Newbie shock tuning/setup questions

[maveric]

Off road, usually 12-15. On road, usually 25. This isn't a crawler, so there are times that I will be running dirt roads for a couple hours at 40-50mph. With the weight, the tires build heat, even at the 12-15psi. Its a balance between ride and keeping the tires happy. I usually run my crawlers between 4-8psi, and they are definately ride better, but they don't have the weight or the speed/duration either. Im guessing most of the trucks entered in the Baja are running a higher psi, but the suspension compensates. (Shitty suspension with lower pressures ~/= tuned suspension with higher pressures)

i would of expected to see him it in the 150-200/300 range with an 1-1.5" preload

The current springs set my RH at 50%, and they compress completely with 1/2" preload. If I were to move to a lighter spring, and 1.5" preload, wouldn't the coils stack and bind before the shock completely compresses? I am guessing that if I went this route, I would also have to go with a shorter spring?

 

[bdkw1]

Off road, usually 12-15. On road, usually 25. This isn't a crawler, so there are times that I will be running dirt roads for a couple hours at 40-50mph. With the weight, the tires build heat, even at the 12-15psi. Its a balance between ride and keeping the tires happy. I usually run my crawlers between 4-8psi, and they are definately ride better, but they don't have the weight or the speed/duration either. Im guessing most of the trucks entered in the Baja are running a higher psi, but the suspension compensates. (Shitty suspension with lower pressures ~/= tuned suspension with higher pressures)


The current springs set my RH at 50%, and they compress completely with 1/2" preload. If I were to move to a lighter spring, and 1.5" preload, wouldn't the coils stack and bind before the shock completely compresses? I am guessing that if I went this route, I would also have to go with a shorter spring?

With springs that light probably not. If you know the brand you should be able to look up the block hieght.

 

[maveric]

With springs that light probably not. If you know the brand you should be able to look up the block hieght.

Eibach

5.81 for the 14” 350lb
7.17 for the 16” 400lb
So 12.98 combined block height. If the shock body is ~14.5”, minus the 1.5” for preload, the spring should block at almost the same time as full compression of the shock. Correct?
I’m also guessing that isn’t ideal, or does it not matter if the bumps are set up correctly?

 

[Dougal]

I don't suppose anyone has dyno numbers to go with the Fox valving specs?

The numbers don't correspond to force at velocity similar to Bilstein?

 

[bdkw1]

Eibach

5.81 for the 14” 350lb
7.17 for the 16” 400lb
So 12.98 combined block height. If the shock body is ~14.5”, minus the 1.5” for preload, the spring should block at almost the same time as full compression of the shock. Correct?
I’m also guessing that isn’t ideal, or does it not matter if the bumps are set up correctly?

Set the preload, measure the extended length of the springs. Then subtract block hieght and slider. If the result is less than the shock travel your boned.

 

[mobil1syn]

you may have to run a 3.0 lower spring if block height becomes a problem.

1600.300.0400S has a block height of 6.61

 

[Deano1193]

So for clarification...again, not the smartest peanut in the turd...I need to pull them apart to see what shims are in there from factory... and buy a new stack to replace them? I am assuming I can buy stacks in specific configurations?
Edit: I see the shim kits are available, and the settings should be stamped on the bottom cap. Will look tonight. Looking at the Accu-tune shim chart, the #50 shim kit is .010 on ALL shims, so does that mean I would need the #30 kit since its ALL .008 shims?

Yes, currently still chevy's in the rear. I am sitting low in the rear due to the additional weight, so will be replacing them with Deaver or Alcan's once I get the front figured out.

Shocks and bumps are 200psi.

Correct me if Im wrong. Flutter stack is taking the biggest shim and moving it to the opposite side of the stack?

What shims did you end up going with? Any updates?

 

[maveric]

What shims did you end up going with? Any updates?

I haven’t messed with shims yet. I went with a slightly lighter spring so I could add more preload. That alone helped some.
As stated above, by helping the front, I realized how terrible the rears are. I talked with Jeff at Deaver, and ordered a custom set of rear springs. They have not shown up yet, so I haven’t gone any further.