Adjusting ride height with coilovers

[1950StangJump$]

Not sure if this question belongs in tech or corner carvers . . .

I just bought Pedders adjustable coilovers, but I suspect my question will apply to any number of brands. I've installed shocks and struts several times, but this is my first endeavor at the adjustable variety.

The front struts seem easy enough. But, on the back, I'm a little unclear given the shocks and springs are adjusted separately. If I want to go up or down on ride height, do I adjust for height via the shocks, and then double back to the springs to ensure the proper preload (10mm) on them?

All the online instructions I have found get into install but stop short of height adjustment procedures.

 

[01yellerCobra]

The springs are what hold the car up. You'll adjust the height with those. Then adjust the shock so it doesn't max out either way.

 

[1950StangJump$]

The springs are what hold the car up. You'll adjust the height with those. Then adjust the shock so it doesn't max out either way.

Thank you. However, when I called technical support, the guy mentioned that the rear springs had to have about 10 mm of preload. If I am adjusting the car is height utilizing the spring, isn’t that going to dictate the amount of pre-load up and down and not give me any control over whether it is more or less than 10mm?

 

[01yellerCobra]

I don't know anything about setting preload on the springs. My coilovers adjust the height with the spring collar. My buddy has a similar set up to yours on his Charger. We set the height with the springs then adjusted the shocks so the travel was in the middle. The only thing I can think the preload does is either keep the springs from unseating when you raise it or to account any settling that's going to happen. I would just adjust it where you want then drive it for a couple weeks and check your height and adjust as needed.

 

[1950StangJump$]

I don't know anything about setting preload on the springs. My coilovers adjust the height with the spring collar. My buddy has a similar set up to yours on his Charger. We set the height with the springs then adjusted the shocks so the travel was in the middle. The only thing I can think the preload does is either keep the springs from unseating when you raise it or to account any settling that's going to happen. I would just adjust it where you want then drive it for a couple weeks and check your height and adjust as needed.

OK. When you adjusted the shocks so that “travel was in the middle“ did you just eyeball it?

 

[1950StangJump$]

I thought I'd circle back on this for the next guy. I called Pedders and got the scoop, though I haven't gotten to install them yet.

As Yeller said, you adjust the height with the springs while the car is on the ground.

But, once you get the height you want, bring the car back up off the ground, unload the suspension, and unhook the shock. Then, you jack the axle up until you get the desired preload on the spring (7-10mm for me).

Once the proper preload is obtained, you then adjust the shock to the correct matching height to be installed easily in the mount hole.

 

[msvela448]

If you can get access to a set of race scales I'd suggest that your corner balance the car when you adjust the springs / ride height. Doing it by eyeball or even a tape measure is just not good enough. Even the slightest unevenness in the surface the car is sitting on will greatly effect preload if you do it with a tape measure for ride height.

You can seriously jack around weight unless you use 4 independent scales that have been leveled. My argument is.... Why did you spend all that money on a nice set of adjustable shocks and springs?

I used a system like this and I was lucky that a friend had loaned it to me, but many places around the country do it for a fee similar to having an alignment done: https://www.intercompcompany.com/ne...75.306918193.1560465186-1987575309.1560465186

 

[1950StangJump$]

If you can get access to a set of race scales I'd suggest that your corner balance the car when you adjust the springs / ride height. Doing it by eyeball or even a tape measure is just not good enough. Even the slightest unevenness in the surface the car is sitting on will greatly effect preload if you do it with a tape measure for ride height.

You can seriously jack around weight unless you use 4 independent scales that have been leveled. My argument is.... Why did you spend all that money on a nice set of adjustable shocks and springs?

I used a system like this and I was lucky that a friend had loaned it to me, but many places around the country do it for a fee similar to having an alignment done: https://www.intercompcompany.com/ne...75.306918193.1560465186-1987575309.1560465186

Thanks, but I won't be using race scales; this is a street car.

And, to answer your question, I bought the adjustable coilovers because I wanted to be able to set the height of the car where I found it pleasing . . . and this will allow me to play with that until it is "right." The current springs are stock, but I'd swear the front looks lower - perhaps a combination of sagging springs and the blower weight, IDK.

But, I just didn't know for sure what effect new lowering springs would have on the final height. Using adjustable will allow my to make changes to my taste. It's all about the aesthetics.

 

[msvela448]

I have a street car too... I only AutoX a couple times a year. Maybe it's peace of mind for me, or maybe it was because I got to do it for free... (probably mostly the free part) but I saw a considerable difference in weight distribution in just minimal adjustments.

I also have double adjustable shocks and I notice a considerable amount of change when messing with compression and rebound. I'd start with the manufacturer recommendations and then tailor it to your taste / needs.

Im running KW V3's.

Sent from my SM-G965U using Tapatalk