Question for you coil Over guys regarding spring rates? Been doing searches for a few days and found no good answer.

Been considering going to them so I can lower one to one and a half inches (lose the 4x4 look). I have lowered C4's in the past with the long bolt rear and cut rubbers front, while it looked great I did not like the effect on the ride and would not do this to my ZR-1. I see most use 425/275. Does lowering change this rate? if so would I need to go with a lower spring rate?
I do not want to lose the ride I have now would like a rate that will maintain the stock ride or no stiffer than a 96 Z51 (have a 96 LT4/Z51 and its not to bad at all) when ride control is set to performance. car will only be used for lots of road trips. tell me your thoughts on how the ride changed if any and what rates you went with. And yes I'm getting to old to bounce my kidneys all day ..LOL

Thanks Steve

 

great question I'm waiting to see what the answers are

 

I have two friends with coilover springs on their cars. One is a Pantera and the other is a 63 Grand Sport replica. Both of those cars handle extremely well and are surprisingly smooth riding. I have an LT4 with Z51 suspension that MIGHT handle as well, but it is far stiffer riding than either of these 2 cars. I'm impressed enough that I just might go to coilovers myself some day. It seems as though you get the best of both worlds with coilovers with the ability to set ride height without screwing up spring rate.

 

interested as well!

 

Well if you want a comfortable ride get the street coil overs only need the single adjustable,
if you like to race it round a track go for the track coil overs with double adjustable.
Anyway new springs are only around $100 each if you want to set the spring rates to your liking.

As for the ride higher spring rates will be stiffer, i recommend you get the proven QA1 coilovers
with the street spring rate. Mixing and matching is not recommended as the shock absorber needs to be able to control the spring rate.

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050F

http://www.parts123.com/parts123/yb....Z5Z5Z50000050F

Check the Vansteel website also,

http://www.vansteel.com/index.cfm?fu...&SubGroup=1972

You sure cannot beat the easy ride height adjustment with the spanner supplied.

 

My Koni coilovers are as harsh or more harsh than the 85 Z51 suspension with only one turn of four for dampening, ''I say it is the roads fault if its bumpy and uncomfortable''
Cause she is smooth as silk on a nice new or well maintained highway.

Of course you can drive over a coin on the road and tell if its heads or tails.

She is my weekend car that i love to take to race tracks, this is where coil overs are so easy set the ride heights set the dampening rates and you are on rails. (To the point of motion sickness after half a dozen hot laps)

Stay with a street setup for a daily driver or general cruising, only use the Track coilovers if you love GGGGGG forces on a closed circuit. You will tire of stiff suspensions unless it is a weekender only.

 

wow this is something i really want to do, here's a stupid question, do we have to remove the original composite springs to use this system?
Thanks!

 

Yes that is the hard part.

 

but seems that once the coilovers are in you never look back, am i right?

 

Very interesting, From the looks of the kits the Vansteel set up does not require and mods to the rear frame? Does it still require the front sway bar to be moved forward? It also appears I will lose the FX3 set up.

 

I installed coilovers and enjoy them completely. You should know I track my 95. AS to the ride height, that is completely adjustable using the collar on the shock. As for spring rate, I think you should point that question to DRM (http://dougrippie.com/) or Exotic Muscle (http://www.emracingcorp.com/Scripts/default.asp) who have good experience and knowledge. I installed EM coilovers using the HEIM links and the bump steer. My car track track streight and responds very quickly to in-puts. I can tell you you will have to remove the crossover leaf spring, but that is no big deal. There are some very good post on here just seach "coilover" using thread tools.

 

Thanks for your comments Boxcar, the more good experiences i read about
Coilovers the more i want to have a set, how easy / fast is to adjust ride height?
That would be sweet for drag racing as well, then adjusting for the street
but i might end up using one overall setting, who knows.

 

I run coilovers on my Jeep. If your happy with the ride quality just use a shorter spring to lower the car. Either chose a shorter 450, or 275. A shorter 275 would make it feel stiffer reducing it's travel and visa versa. You can also adjust shim stacks for compression and rebound dampening. It's really easy once you do it. I personally run Eibach springs.

 

I have van steel's coilovers on my 96. Double adjustable QA-1s and keep the shocks tuned pretty high so I have a fairly harsh ride but I also have slightly stiffer springs vs the stock leaf springs. If you plan on lowering the car more than an 1" you need to be VERY clear about that when ordering your kit as the shocks will need to be ordered accordingly. Anything more than an 1" voids the Van Steel warranty, but they can order shorter shocks based on your needs.

I highly suggest giving Dan a call at Van Steel as he can get you EXACTLY what you are looking for the ride-height and ride quality you want.

You do have move the sway bar mounts forward, or you need the exotic muscle heim joint sway bar end links. I just moved mine forward...wasn't that hard. You may have to clearance the rear knuckles for the lower shock mount with a grinder, but it's very quick and easy. I only lightly had to do one side. Took less than 10 minutes which included pulling out the grinder, doing the work, checking fitment, and putting the grinder back. If you run 11" wheels in the rear, you also have to round one of the corners of the lower shock mount for a tad of clearance.

 

I posed this question to DRM this was the reply.

Quote:

Thanks for the email,
For more of a softer ride we would have to drop the spring rates about 50 pounds all around. The problem with lowering the car down and using soft springs the shocks or car may bottom out frequently and cause a extremely harsh ride during that condition. At 3/4 to a 1 inch you will be ok running the softer springs. Lower then that extreme care will be needed not to hit pot holes and etc.

--
Randy Rippie
Doug Rippie Motorsports
412 Pacific Ave
Waverly, MN 55390
763-658-6109

 

I'm thinking of putting them on my 80 CJ7, rides like a dam buckboard.

 

[QUOTE=We Gone;1584567416]I posed this question to DRM this was the reply.

Quote:

Thanks for the email,
For more of a softer ride we would have to drop the spring rates about 50 pounds all around. The problem with lowering the car down and using soft springs the shocks or car may bottom out frequently and cause a extremely harsh ride during that condition. At 3/4 to a 1 inch you will be ok running the softer springs. Lower then that extreme care will be needed not to hit pot holes and etc.

That is a good answer. There is a simple test you can perform when lowering your ride. Place a zip tie on the shock post, drive the car, and see where the zip tie gets pushed to. Do all four corners, drive normally. If the zip tie does not top out, well you can go lower. I used EM, and the front lowered 1.75 inch, and the rear 1.50.

 

I have been running coilovers for over 6 years now, I purchased QA1's from summit racing. I have a little tutorial on my website www.mo-amps.com you are correct you have to move the front swaybar forward if you do not use the DRM helm joints ( which I have).

I'm running the single select QA1 shock I have the latest part numbers on the web as well. I'm currently at 500 in the front and 275 in the rear and like the 3rd click from softest on the ride.

You can set the ride height to any position you like I'm 26.5 inches from the ground to the center of the fenderwell all the way around...

I hope this helps... please PM me if you need more help.

MO

 

I have the Van Steel coilovers with the QA1 single adjustable shocks and I feel the ride is awesome. I have the adjustment set in the middle (6 clicks) and it isn't too harsh. I'm not sure what the spring rates are but I know they are the 8" springs (they do have 7" springs) and I have my car lowered 26.5" from the wheel well to the ground for all four.

Don't contemplate doing it just do it. You think a C4 handles well now wait till you do the coilover swap!
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