What could cause bodyroll in live axle setup?

[Stefan]

What you guy reckon is the easiest way to adjust the spring/shock height so that they match perfectly?

You have 2 basic options to choose from

A) Leave springs at their current height, and buy shorter-stroke shocks
B) Adjust spring seats to a height that suits shocks (assuming they go high enough)

Option B of course negates lowering the car very much - you really have to be holistic about suspension

[merc-blue]

OHHH GOSH!!!

This is the exact problem with all these cheap coilover kits out there, you would have been better off with a set of decent shocks and kings/eibachs etc

Do the proper math on you shock bump/rebound lenghts vs ride vs spring rate vs corner weight and arm mountings etc.

you cna get a shorter shock or a longer spring.

I dont under stand how you can get power down early and have a no rearend feel.
What sort of rear sway bar are you running

[Tom86]

OHHH GOSH!!!

This is the exact problem with all these cheap coilover kits out there, you would have been better off with a set of decent shocks and kings/eibachs etc

The shock that I have is height adjustable. You can adjust the actual length of the shock without affecting the stroke. Because they screw into a sleeve down the bottom. Like a proper coilover should. So I don't need a new shock.

My problem is getting the shock to a correct length to so it match with the height of the springs!

[Joshstix]

Measure the free lenght of the spring. Then measure the lenght of the spring wit hthe weight of the car on it. Then adjust the shock so that it it fully extended with the weight of the car on the spring. Now add a little bit less than the difference between free and loaded length of the spring to the length of the shock.

[merc-blue]

Because they screw into a sleeve down the bottom. Like a proper coilover should. So I don't need a new shock.

Very wrong IMHO, a properly built coilover will supply all the travel you need at full adjustment either way, on cheap ebay coilovers fair enough. but a proper set of built coilovers wont have it like that

[RobertoX]

The shock that I have is height adjustable. You can adjust the actual length of the shock without affecting the stroke. Because they screw into a sleeve down the bottom. Like a proper coilover should. So I don't need a new shock.

My problem is getting the shock to a correct length to so it match with the height of the springs!

got some pics of this?

Make some measurements and set it up such that when at normal ride height the shock is in about the middle of it's stroke (and the springs are captive). If its in the middle of its stroke and they aren't captive then adjust it so that they are just captive.

It is really easy to check if they are captive or not, just jack the car up at the back so the diff is at full droop and see if the springs rattle around at all...

[Tom86]

Very wrong IMHO, a properly built coilover will supply all the travel you need at full adjustment either way, on cheap ebay coilovers fair enough. but a proper set of built coilovers wont have it like that

You have any picture these so call "proper" built coilovers you talk about.

RobertoX look at this LINK this is how the shock I have works

In my opinion this is a superior design to any home made ae86 cut n shut coilover with welded spring collar type.

[ra23celica]

RobertoX look at this LINK this is how the shock I have works

I have looked at these pics and understand the concept (strut and coil length stay the same inside/outside the top section and it screws up or down into the lower section) but how does this apply in the execution on the street?
The way I see it is that you have to disconnect the coilover at its bottom mounting point in order to adjust it up or down? Is that correct?
Not so practical out on the street methinks...

[ra23celica]

The shock that I have is height adjustable. You can adjust the actual length of the shock without affecting the stroke. Because they screw into a sleeve down the bottom. Like a proper coilover should. So I don't need a new shock.

My problem is getting the shock to a correct length to so it match with the height of the springs!

This statement here does not gel with the pics in that link posted above. The strut and spring move up or down together as a unit, so there is no reason why they should not be well matched to each other.

Where it falls apart is in the case of most live rear axles where the spring is mounted remotely from the strut, which is where this whole thread started I believe...

[merc-blue]

You have any picture these so call "proper" built coilovers you talk about.

I will when i get back to work on monday

[thepeter]

does the car become unstable on corner exit, or only entry?

Call me silly, but this is a primitive trick, yet a good one - You can try placing a rubber band around the strut shaft (provided it's exposed) of the outer corner (we'll say the rear left, if testing on a right hand bend, and vice versa) and try setting adjusting the setting of the strut to it's firmest, test, and straight away alter the setting to the softest. repeat testing and each time check the travel of the rubber band and note it down.

the 'optimal' travel span is obviously that of the spring seat to the bump-stop (if you have one), and there is ways you can measure the optimal stroke of the strut in comparison to the spring.

Man i'm tired, hope i made the slightest of sense.

[merc-blue]

Thepeter, a good suggestion we use a cable tie to save taking the shock out casue some cars its tricky