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I currently have Bilstein coilovers in back and driving over these "bumpy" L.A. roads it's not too enjoyable,,,any suggestions{helpful ones} on shocks?
What type are you all using on Your '32's,,I know Mines a solid axle car but I still think it should be a little softer riding.
Thanks
Bilstein are some of the finest shocks made, have you attempted to fine tune what you have with different spring rates, preload settings, etc. Rarely is an out of the box coil-over perfect for every application. Simply changing to another brand isn't the solution.
Mike
I agree with Mike 100%. If you have Duane's standard installation you'll have three lower mounting holes, used to adjust rear ride height, the pre-load spanner adjustment on the bottom of the coil-over plus the "stiffness" dial that probably has six to ten detent positions (clicks) for damping rate. You may need to back off on your spanner, softening the spring rate some, and then if the back end drops too much kick it back up using the lower mounts. Then adjust your damping rate to dial it in for the right rebound. Like Mike says, the Bilstein units are top quality, but if you drive into your local rod shop I'm sure they'll be more than happy to remove them and sell you something else.Quote:
Originally Posted by Mike52
those big rear tires are going to bounce the car around some
Most who build cars go with too stiff a coil spring and the shock doesn't get to do much of the work it's designed to do. What rate springs are on the back??? Also, many don't use a shock with enough stroke, most street rod shocks are a 3" stroke, which IMO is too short. AFCO has a chart on their website (and on Speedway) to determine the correct amount of travel the coilovers should have based on the installed height. Bilstein is a quality unit, but if the valving on the shock is wrong, the length of stroke too short, or the spring rate too high they will not give a good ride or good handling........
Here's the AFCO chart on length of travel for shocks.
Thanks Guys,,,I'll try and adjust the coil overs and see how that goes,,I chose Bilsteins because I "know"
they are awesome shocks!
I had Alden shocks on an Oze rod car I bought and asked Alden for suggested settings. They said spring rate should be where car settles one inch from full spring length after weight of car is put on springs. I did that and then adjusted the shock setting to the preferred stiffness I liked and car road like a dream.
Along with what Dave said, the spring rate may be too great. There should be a metal tag on the spring with the rate, i would swag it should be about 200lbs? maybe 225?ish should be in the ballpark.
What happens when the spring is too stiff is that the suspension can't work because the tire is reacting (like Jerry brought up)because it is softer that the suspension.
If you know the rear tire weight then to calculate is inches of spring collapse times 2 springs. Like rear wt is 1000 lbs, then each spring carries 500lbs; each spring has to collapse 2" so the spring rate will be 250lbs per inch.
I had the TCI house shocks on my sedan. Recently blew out a lower bushing so I switched to some Bilsteins I had laying around for another project. The difference in ride is unbelievable (better). I think you may be running too stiff a spring or too much tire inflation. I'm on the same third world roads that you are.
How much air pressure are you running in your tires? On my '32, I run 25 lbs in the fronts and 20 lbs in the rears. I found this amount gives the tread a full contact patch with the road. You can use some powdered chalk from a chalk string, mark you tires, and drive over some paper to determine if your tires are making a full contact patch with the road. That way you can figure out how much air pressure to run in your tires. Our deuces are pretty light in the rear, and 30-35 pounds in the rear tires is actually over-inflating them.
Spring rate is 225x10"Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
That's about what everybody runs---except me!!!! I'd be down around 140 to 150 with a 5" or 6" stroke and double adjustable valving.....then you can get a good ride.
I think You correct,I have been talking with RCD{race car dynamics} in So. Cal. and I have been trying to tell them that the springs they sold me are too stiff{225 rate}Quote:
Originally Posted by wingman9
I'm definetly gonna get some softer springs,,do You think 175 is good coming dowm from My 225's?Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Severson
Should be closer...without knowing the front and rear weights of the car it's kind of a guess....
I wonder if 50 lbs will soften it up enough, that is a small change for a suspension. Maybe talk with Edelbrock, they have some socks that are street performance designed. I point that out because, the RDC company's dna is racing, nothing wrong with that. But their mind set is race, "I have been trying to tell them that the springs they sold me are too stiff". That's like telling a drag racer his hotrod is to fast, the eyes glaze over and a huge question mark flashes in the mind:LOL: They are hearing what you say but not what you mean. To them their formulas and calculations tell them you have what you need, DNA at work.
The reason I have suggested Edelbrock is they offer coil overs and springs, their dna would be more street rod Do not have to buy but could pick up some good information that you could use to figure out what will fit you needs. Then after you have an idea of a friendlier spring size, go back and just tell RDC what you need.
Sounds good!!
Would you know of any circle track racers around town that would set your car on their 4 wheel scales so that you would have accurate weight information on the car before you order springs??? I would imagine that your coilovers are also the 3" stroke standard one's??? Really tough to get a decent ride or decent handling with a 3" stroke on the street......
There's a common misconception that turning the big nut on the bottom of your coil-over, or moving the mounting bolt to a different position changes the spring rate. It doesn't! That only changes the ride height of the car. Spring rate is measured by number of pounds to cause 1 inch of spring length reduction. Smaller diameter wire for the coils, longer total coil length, or more coils in the spring will reduce the spring rate.