suspension

[hag6888]

Anyone use belltech suspension parts ?

[Rod]

Anyone use belltech suspension parts ?

only on trucks

[hag6888]

Thanks what I'm looking are you using them for autocross ?

[Ron Sutton]

They are heavy & aren't known for optimum handling geometry.

Which Belltech spindle are you looking at?

[hag6888]

Thanks Ron for the info what you run ? I'm just looking for the springs right now.

[hag6888]

I have stock spindles right now

[Ron Sutton]

Oh. Springs. Gotcha.

I have no idea who makes Belltech springs, except that they don't. At some point, we'll probably start a thread and talk about spring characteristics ... and what constitutes poor, good & best springs.

If DSE sells the size & rate you need, I can recommend them. Their springs are made by Draco, with the best spring material & quality control processes.

[Tricky]

I run bell tech 2" drop spindles, but for a big block on a 350 motor truck so that way I can use big block rotors/calibers. I do both auto x and NASA track days. No problem. I would like to find a stiffer shock. Does anyone Know the different rates between Bell tech shocks,bilstins,KYB or Qal's?

[Ron Sutton]

I run bell tech 2" drop spindles, but for a big block on a 350 motor truck so that way I can use big block rotors/calibers. I do both auto x and NASA track days. No problem. I would like to find a stiffer shock. Does anyone Know the different rates between Bell tech shocks,bilstins,KYB or Qal's?

Hi Tricky,

Can you share with us the different specs of the spindles, brakes & rotors for SBC & BBC truck applications in your model range ?

Photos would be awesome if you can round some up too.

[Tricky]

I do not have photos-sorry,but here is what happened. I was working on a 454ss for a customer of mine so his old rotors were near by. I bought some bell tech spindals from a guy thinking they were sbc. Long story short I found out that the left over rotors from the 454 fit because my sbc did not. Then I bought new rotors,calibers & pads from the bbc from autozone. The bbc rotors are thicker and so were the pads all fixed when I bought the bbc calibers.

[Ron Sutton]

Hey Tricky,

I am sorry, I do not know the what the shock valving dyno graphs look like on the Bell tech, Bilstein, KYB or QA1 shocks. You may want to contact the manufacturers & see if they will provide you with a shock valving dyno graph?

I know ridetech & DSE will provide shock valving dyno graphs, because I have them.

[pharmd]

I do not have photos-sorry,but here is what happened. I was working on a 454ss for a customer of mine so his old rotors were near by. I bought some bell tech spindals from a guy thinking they were sbc. Long story short I found out that the left over rotors from the 454 fit because my sbc did not. Then I bought new rotors,calibers & pads from the bbc from autozone. The bbc rotors are thicker and so were the pads all fixed when I bought the bbc calibers.

Yeah man, get up with Brett @ ridetech or Kyle @ DSE and see if they will hook you up with a custom setup...they got a huge parts bin.

[Slick68]

Hotchkis also sells 4" front drop springs and 6" rear drop springs for 67-72 trucks.

www.hotchkis.net

[struck by Lightning]

I would like to find a stiffer shock. Does anyone Know the different rates between Bell tech shocks,bilstins,KYB or Qal's?

I have tested several shock combinations and currently am running Bilstein HPS 1000's on the front with adjustable QA1's on the rear.

FRONT	extended	compressed	comp @ speed	rebound @ speed
Bilstein BE5-2571-H0 (Supercrew HD)	14.76	9.98	685 @ .52	2790 @ .52
Bilstein BE5-2478-H0 (Std F-150 HD)	14.76	9.98	890 @ .52	2770 @ .52
Bilstein BE5-2478-H1 (F150/Lightning Sport)	14.76	9.98	930 @ .52 680 @ .26	3050 @ .52 2335 @ .26
Koni 30 1658	14.72	10.39	500 @ .33	1450 @ .33
REAR
Bilstein BE5-2579 (2WD F150)			550 @ .52	2020 @ .52
Bilstein BE5-2479-H1 (F150/Lightning Sport)
Bilstein BE5-6013-H0 (Rodeo/Passport)	18.52	11.81	750 @ .52	1627 @ .52
Koni 30 1659	24.13	14.69	450 @ .33	1000 @ .33
Koni (99-01 Rodeo/Passport)			750 @ .33	1450 @ .33

[Ron Sutton]

George, would you post rates on the QA1 you mentioned?

If you don't mind us asking, what shock dyno are you using?

[struck by Lightning]

George, would you post rates on the QA1 you mentioned?

If you don't mind us asking, what shock dyno are you using?

Ron,

The above is a small portion of data from fellow Lightning owner Tim Skelton. His testing and documentation is well known in the Lightning community and more information can be found here http://www.timskelton.com/lightning/...suspension.htm

I love the QA1's on the rear as it allows me to stiffen up the rebound as I hit the brakes entering into a corner which is a big plus as the truck is so nose heavy.

[bovey]

George. THAT is impressive. Thanks for the info.

[Ron Sutton]

George,

With the QA1 shock valving, can you go all the way to full stiff on the rear shock rebound valving without the truck getting loose on entry ... or does it get loose at some point?

[Ron Sutton]

Another question George,

How does Tim's truck perform? Does he AutoX? and if so, how well does he do?

[struck by Lightning]

George,

With the QA1 shock valving, can you go all the way to full stiff on the rear shock rebound valving without the truck getting loose on entry ... or does it get loose at some point?

So far the best setting has been at 13 clicks (18 total) as all the way (18) will loosen up the rear at entry however most of the track surfaces I've run have been rather rough with the exception of Marina, Ca. The truck performed extremely well at 13 clicks at Marina that I chose not to change a thing.

Another question George,

How does Tim's truck perform? Does he AutoX? and if so, how well does he do?

No first hand knowledge, but Tim reported on the forums that the truck performed very well with good success in AutoX and Club Racing.