Coil overs , Just how do they work!

[GRNOVA]

I recently changed from Shockwaves to Ridetech coil overs. My question is the ride height of the car now. When I ordered the Coil overs I asked for a direct replacement for my shockwaves 7000's because I had the suspension and ride height right where I wanted it (See Picture in Signature). Now it sets way to high in the rear. and the front looks just about the same. How do I fix this? can I just lower the adjusting nut on the rear coil over? Or do I have to raise the upper shock mount?

https://static1.pt-content.com/images/pt/2011/04/coilovers-1.jpg

[dontlifttoshift]

Did you just snug up the adjusting nut against the spring before you installed them in the car? If you did and you were to back it off from there the spring could come loose on rebound and make some funny noises and maybe even cause damage. How much lower do you want it? What is the center to center distance the way it sits now and what are the compressed and extended length on your shocks?

Sorry for answering your question with lots of questions.

[GRNOVA]

Yes I just snugged the nut up against the spring before installation. I would like it about 2" lower than it is now. The height between the eyes as it sits now is about 14" The ride height of the shock is 14.23" form eye to eye, and 10.13 compressed gives about 4.1 stroke.

[dontlifttoshift]

So they didn't compress at all when you set the car on the ground? What rate spring did you get? 4" stroke is a little less than I would like to see on the rear of any car and it looks like they are pretty much straight up and down. I try for at least three inches of compression travel at the wheel for a car that will get driven. By the time you get to ride height you won't have any compression left. Custom shock mounts may be in future.

Just reread your post ride height is 14.23 or extended is 14.23? You threw me when you said stroke is 4.1".

[GRNOVA]

I went out to the garage and rechecked my info, I am sorry I gave you the wrong info it was 16.43 Extended and 11.23 compressed 5.2" stroke with a 10 " 175# spring

[dontlifttoshift]

Ok ridetech lists a 4.1" stroke shock, so assuming that is what you have ride height should be 12.8". That is about an inch short of your 2" lower request. The shock mounts need measure very close to 12.8" with the car at ride height for that to work.

The sprins are a separate problem as they should certainly compress some. In your case we are looking for about 1.4" of compression from free height to ride height.

I hope this makes sense I'm typing it on my stupid phone with giant thumbs.

[GRNOVA]

Ridetech numbers -24159901 shocks
59100175 springs


The old 7000 Shockwaves were 16.5 extended, 14.5" @ ride height 5" of stroke

[dontlifttoshift]

Disregard previous ramblings.....

Your right in the sweet spot of that shock. If you lower that car 2" without changing the shock mount you will be bottomed out almost all the time. The 4.1" stroke gets you closer to your desired ride height but at the expense of wheel travel. I would change the mounts to get the car to sit where you want it.

[GRNOVA]

Thank you for your help, sorry for the run around

[darren@ridetech]

Yea, what you have is the direct replacement for the 7000, same compressed, extended and ride heights. We do offer the SKW7001 as well, it is the 4" stroke shockwave..... 10.6" x 13" x 14.6".

I'm thinking that maybe you had the 4" stroke SKW, cause if you were to drive the 5" stroke SKW's at 12", it would constantly bottom out and ride like crap. Even w/ the 4" stroke SKW, you would have been in danger of bottoming out at 12".

PM me the name everything was ordered under and I'll figure out which SKW's you had.

[darren@ridetech]

Just found all your info Tim. You did have the 5" stroke ShockWaves. So... with the car at the height you want to drive down the road at, you only have 12" from eye-eye?