Coilovers?

[custommade]

So I just trying to work some things out about the loss of travel, someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

There seems to be two types of coilovers for the z cars.

 

First the weld on sleeve, like these ground control units

 

were the spring sits on the bottom perch. If the ride height is lowered you will lose travel from

the shock is this correct?

 

Then these

were the strut is threaded and screwed into the bottom mount.

If I use these I wont lose any travel when lowering.

Have I got this correct??

 

So if I go with the first type and just weld on a sleeve, sectioning the strut will bring me back closer to the middle

of the travel on the shock, but if I raise or lower I will still lose travel.

So worst case to low and I will bottom out to high and I will top out?

 

If this is correct I would be better to go with the second option, with the threaded strut if I was to make large changes in ride hieght

and keep travel.

Have I got this clear or am I missing something?

 

Thanks

 

Luke

[Zedman240®]

If you section the strut the same amount as the spacer that lifts the shock up, you will lower the car but retain the same amount of shock travel. I've drawn up a quick crude drawing to show what I mean. Even with a coilover setup, if you lower it even further, you will lose travel in the shock. Be very careful with Koni shocks.. one event of bottoming out, and its rebuild time with your shocks!

[KatoKid]

Nice work Dimitri!

[DAZDA]

I think the ‘complete strut’ type you have in the second picture are similar to having an ‘adjustable spacer’ as well as an adjustable spring seat.  The lower threaded section controls the shock and spring position relative to the stub axle and the second threaded section controls the spring height.

 

In theory this can mean you don’t lose any shock travel but the ‘total’ shock travel may be less to begin with for this type of coilover for a Zed, I don’t know...

[d3c0y]

Yeah what Dazda said is right. The whole point of the threaded coilover is so you dont loose travel and change your spring preload with height.

 

On hybridz there are heaps of topics about how much travel a zed requires with this setup. Dont forget you still have to cut the strut tube off and weld on a threaded tube for the coilover to wind into.

[custommade]

Think I'm going to go with bens sleeve kit and some double

adjustable Koni's. Been asking some questions over at hybridz

And seems that the struts in the McKinney kit might not

Be up to the job. And  would like to be able to adjust from the

Top so Arizona coils are out.

[MaygZ]

Your first picture confuses me.  It appears that you have dropped the threaded sleeve onto the original spring seat.    This will raise the car and only give the option of further raising it.  The original seat should be removed and then the threaded section welded on further down (about 100mm) lower than the original seat height.

 

I could have it all wrong from your photo.  Sorry if I have - look at the time of the post before the flaming starts.

 

MaygZ

[custommade]

Not my strut mate just a picture off the net for ilistration

Purposes only

[peter t]

There are some on flea bay for $200 Has any one tried these and how good are they?

[dpellizzaro]

Link? There are plenty of aluminum ones but i think they wouldn't help many people out.

 

Cheers

David