Going to the drag strip this weekend...

[Big Blue]

has anybody broken an axle in these from using the locker on dry pavement? I can see if you're turning, or doing a lot of driving it's rough, but a straight line 1/4 mile, I'd want it ON if it can handle it. Whats the weak link in the rears?

On the Gen 2 Lightnings the rears are basically indestrictuble. Other than the limited slip clutch packs going out over time leaving 1 wheel peels, slap a true trac in the rear and it'll hold up to ANYTHING power wise.


I'd definitely leave it in Drive as well, don't bother with trying to shift for it.

I would think you would potentially do more damage in 4WD then with the rear locked in 2WD. As you stated, its straight line driving.

 

[SOCOMech]

has anybody broken an axle in these from using the locker on dry pavement? I can see if you're turning, or doing a lot of driving it's rough, but a straight line 1/4 mile, I'd want it ON if it can handle it. Whats the weak link in the rears?

On the Gen 2 Lightnings the rears are basically indestrictuble. Other than the limited slip clutch packs going out over time leaving 1 wheel peels, slap a true trac in the rear and it'll hold up to ANYTHING power wise.


I'd definitely leave it in Drive as well, don't bother with trying to shift for it.

There was a batch of bad axles that made their way into some of the first half 5.4 trucks, I believe Whtrpta fell victim to one. My old boss at the dealership who had an early one snapped an axle and also damaged the diff., but he also had the gas pinned in the air when he landed. These rear ends are stout, I wouldn't have any worries about running the locker in a straight line. But like I said, it all depends on how good you're hooking up to begin with........if you're not frying it off the line or maybe have just a bit of wheel spin, I wouldn't bother running the locker. Play with the gas and launch rpm's (brake stand).

 

[Deinonychus]

Can you include the DA at the strip when you run?

 

[CineSLR]

Is off road mode like sport modes on cars that up the RPM where the trans up shifts?

 

[SOCOMech]

Is off road mode like sport modes on cars that up the RPM where the trans up shifts?

Not really. It recalibrates the shifting in that it holds each gear longer enabling you to get on and off the gas but still stay in the lower gear. Think of driving through a dried up wash around obstacles as fast as possible, instead of shifting up a gear when you let off the gas, it'll hold that gear so you can have the full benefit of it the instant you get back on the gas, keeping maximum power and tq there. Where it would hurt drag racing performance is the fact that it also recalibrates the throttle control, making it more linear as opposed to flooring it and having full power....so, nice to have the throttle like that while you're already moving on out but it takes longer to deliver when leaving from a stand still. It also pretty much eliminates ABS and decreases the airbag sensitivity so as not to go off if you hit something or take a big hit.

 

[Rat]

What about air pressure in tires ? give a little grip ?

 

[SOCOMech]

What about air pressure in tires ? give a little grip ?

I'd go down maybe a little, knobby off-road tires won't respond in exactly the same manner as a street tire because no matter what, they will never have the contact patch of the street tire. I'd wait till that first run and make adjustments from there. With this truck, it's really gonna come down to how well you can get out of the hole. You can try taking any extra weight that you can out....jack, spare, etc......but unless you're really dumping a good bit of weight, it's gonna be what it's gonna be. Folding in the mirrors isn't gonna do anything, it'd be like filing down 2 corners of a brick.

 

[Deinonychus]

Might look a little goofy, but you could get some light wheels (17") and drag radials for the rear (28" diameter or so).
The unsprung weight reduction should save you a couple or more tenths.

 

[Reptar]

I'd go down maybe a little, knobby off-road tires won't respond in exactly the same manner as a street tire because no matter what, they will never have the contact patch of the street tire. I'd wait till that first run and make adjustments from there. With this truck, it's really gonna come down to how well you can get out of the hole. You can try taking any extra weight that you can out....jack, spare, etc......but unless you're really dumping a good bit of weight, it's gonna be what it's gonna be. Folding in the mirrors isn't gonna do anything, it'd be like filing down 2 corners of a brick.

Every 100 lbs is worth roughly 1/10th in the 1/4 mile.

And you'd be surprised what difference folding the mirrors does. Just stick your hand straight out at 60, 70, 80, 90 mph, there's some pretty powerful force from the wind there. On the Gen 2 L's folding the mirrors in typically net 2 mph in the 1/4. Now a Raptor isn't going quite as fast, but the mirrors are even larger.

If you get to do several runs back to back, and if the truck is reacting pretty consistently, I'd be willing to bet you'll see a bump in MPH with the mirrors folded.

 

[Squatting Dog]

Considering the front end is about aerodynamic as a barn door. Dont think folding in the mirrors will make that much difference.

No offense Reptar.. I could be dead wrong.