Ridetech Rear shock question

[toofun]

Got a question on setting up the rear coil overs on a 68 camaro. I tried searching for the answer but couldnt find it so here it goes.. Installed an airbar into the car, set the ride height at 14.5 inches from eyelet to eyelet per the instructions. I had to swap out the springs I had cause PTS (months ago) sent me 500lb springs instead of the 200 ridetech said my camaro took. (BTW thanks Ridetech for the very speedy swap and also for the longer bars you made up for me to deal with my moser rear issue that worked out great!!) Ok so the shocks measure approx 16 1/2 inches extended from eyelet to eyelet. So I assemble the shocks with the spring set at 0 preload and install it into the rear, but when I put the car on the ground it still only compresses 1/2 inch for a total eyelet to eyelet measurement of 16 inches. I dont see any binding issues anywhere and I can bounce on the car with the suspension moving. I know that it is suppose to sit at 14.5 inches eyelet to eyelet with the car on the ground(ride height) but it is 1 1/2 inches off from that. I pulled some engraved numbers off of the shocks but dont know what they mean they were 11166, 982-10-805, and 362674. Again I dont know if that corrulates to anything. I cant lower the spin nut anymore for fear of it coming out of the pocket. Has anyone else ran into this situation? Am I doing something wrong? Thanks in advance!

[MrQuick]

Where is your spring adjuster set at now? picture? is your car fully assembled? I'd recommend a 175 lbs spring to get a bit more compression which would equal more travel.

You will have problems bouncing or going over a bump at speed. But try driving it a bit and re check the height. Hope it comes down a bit.

[dontlifttoshift]

If your car is not assembled then I wouldn't sweat it. If it is only compressing a 1/2" then there is only about 200 pounds on the rear end so I am guessing the car is not all the way together.

The Hyperco springs are engraved with the rate on the end....just an FYI.

[toofun]

Car is completely assembled. The only thing that is not in the car is the gas tank but Ive thrown a 90lb fabric roll in the trunk to try and simulate the weight of a gas tank.. Spring rate is 200 which is what it is suppose to be for my camaro and the shock adjustment is set at 3 clicks per the instructions. Here are pics of the wheel at ride height. You can see how high it sits, top of the tire measuring close to 3 inches below the fender lip.
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[dontlifttoshift]

If your front jackstands are as far back on the front subframe as they look like, all that weight in front of the jack stands is working as a counter balance. You really dont know where you are at until the entire car is on the ground.

[MIKE67]

Excellent catch Donny! I bet you are correct.

[makoshark]

The instructions point out to mount the billet lower shock mount on the 2 lowest holes. According to the pictures you provided, you do not have the mount in the lowest 2 holes. You are 1 hole off. Drop the lower shock mount bracket and your problem will be solved

[dontlifttoshift]

Yep that will get the car lower for sure. That should be worth an inch and all of the weight on the wheels and tires should compress the springs 1.5" to 2"....You will be right where you should be then.

[toofun]

Hey Donny.. yup you are correct.. I dont know why I didnt see that either but right when you mentioned it made sense right away. I never even considered it. So I dropped the front off the jack stands and onto the wheels and did the same for the rear and when I did that it dropped the rear 1 1/2 inches to a total of 1 1/2 inches from the top of the tire to the fender lip. This is without dropping the mount to the last two holes and without the gas tank in place as well. Thankyou to everyone involved here for the info. I guess sometimes you need a fresh prospective on a problem when looking at it. Like I said it totally clicked in my head when Donny mentioned the front jack stands. Never would have looked at it as a counterweight.

Mark
TOOFUN

[dontlifttoshift]

Glad you got it!

[Bryce]

Glad you got it!

good job Donny!