We finally got close to to swapping out my old suspension system, and honestly, the way these viking crusader shocks changed the car's start is just crazy. If you've already been hanging around the move strip or scrolling through performance forums lately, you've possibly heard people promising by Viking. But there's a large difference between their entry-level stuff and the Crusader line. A lot of people start with the Warrior series since they're affordable and miles better compared to stock, but once you start producing real power, a person quickly realize that "good enough" doesn't cut it when you're trying in order to hook on a prep-challenged track.
Exactly what Makes the Crusader Different?
While i first started looking at upgrades, I pondered why I should spend the extra cash within the Crusader valving. Here's the deal: most shocks have a pretty linear adjustment. A person click it up, it gets stiffer; you click this down, it will get softer. Functions intended for a street car. But the viking crusader shocks work with a different type of internal technology. They have what's called "force-adjustable" valving.
The best selling point here is the rebound side. In pull racing, controlling how fast the body of the car increases after the initial hit is everything. When the front-end button snaps up too quickly and then crashes down, you lose traction force. If it doesn't proceed enough, you don't have the weight move you will need. The Crusader line allows regarding a massive quantity of force on the rebound side that will the Warrior range just can't touch. It's designed specifically for guys that are leaving the series hard and need to pin those tires towards the pavement.
The wonder associated with Double Adjustment
I've always sensed that single-adjustable shocks are a bit of a half-measure. You're always diminishing. If you fix the compression, the particular rebound is away. If you repair the rebound, the particular ride quality will go out the windowpane. With these shocks, you get 2 distinct knobs. One handles compression (the "bump") and the particular other handles come back (the "extension").
It's a bit overwhelming at first. A person look at these two knobs and think, "I'm heading to mess this particular up. " But that's the beauty of the conversational tuning process. You start in the middle, see what the car does, plus then make small tweaks. When We put my viking crusader shocks on, I started using the recommended "base" settings from the factory. The vehicle felt more planted immediately, but the true magic happened after i started clicking the particular rebound dial.
Can You Actually Drive These on the Street?
This is the question everyone asks. If you buy a shock that's valved for the dedicated drag vehicle, is your backbone going to feel dissapointed it the moment you hit a pothole? Surprisingly, no. To be fair, if you turn the settings just about all the way as much as "track mode, " it's going to ride like a brick. But mainly because they are double-adjustable, you are able to literally simply crawl under the particular car, click all of them back down to some softer setting, plus drive home in relative comfort.
I've used mine for weekend cruises and even a couple of more trips to vehicle shows. You simply have to be smart about it. The Crusader series is available in various valving flavors, such as the "AJ" intended for heavy-duty drag racing or the "AP" to get more of a pro-touring, all-purpose feel. I went with the more aggressive drag valving, and also then, it's completely manageable for street use as longer as you aren't expecting it in order to feel like a Cadillac.
Let's Talk About the "Hit"
If you've ever felt your own car "unload" halfway through first gear, you know just how frustrating that will be. You receive that initial bite, the car moves, and then— spin . Usually, that's because the rear shocks aren't controlling the energy of the suspension systems. The viking crusader shocks are usually built to take care of that will specific moment.
They provide the huge range of adjustment on the particular high-speed side associated with the valving. This implies when the car gets that chaotic "hit" off the particular starting line, the particular shock knows how to respond to that sudden power. It keeps the particular tire loaded. I actually noticed my 60-foot times dropped simply by nearly a 10th just by changing the shocks and spending an afternoon dialing in the clicks. That might not really sound like much to a casual driver, but in the racing entire world, a tenth of a second is a lifetime.
Installation Isn't a Headache
One thing I seriously appreciated is definitely that these are basically a bolt-on matter. You don't require a degree within mechanical engineering to get them installed. They usually come with top quality poly bushings or even spherical bearings, depending on whatever you order. I went along with the bearings due to the fact I wanted zero deflection, though they will do give a little bit of bit of "clunk" noise on the particular street.
The build quality is also top-notch. They're made from lightweight light weight aluminum, they look great, and they're rebuildable. That's a big in addition for me. I actually hate the concept of buying a part that's basically the disposable item. When these ever begin to leak or even I feel like the performance is usually dropping off right after a few periods, I can send out them back in order to Viking to get refreshed.
Finding Your "Sweet Spot"
Tuning your suspension system is a little bit of a rabbit pit. You'll find your self at the track, talking to some other guys, asking, "Hey, exactly what are you running on your own Crusaders? " You'll hear every thing from "4 clicks" to "18 steps. "
Here is what I've learned: every car is different. Your torque converter, your tire pressure, and even the particular track temperature most play a function. But the viking crusader shocks give you the particular tools to really respond to those variables. If the track is "greasy" and hot, you may want to make softer the hit. If the track is usually on kill and hooking everything, you can stiffen them up and really allow the car eat. It's that versatility which makes them worth the high cost.
Will be It Worth the Extra Money?
Let's be real—high-performance parts aren't inexpensive. You can discover "white box" shocks for a third of the cost of Viking. Yet here's the one thing: all those cheap shocks are usually an one-size-fits-all remedy. They aren't valved for your specific car or your own specific goals.
If you purchase viking crusader shocks , you're paying for the particular research and the internal valving that is specifically made to win races. If you're just creating a cruiser to look get ice cream, honestly, you possibly don't need these types of. Save your money and buy the particular Warrior series or even a set of decent gas shocks. But if you have got any intention associated with lining up with a light or chasing a personal best at the remove, these are one particular of the best investments you may make.
Final Thoughts upon the Upgrade
Since I made the switch, I haven't looked back again. The car feels more predictable, which usually is the largest confidence booster you could have as a driver. Knowing exactly how the particular rear end is going to react when you mat the particular throttle makes the particular whole experience way more fun.
It's simple to get caught upward in making more horsepower, but horsepower will be useless if you can't get it to the ground. That's where the viking crusader shocks really shine. They turn that raw power into forward motion. Plus, they look pretty smooth peeking out of at the rear of the rear wheels. If you're around the fence, just do it. Your 60-foot times will be glad, plus you'll finally have got the control you've been looking with regard to. You need to be prepared to spend some time on the track clicking those knobs until you find your own perfect setup—that's fifty percent the fun anyhow.