What does the pinion snubber do ?

-
Brooks James

Brooks James

VET, CPT, Huey Medevac Pilot
FABO Gold Member
Joined
Dec 12, 2020
Messages
4,862
Reaction score
3,188
Location
Fruitland Park Fl
Its my understanding that when you launch a mopar leaf Springs car the car axle downward force is applied pressing the axle
Down increasing the traction.
, which means the snubber is Even further away from the floor pan ?
 
No, as the tire rotates so does the axle in a motion bringing the snubber towards the floor pan. The leaf spring bends creating more of an arc pushing the tires down while the snubber stops the rear from rotating.
 
The pinion snubber and pumpkin does not rotate in the same direction as the tires under acceleration. It's trying to punch a hole in your floorboard under acceleration.
 
A rear-end does two things when power is applied. Due to engine rotation direction, the rear housing wants to rotate around the pinion gear, lifting the right rear tire, and planting the left rear. That's why an open rear will spin the right rear tire only unless something else changes the circumstances, such as a hard left turn, or a left donut.
The other thing a rear does, it tries to lift the nose (pinion) to rotate around the ring gear. The pinion snubber is supposed to control that.
I don't see how it can do anything. Most stock mopars, the snubber it a few inches away from the floor, so it doesn't bottom out the suspension over every little bump. So, it can't do anything.
So they make adjustable snubbers, to get them up against the floor, for a hard launch. Only, in my experience, most mopars LIFT the body to plant the tires at launch, and the snubber is waving in the air again.
My adjustable snubber is holding down papers in my garage, and my car is a few pounds lighter.
 
Place the pinion snubber a 1/2 from the reenforced floor board where contact is made unless it is a manual transmission car in which it should be lightly touching.

This is the starting tune point for a pinion snubber.
 
My B-bod never hooked better....once I took the snubber off. All the snubber did was cause the suspension to momentarily go 'solid' and then unload and spin the tires into oblivion.
The springs need to be free to try and lever the body upward in order to force the axle/tires downward (when things are working right). The snubber seemed to interfere with this action when I watched a slo-mo video of my car.
 
If the front segments are clamped and the rear segments are free to separate, the need for a pinion snubber is greatly reduced but not zeroed out. A bit depends the space between parts. Ride height adjusted by lowering blocks, etc…
 
beanhead said:
My B-bod never hooked better....once I took the snubber off. All the snubber did was cause the suspension to momentarily go 'solid' and then unload and spin the tires into oblivion.
The springs need to be free to try and lever the body upward in order to force the axle/tires downward (when things are working right). The snubber seemed to interfere with this action when I watched a slo-mo video of my car.
Click to expand...
This device was designed decades ago for some serious racing and slicks on a well (then) developed race car.

Applying drag race parts to a car less than drag race status will always be an issue or cause one.
 
rumblefish360 said:
This device was designed decades ago for some serious racing and slicks on a well (then) developed race car.

Applying drag race parts to a car less than drag race status will always be an issue or cause one.
Click to expand...
It did more good when I had about 450hp in the car....it cured a wheel-hop problem that would sometimes happen.
Once I started stepping up the power and suspension mods it became a hindrance. I've noticed none of the leaf spring cars at the track (that are worth a ****) are running them either.
 
All this thread does is prove that every situation is different. Some swear by snubbers, while some say they are door stops. Try one and if it doesn't improve your launch, toss it. It's not like it takes a week to install one or remove.
 
beanhead said:
My B-bod never hooked better....once I took the snubber off. All the snubber did was cause the suspension to momentarily go 'solid' and then unload and spin the tires into oblivion.
The springs need to be free to try and lever the body upward in order to force the axle/tires downward (when things are working right). The snubber seemed to interfere with this action when I watched a slo-mo video of my car.
Click to expand...
spot on :thumbsup: had the same experience with a max 63 Sport Fury.
 
The pinion snubber takes advantage of the rotation of the axle housing. The housing rotates opposite of the wheels, because of the pinion gear. Under acceleration, the pinion gear tries to "climb" the ring gear. Since it cannot, it causes the housing to rotate. That rotation pushes the pinion snubber against the floor pushing the entire rear axle against the ground hard, raising the the rear of the car, while planting the tires. Depending which rear springs you run, the snubber may not even be necessary.
 
It also made Direct Connection a lot of money in part sales. Back in the 80’s our local Chrysler Plymouth Dodge dealer sold a ton of them.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top