Originally Posted by
Team Z Motorsports
This is a good argument, and I save my arguing for the grudge section!
No one can offer real proof of either side of the argument. "Does pinion angle effect traction." If you ask drag racers you will get mixed OPINIONS If you ask stock car and dirt track racers the will say it defiantly effects traction, but unless you have a traction Dyno you cant quantify that a pinion angle change, changes traction. I will say that it does change drive line bind and bind does affect traction. So is it the pinion angle or the bind?
I will also say that when you change pinion angle it does change the length of the arms, but the amount is to insignificant to change the IC. That is unless you are swinging the pinion angle 10 degrees, but I don't think anyone here is talking more than 2-3 degrees, which with a standard 3/4-16 heim that is only .225 of an inch and a .225 inch change in arm LENGTH will not net a significant change in IC.
Ive seen this argument plenty of times over the past 10 years and nobody has proved it either way. It's not really worth arguing over, the best thing I can say is go to the track and keep adding negative pinion angle until you get a result,(that could be a wheelie, better 60' time or a drop in MPH, but a result) I've done it plenty of times you will learn something from it.