Viking coilovers, weight and spring rates

[UMI Sales]

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.

Just throwing it out there to call...most of the time you can get a whole lot further by talking instead of trying to relay a lot of info by typing

 

[motorheadmike]

Man, it is a chore getting this stuff setup properly - isn't it?

I just went over my situation (similar to yours) in detail with my brother yesterday.

Essentially there is too much preload on the springs, you need more rate to support the weight (or possibly more length). What I am finding is that with coilover springs is that their thin/light duty construction is not particularly effective with all of the weight we carry cantilevered past the rear axle. Add to that other unsprung mass (tires/wheels/diff) and you can run it to a real issue if your shocks cannot control the motion - particularly when the springs are too weak or over taxed in a static setting.

I am going to start looking into alternative springs from a Trailblazer or Suburban to see if there is something workable.

 

[DragonWagon]

I should have just ordered springs and new shox, this would be done and over with. I drove my low rider to work today so I could get some tires, but the shop I normally go to has nothing even close to the size I want. I set up coil overs on rock crawlers all the time, that's easy. These tiny little things shouldn't be this difficult

 

[motorheadmike]

At least it is sitting even. 😉

 

[DragonWagon]

Haha it's the first time she hasn't had the nose up *ss down look. I wanted the front down a bit, but 3" is a little to much haha Bottom of the spring is 3" from the bottom of the shock body, valving is 10 and 14

 

[UMI Sales]

Haha it's the first time she hasn't had the nose up *ss down look. I wanted the front down a bit, but 3" is a little to much haha Bottom of the spring is 3" from the bottom of the shock body, valving is 10 and 14View attachment 66258 View attachment 66259 View attachment 66258 View attachment 66259

Have you raised the ride height any from where you currently have them set? The lower "coil-over" a-arms you have installed are made to be able to use a higher rated hybrid spring in the front like a 550Lb and have the ability to lower the car below "factory" height by moving the shock mounting point approx 2" . With the factory style a-arms coupled with 550 springs you are near factory height with the perch nuts bottomed out.

I've had guys run the perch nuts the whole way until they are nearly out of threads on the shocks and dial in a decent ride with the comp. and rebound settings.

 

[UMI Sales]

The rear shocks in our kits are a C209-U with a recommended ride height (bottom shock eye to top) between 13 7/8" - 15 1/8" with the car weighted on the ground.

I feel pretty comfortable telling you that you won't have much of a problem extending that shock out further than what you have it now in a normal "street" application.

If you don't feel comfortable with that set-up if you fab up some brackets to move the lower mounting point up like your speaking of that surely will cure the issue

 

[DragonWagon]

I have 450 springs in the front, this is the first trip out and it still needs an alignment. I got it as close as I could, for now but as soon as I get my wheels it's going in to get aligned properly. Im trying to get to a decent ride height before that because I know things will change if I lift it up more after.

 

[DragonWagon]

Couple more adjustments, some truck tires, and she finally sits pretty good. My driveway isn't flat so it's hard to get a nice level picture. The tires helped a lot, the little ones I had on the rear are now on the front, and I have a 235/75 15 in the rear. Fits pretty good, could be a touch wider though. I'm gonna run them for a few months to see how they perform, then I'm buying bigger wheels. Picked up all 4 15" for $100 so I can't complain.