Viking coilovers, weight and spring rates

[DragonWagon]

Need some quick info, and so far searching hasn't given much info. I installed viking coilovers on my 81 wagon this weekend, and the rear springs are way to soft. They sent 175's, I'm thinking 225 but not sure. Are you running the same set up, what spring rate did you go with, what would you do different? I have to order new springs first thing tomorrow or I won't get them in time for the weekend so hopefully I get some quick replies.

 

[motorheadmike]

I am running twin springs (spring inside a spring) on a stockcar weight jacker setup in the back of my wagon. The rates are 180lb/in and 175lb/in - not sure if that makes for 355lb/in cumulative or not? But, the wagon definitely needs more support in the back given all the extra weight it carries (lift gate, tail gate, steel bumper, extra glass, long roof, that big silly floor plate, etc).

 

[DragonWagon]

I need to take the car to get weighed, but at the moment I have no time and probably shouldn't be driving it with the wrong springs, I don't want to damage the shocks. I initially asked for 200lb springs, now I'm not sure that's enough. It's just an average car, small block, manual trans conversion, stock 10 bolt axle for now.

 

[454GrandPrix]

I initially asked for 200lb springs, now I'm not sure that's enough.

For the record, I am currently running Moog 5391s in the back of my Grand Prix. These are designated as OEM station wagon springs. They have a rate of 142 lb/in. (The regular G-Body coupe springs are only around 120 lb/in.)

Don't know if that info helps, but I thought I'd throw it out there just in case.

 

[DragonWagon]

I'm thinking the coilover being behind the axle has something to do with it, the extra leverage is minimal but could demand a rate increase. With the 175lb springs I can push the car down quite a bit standing on the bumper with 1 foot. When I first put the coilovers on I had the springs adjusted about half way up the shock body, and the bumper was on the ground. After driving the springs almost all the way up the shock body I finally got a decent ride height. I will try and get some pix when I get home

 

[DragonWagon]

New A arms are on, new springs are on, and I'm still disappointed. 200lb springs are still to soft, hopefully once the valving is set it rides a little stiffer. She sits way to low and the rear shock is almost topped out, so I'm gonna have to build a bracket to lower the upper mount. I went with UMI A arms, and so far they seem to be pretty good other than the way the shock mounts. Seems like it shouldn't hang down so low. More adjustments to come, I'm giving it up for the day. I'm to old to be rolling around on the ground all day

 

[BMR Suspension]

I sell 225's for the Rear of Camaros, so I think you definitely need more Spring

 

[DragonWagon]

That's what I thought, I should have went with 250 or 275. If I ever get tires and wheels I will be taking the car to get weighed so I can calculate based on real numbers. There's so much misinformation out there I don't think I have any other choice.

 

[UMI Sales]

New A arms are on, new springs are on, and I'm still disappointed. 200lb springs are still to soft, hopefully once the valving is set it rides a little stiffer. She sits way to low and the rear shock is almost topped out, so I'm gonna have to build a bracket to lower the upper mount. I went with UMI A arms, and so far they seem to be pretty good other than the way the shock mounts. Seems like it shouldn't hang down so low. More adjustments to come, I'm giving it up for the day. I'm to old to be rolling around on the ground all day View attachment 66075

Are your rear coil-overs mounted in the factory location? Just curious for the fact we manufacture brackets to relocate the lower shock mount inboard when using coil-overs on A & G Body platform cars and i'm not very familiar with what coil-over spring rates are needed in the factory location. , Moving the shock inboard changes the effective spring rate -vs- the factory location.

Do you have the T-bar mounted on top of the spring bucket? When you use coil-overs the T-bar get's mounted on top of the bucket to distribute the weight unlike being mounted under the bucket when using coil springs and the "coil" spring takes the weight of the car.

There might be a few solutions to your issue, if you need any info feel free to give me a call here at the shop to talk "shop"

Craig

 

[DragonWagon]

Iv been messaging someone with umi on Facebook, the problem is with the coil over shock, it's just to short. The rear tops out at 17.3", and I'm at 15.5" to achieve a decent ride height. The valving should help stiffen it up a little, but it of course won't change height. I have a T bar up top, and the umi relocation bracket on the axle. If it put the mounting point at the axle center line this wouldn't be an issue. Because it hangs down so far it makes the shock a little bit to short. I will get it handled this coming weekend, if I have to fab a bracket it's not a big deal.