Dumb Coil Over questions

XTate · Post by **XTate** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 10:12 pm

How is pre load measured ? So I got this top ring with the allen bolt set, and I screw the ring down on the body of the shock to set pre load, is the " measurement " the amount in inches of threaded body above the ring? My problem is the ride height in the front is lower than the rear, I already have 3 inch of thread above the ring. Should I keep cranking down on the ring until I get the ride height I want? I have read through a bunch of threads on the site but still not sure. Some are saying 1.5 inch preload ?. Also it seem like the front is too soft, rises too much under acceleration and dives too much at braking. kings 2.5 x 14 mounted just below the front edge of beam. Top spring is a 14 350, bottom spring a 16 450.

Tchajagos · Post by **Tchajagos** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 10:34 pm

Do you have extended beams? Th preload is the length of threads showing (how far down on the treads the ring is) do you have anything up front that adds weight? What springs/shackles are you running in the rear? Sounds like a lot of preload already.

XTate · Post by **XTate** » Tue Mar 07, 2017 10:50 pm

Yes the beams are extended. The rear is Q80's on long shackles with drop down mounts. Noting up front that would weight it down, hell I do not even have the the bumper or skid plate on it yet.

hollandermotorsports · Wed Mar 08, 2017 10:16 am

Here is how to measure preload correctly. Droop it out run collar till it touches spring. Take that measurement and call it zero. When you take that measurement make sure its from a spot on the shock or body that will not change. So now from that point on whatever tightening you do of the coil is your preload. Do not consider what Travis said above measurable preload because if someone has short springs they will think they have a ton of preload and may have none. And vise versa like on my bronco I have to compress coils to get the collars to even start so it looks like I have no preload. You can also figure out preload if you have your spring lengths and you add up make sure you include your divider if they are dual rate. But preload should only be measured from full drooped position with out limit strap and coils relaxed. Coils do sag over time.

XTate · Post by **XTate** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 11:31 am

What is the normal range of preload?

cs_drums · Post by **cs_drums** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:43 pm

Through some picks up of you set up.

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cs_drums · Post by **cs_drums** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 9:43 pm

Throw*

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Tchajagos · Post by **Tchajagos** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 10:27 pm

The softness of the front end is most likely the valving in the shocks or how far out the shocks are mounted on the beams.

XTate · Post by **XTate** » Wed Mar 08, 2017 10:36 pm

I am too dumb to post pick tures, but will give it a shot tomorrow. At this point I am going to keep crank n the preload ring to get the ride height where I want it, I got nothing to loose, but I think I will need to go to a longer top spring to get it right.

hollandermotorsports · Thu Mar 09, 2017 8:32 am

XTate wrote:I am too dumb to post pick tures, but will give it a shot tomorrow. At this point I am going to keep crank n the preload ring to get the ride height where I want it, I got nothing to loose, but I think I will need to go to a longer top spring to get it right.

You can text me pics and I will post for you. My number is 760-803-9469

XTate · Post by **XTate** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 8:45 am

Thanks man.

VintageIronFab · Post by **VintageIronFab** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 9:07 am

I know I'd love to see a preload procedure for coilovers in order wirh pictures --if anyone has a correct procedure -- Brandon??

hollandermotorsports · Thu Mar 09, 2017 10:09 am

VintageIronFab wrote:I know I'd love to see a preload procedure for coilovers in order wirh pictures --if anyone has a correct procedure -- Brandon??

I can do some. Problem is work instructions are very time consuming so I would have to do on my personal set up not a customers. When I set up my new shocks on the f150 in a couple weeks I will do some pics and a write up with my preferred method that we use. But if anyone needs me to walk them through it I am a phone call away or I can do a quick write up without pics as well.

hollandermotorsports · Thu Mar 09, 2017 2:03 pm

Here's some pics of Tate's set up he sent me. After reviewing I believe his spring rate may be a little soft for his set up. But lets here everybody's opinion. Here is what I propose go up to a 400 top spring and 550 lower spring. Set the desired ride height remember every time you adjust back up and pull forward 10'-15' easy on brake and throttle because you do not want that to influence ride height to settle the adjustment. Once you set that I would lower the cross over rings down to where they are about an 1/8" to 1/4" above the divider your preferance. I would also run nitrogen pressure around 150psi. Were shocks valved for bronco? Maybe try lifting the Bronco to desired ride height measure where the spring divider is from top of the shock then lift all the way up and move bottom of the cross over rings to that location. Then you will be riding on your base spring and your top spring comes into play from full droop back to ride height. But be prepared this may prematurely wear out the divider during hard abuse. This was the only way we could get our Trophylite shocks to work good. We replaced dividers every year and it was all good. On second thought your lower spring is either too short or too compressed for that idea.

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BDKW1 · Post by **BDKW1** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 5:24 pm

Well, you are in no danger of coil bind.

cs_drums · Post by **cs_drums** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 7:01 pm

I run this same rate I believe mine may have a 16" coils top and bottom. I run my truck with a pretty low ride height, coil collar maybe .25-.5" front top of threads. Your dual rate collar is way above the slider in these pics I'd guess that's the softness you are feeling. As long as your not going to coil bind before the shock bottoms out I wouldn't worry about cranking down on it till you get the height your looking for.

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cs_drums · Post by **cs_drums** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 7:03 pm

Id set your ride height where your happy, set the dual rate collar 1.5" above the slider and see how that feels.

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cs_drums · Post by **cs_drums** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 7:04 pm

Your rear looks rather high too. What the rear set up? Pics?

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XTate · Post by **XTate** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 8:10 pm

Rear is Q80's on stock front hangers and Soo Low shackles and drop down brackets, I away thought the rear a little high, but the spring are new no miles on them, I am sure they will settle in some. Will take some pic tomorrow of rear and the front drooped out.

ChaseTruck754 · Post by **ChaseTruck754** » Thu Mar 09, 2017 10:08 pm

Q80's and the Solo shackle drop brackets both cause trucks to sit high. Combine them & you get almost overly high. Do you plan on having a lot of gear with you/carrying a lot of weight in the truck? If not the rear may not set down too much.