Ridetech Coilover Ride Height Adjustment

[marolf101x]

$75.00 for each Hyperco spring

[GeoffP]

Thanks Britt...wonder if I can sell a kidney before RTTH... Just kidding!

[Rod]

Thanks Britt...wonder if I can sell a kidney before RTTH... Just kidding!

Kidneys are not that important...

[sean.k.caddell]

Hey let me know how the ride feels...Im considering upgrading my suspension with the ride tech kit because I want a daily driver- smooth ride...Did you upgrade rear with the 4-link? or are you still using leafsprings? Let me know your setup

[GeoffP]

Kidneys are not that important...

My thoughts exactly!

In regard to smoother ride, etc...it just depends on how you set the shocks. You can really make one ride great by messing with the shock settings.

[Smoker03]

Hey let me know how the ride feels...Im considering upgrading my suspension with the ride tech kit because I want a daily driver- smooth ride...Did you upgrade rear with the 4-link? or are you still using leafsprings? Let me know your setup

So far the ride is awesome. I have it set fairly stiff and it still soaks everything up. I am very happy, and hoping to get some more time this weekend to dial it in. I am still running my DSE leafs with QA1's right now and it is awesome. So far it feels like I may need to add a rear sway bar. I do wish to finish the car off with the rear 4 link setup, but the budget may not let me do it.

[cpd004]

Sorry to borrow this thread, but I'm trying to resolve some issues with my 71 Firebird.

Rod....in the 4th picture, should the black collar your finger is resting on line up (touch) the silver part just above it?

Also, for daily driver use, the 13/17 clicks as a starting point will work for a 2nd gen as well?

Thanks!

[marolf101x]

If you're talking about the little black rubber part that is a bump stop and can ride anywhere on the shaft.

if you're talking about the larger black coil spring retainer it fits around the silver aluminum stud cover and is held in place by a round snap ring.

[tomt12345]

Kidneys are not that important...

ROD, How many clicks out for the track?

Thanks!

[Rod]

ROD, How many clicks out for the track?

Thanks!

run the street settings 13f/17r on the first run....and see how the car feels....
next run add 4 clicks from base....so turn to full stiff and back it out 9f/13r......is the car more responsive or to bumpy?
if its responsive! awesome increase on run 3 with 3 more clicks....so turn to full stiff and back it out 6f/10r.....
your close to max now is the car....more responsive or to bumpy?......if at any time the car becomes to bumpy reduce the added increase by half ......example if you increased it by 4 and its bumpy reduce it by 2 clicks......

remember you cant screw up!! its just knobs!!! not magic....and you always go back to the base setting 13f/17r.....and every track is different, surface temp, grip, tire tread depth and so on

[chuckd71]

I have this setup on my Chevelle with AFX spindles and to get anything close to a decent ride height I have to have the bottom flange screwed up about as far as it will go. Running 700lb springs that ridetech suggested and it's about like driving a go kart, so I'm thinking about switching to a 650lb spring.
I bought through MCB and only have a few hundred miles on the springs (600 if you count the 200 on a flatbed) but it's been a little over a year so it's probably outside the swap out period. Anyway, would a slightly softer 8 inch spring help or would a longer spring and less elevated perch be the way to go? My body bushings are completely shot so that isn't helping, but the car went from driving like a boat to driving like a high schooler's civic (which would probably be ideal if I never planned to carry passengers that wanted to be comfortable).

[marolf101x]

First, don't worry about how close the lower spring nut is to the end of the coil over threads. Unlike other coil overs which have threads covering the entire body, we needed a smooth sealing surface to seat our air spring against when used in a shockwave configuration. This provided me the opportunity to set the maximum compressed height of the spring in the correct location to mitigate coil bind. In layman's terms, if you had more threads, and you spun the nut closer to the end of the shock, if you were to compress the shock the coils of the spring would hit each other. When this happens you have zero suspension, and it rides like hell.

Now, on to your vehicle.
You stated you have AFX spindles. What upper/lower control arms are you using?
Have you checked to make sure the suspension moves freely? (lift the vehicle, remove the coil over, disconnect the sway bar, you should be able to move the front suspension by hand without difficulty)
What does the car weigh?
Corner weights?
Unsprung weights?
What suspension do you have in the rear?
At ride height how long is the coil over? (I want to make sure your desired ride height is wihtin the operating parameters of the coil over. If it is, cool, we can work with that. If it's not, no spring change will fix it.)

Maybe some pictures would help?

Our standard front kit uses 8" 650# front springs. Unless you have something abnormal (unique suspension set up due to mixed parts, unusually light motor, etc) a change of only 50# is not enough to make it feel like a go kart.

Provide a little more info and we'll go from there.

[chuckd71]

Hi, good info, thanks.

Now, on to your vehicle.
You stated you have AFX spindles. What upper/lower control arms are you using?

Uppers are speedtech and lowers are ridetech strongarms. I think I put a Hellwig bar on the front after I pulled the ridetech musclebar, not positive but 95% sure



Have you checked to make sure the suspension moves freely? (lift the vehicle, remove the coil over, disconnect the sway bar, you should be able to move the front suspension by hand without difficulty)
Everything moves well, but even during the time between sway bar swaps it was a pretty firm ride

What does the car weigh?
No idea really, it's a convertible Chevelle with an L92, A/C and carbon/fiberglass hood and trunk lid.
Corner weights? ?
Unsprung weights??
What suspension do you have in the rear?
225lb ridetech coil overs. UMI control arms, Hellwig bar



At ride height how long is the coil over? (I want to make sure your desired ride height is wihtin the operating parameters of the coil over. If it is, cool, we can work with that. If it's not, no spring change will fix it.)
I'll check on that next time I make it home
Maybe some pictures would help?
I can't seem to find any on this computer but I'll get some

Our standard front kit uses 8" 650# front springs. Unless you have something abnormal (unique suspension set up due to mixed parts, unusually light motor, etc) a change of only 50# is not enough to make it feel like a go kart.

Provide a little more info and we'll go from there.

Sounds good, I'll get some more pics and etc when I can get home. Thanks for the help

[Chuck M]

Hello and thank you in advance for any advice..
I'm following along in this thread above as this is a similar situation.
I've just installed the above Level 2 system complete muscle bars etc 2" drop spindles etc.
on a 67 chevelle 300 with 454 ...
My concern is the kit came with 600# springs and after installing as the photos below show
the oil pan is only 1/2 " off the ground... very concerning...
I called ridetech and they are sending over 700# front coil overs.. which they mention should get me the right height.
Anybody else have similar experience that this will work/resolve?
I'm hoping this gives the correct height in front.

Thank you for any feedback.

Chuck M.

[Chuck M]

Hello and thank you in advance for any advice..
I'm following along in this thread above as this is a similar situation.
I've just installed the above Level 2 system complete muscle bars etc 2" drop spindles etc.
on a 67 chevelle 300 with 454 ...
My concern is the kit came with 600# springs and after installing as the photos below show
the oil pan is only 1/2 " off the ground... very concerning...
I called ridetech and they are sending over 700# front coil overs.. which they mention should get me the right height.
Anybody else have similar experience that this will work/resolve?
I'm hoping this gives the correct height in front.

Thank you for any feedback.

[dhutton]

Is the spring height adjustment nut all the way to the top?

Don

[marolf101x]

Ummm, yeah. . .600# springs and a 454 (I'm assuming iron block and heads?) don't play well together.
This is why we ask that prior to purchase you:
-utilize our spring rate calculator (http://www.ridetech.com/tech/spring-rate-calculator/) (if you do not know your vehicle weight we have a very large list on our website you can use to get close)
-call and talk to us directly and we can suggest a spring rate that will get you very close if not dead on the first try
-discuss your vehicle with one of our authorized dealers

It's very difficult to guess at spring rates. Take your Chevelle for example, though the geometry is always the same, vehicle weight can fluctuate from 3300# to 4000#. . .most of which is directly over the front springs.

[Chuck M]

HI Thanks..
no, my mechanic has not raised to top of threads yet....

[Chuck M]

HI Thank you in advance...

I just received a set of 700# springs from ridetech that will be swapped out today..from the 600..hopefully this gets height in order.
The engine is 454 iron block aluminum heads.

[dhutton]

HI Thanks..
no, my mechanic has not raised to top of threads yet....

Then it should be done before worrying about ride height. In the pic it looks like it is set at the bottom. The adjustor nut sets ride height in addition to spring rate. Your mechanic should have known this and raised the nut before flagging ride height. Sure the springs are too light but the nut has to be set too...

Don