For your first question as to putting a small washer under the pivot ball? If you put the washer under the front pivot ball, it puts a small pre-load condition on the T bar when the car is at rest, fully prepped, ready to go onto the track and the chassis and rear pod is on the same plane. Some feel that by doing this you can create a little more forward bite from the rear tires. I have tried it both ways many times and I cannot feel the difference.

As to your second question about the angle of the dampener tubes, I always try to set the angle so that I get the most movement of the piston in the tube. I feel that I get the most consistent dampening that way. You may have to adjust the weight of the lube you are using. For example, on the Trinity Reflex 12, the dampener tubes, in the stock position, move very little. To get more effect from the dampener tubes on the Reflex 12, I had to use a littler higher weight lube in the tubes. On my Rev.4, because the dampener tubes have a lot of movement in them, I can use a little lighter lube than on the Reflex 12.

I have found that all of this "fine" tuning is an inexact science and that testing changes on the track provide the most significant findings. While someone else’s setup might give you a starting point, it may not be the perfect setup for you. Only when you understand your driving skill, preferences and how changes affect the handling of the car, will you be able to perform at your optimum.