Thread: Time for new rear shocks, need your advice

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Carrera makes very good coilover shocks, so are the Vipers from Pete and Jakes, but it isn't as simple as buying a pair off the shelf. You need to get the correct length, and the correct spring rate. To do that, you need to know the following:

- Distance between the upper and lower shock mounts at ride height. (You need to know this because the shock should be set up with about 60% of the rod showing. That allows 60% of the travel for bump and 40% for rebound.)

- Shock mounting angle, assuming they aren't vertical. (You need to know this because tilting the shocks reduces the spring rate.) If you don't have a protractor, measure the distance between the centerlines of the two shock mounts. Then hang a string with a weight from the upper shock mount and measure the horizontal distance from the lower shock mount to the string.

- Weight of the car on the rear wheels. (A typical fenderless roadster would weigh about 1450 lbs at the rear - 725 on each wheel.)

If you know this stuff, the parts desk at any of the suppliers can probably determine the correct application. So, slide under there with a tape, get dirty and let us know what the numbers are.

I think Don's pretty close on the spring rate, but it wouldn't hurt to take the measurements before you buy.

Here's the page: http://www.speedwaymotors.com/p/177,...quot;andb.html