rain. From the tread pattern, you can tell they weren't designed to be ran when wet. I wouldn't want to test them at high speeds with rain to find out, or be on the highway with them when its raining hard.

[vertigyn]

Ive never been in hard rain with them but they have been fine in light rain. It's what a lot o people use as their rain tire for racing.

[Schmokn]

Originally Posted by na svt

-higher gears (lower numerical) like 3.55s
-sticky tires
-adjustable upper control arms
-lower control arms

We have a winner!

[Vndcatr]

Some peoples responses are funny..

[jeff33702]

It's hard to hook up the kind of low end torque a KB car will put down.

Like everyone mentioned, tires are important. A torque arm suspension will also make a huge improvement but anything, tires or suspension, that improves traction is also going to put a lot more stress on the driveline - and you'll soon be finding your weakest links.

I like to go the suspension route because you not only get some improved traction, but you usually can enjoy a better handling car, overall.

[WickedO3]

Originally Posted by Nekasrof

The factory 28 spline rear + DRs = broken rear. Been happening since day 1. When you rebuilt the rear, I will assume you went to a 31 spline set up?

Nope went back to stock.. I'm staying away from the track.. Just spectate for awhile and watch others break there cars lol I didn't buy mine to abuse it.

[626socalstang]

NT05R with TeamZ adjustable uppers and lowers works for me!