Rear coil over length and travel

[Motorcitydak]

So I know that I am still a few months away from needing to get them, but Id like to know what shocks you guys are running for rear coilovers and also fronts. I am going to be keeping my torsion bars in the front so I will just have to see what fits in the stock locations. The rear is obviously a different situation since I will be fabbing up everything. I am going to be running Afco double adjustables, just have no idea what lenght to use.

The car is a '68 Charger, it will have a custom full floating 9 inch with a 3 link and track bar. Sway bar too obviously. I searched for coilovers but did not bring up much good info. Thanks guys

[parsonsj]

You should plan on a minimum of 5" of travel: 2" bump, 3" rebound from ride height.

Seven inches is better (isn't that just obvious, lol): 3" bump, 4" rebound, but usually the sway bar won't allow that much travel.

jp

[Motorcitydak]

Cool, Thanks. I will plan on using a 7 inch travel setup then. I will have to call Hotchkis again to make sure that the rear bar I am planning on using will allow it, although I may have to end up with a custom bar because of the custom suspension.

Do you guys run bump stops and limiting straps on your cars? What about nitro or air bumps? I have a pair of 4 inch travel nitrogen charged bumpstops of my truck. You can also get ones in 2 inch travel. They just smooth out the deceleration of the axle giving you a better ride. It is a lot better than just a poly bump stop or letting the shock bottom out.

They are more for the off road racing scene but work great and may have a place here too. They only weigh a few pounds a piece http://f-o-a.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=25

[parsonsj]

I did not run bump stops and travel limiters. I used my sway bar for that, lol.

jp

[Motorcitydak]

no useful input or questions here, but did you ever notice that the 'lol' abbreviation kinda looks like a stick figure drowning, throwing his arms up for help? Haha, you will never look at it the same way again!!

[Bryce]

im running afco T2's with a 7" stroke in the front. Im running the bump stops on the shock and a separate adjustable limiting strap. I have not planned the rear shocks for my 3 link yet.

[Motorcitydak]

How do you like the afco's? Did you notice a big gain in performance over a previous shock? I really like that they are adjustable for both compression and extension. Do you have settings you like for the road and a stiffer one for the track?

[Randy67]

Price comparision double adjustable shocks

Afco $643 (w/remote canister), 460 no canister
http://www.lefthanderchassis.com/143.html

Pro-Shocks $444 no canister
http://www.lefthanderchassis.com/140.html

Ohlins $632 w/remote canister
http://www.lefthanderchassis.com/139.html

Penske $799 w/remote canister
http://www.lefthanderchassis.com/137.html

Which way would you go? I personally would lean toward the Ohlins or Penske if for nothing more than the experience/reputation. Afco seems to be more in the circle track business than other motorsports (they do drag shocks as well). Just wondering what others think?

[Bryce]

Afco T2's are now on sale from afco at $299. They told me this at SEMA.

AFCO also has their pro-touring shock. I think it may just be a clear anodize instead of blue?

I really like my Afco's. I only have them in the front. When i switched from stock ford suspension with 1 coil cut and KYB gas-adjust shocks to my own design SLA it was completely different car. My current settings are right in the middle for rebound and compression. I have not had any track days yet. I am planning a SCCA outing in the near future. But i would have to run FSP due to my modifications. So i wouldnt be competitive but it would be fun.

[exwestracer]

Price comparision double adjustable shocks

Afco $643 (w/remote canister), 460 no canister
http://www.lefthanderchassis.com/143.html

Pro-Shocks $444 no canister
http://www.lefthanderchassis.com/140.html

Ohlins $632 w/remote canister
http://www.lefthanderchassis.com/139.html

Penske $799 w/remote canister
http://www.lefthanderchassis.com/137.html

Which way would you go? I personally would lean toward the Ohlins or Penske if for nothing more than the experience/reputation. Afco seems to be more in the circle track business than other motorsports (they do drag shocks as well). Just wondering what others think?

I tried AFCOs on my asphalt supermodified, and found that their damping numbers differed greatly from Pro and Carrera. The AFCO shocks just made the car feel "strange" to the driver. A to B testing pointed at the shocks. I know a lot of guys who use them on dirt, but most of the heavy hitters have gone to Penskes or Ohlins. Bilstein makes a good asphalt shock as well.

MCdak, Keep in mind that the 7" shocks have about a 17" eye to eye length at mid travel. If you're going low, you may have issues with getting the shock high enough in the car. Lowering the axle mount way down is a little scary if you blow a tire

[Motorcitydak]

Thanks guys.
exwest, I have never been one to let the body or pieces of the existing car get in the way of building something properly. If i have to hack into the trunk a little bit to mount the shocks higher, it is not a problem

Some of you guys may know my plans for the car. I am modeling it around the Hotchkis E-Max Challenger with their complete front end. When I called them up to discuss my project, they told me the car has Afco's and love em. That is really the only reason I was going to go with em

[The Stickman]

I am facing this same issue. I am currently wondering if coilovers will be worth my trouble. I have the stance I want and I think the spring rate I have presently will work nice with the swaybars I have coming. But being able to have the ability to easily change spring rates and ride height would be nice. I have a set of Carrera Coilovers that would be a nice improvement over the shocks i now have. So finding enough height to use them and figuring out if having the coilovers infront of the axle will be ok is something I need to figure out.