Adding top spacer to radflo coilovers

[Troymclure]

Hi all,

Recently I purchased Radflo 2.0's with 650lb coils. I put them on with Allpro 3.5 in the rear and to match the height in the front, I really had to crank the coilovers up. Now, my truck feels very stiff due to the extra preload in the coilovers. I was hoping to add a 3/8'' spacer to the top of the coilovers for around 3/4'' of lift and then remove some preload to regain a softer ride but keep it at around 3.25" of lift in the front.

Does anyone see any problems with this? Would I gain too much droop in my suspension and possible damage things?

Any help appreciated, thanks!

 

[ebg18t]

I'd be more worried about your cv angles than the down travel.

 

[BlackWorksInc]

Most suspension lift kits like this state not to use spacers on top of their units... That being said I don't know anyone who actually has done this.

 

[S p a r k y]

Not exactly the same, but I have a 1" thick spacer on top of my 5100's set at 1.75. Works great!

 

[Troymclure]

I'd be more worried about your cv angles than the down travel.

Im not trying to gain any lift. I want to add the spacer on top of the coilovers and then remove preload from the coilovers to keep the same amount of lift I have now.

Most suspension lift kits like this state not to use spacers on top of their units... That being said I don't know anyone who actually has done this.

Yeah I noticed that haha, I might have to try though. I don't exactly have the funds to buy new custom springs or new coilovers.

Does anyone know if there is a set way to tell if I have too much preload other than a crappy ride? Possibly something I could measure?

 

[kkz]

14" 700 lb coil springs. Less preload, more payload, should be more comfortable. Don't taint those nice coilovers with spacers.

 

[Troymclure]

14" 700 lb coil springs. Less preload, more payload, should be more comfortable. Don't taint those nice coilovers with spacers.

3'' inner diameter? And any idea on company to get them from? Ive been looking at swift springs or hypercoils. And do you think the 2.0 shocks could keep up with the 700lb coils? Id really hate to run the spacer but its so much cheaper I thought Id ask

 

[kkz]

3'' inner diameter? And any idea on company to get them from? Ive been looking at swift springs or hypercoils. And do you think the 2.0 shocks could keep up with the 700lb coils? Id really hate to run the spacer but its so much cheaper I thought Id ask

2.0's need 2.5" ID coils - 2.5's need 3.0" ID coils. Hmm, it looks like most 2.5" ID coils only go up to 650 lbs. Guess there goes my idea. I'd give Downsouth Motorsports a call and ask what to do.

 

[Troymclure]

2.0's need 2.5" ID coils - 2.5's need 3.0" ID coils. Hmm, it looks like most 2.5" ID coils only go up to 650 lbs. Guess there goes my idea. I'd give Downsouth Motorsports a call and ask what to do.

Damn, I just realized that too while on downsouth's website. But If theyre only ~$200 for new springs Id would do it since the spacer is $75ish. Ill keep looking around, maybe Eibach has something or possibly custom. Thanks for the help!

 

[Troymclure]

Well after some looking, theres only one place Ive found that makes them. They can be found here for anyone wondering: Swift Springs Swift Coil Over Barrel Spring - RacingPlus.com

Hopefully Ill order these soon and let you guys know how it works out

 

[ebg18t]

Well after some looking, theres only one place Ive found that makes them. They can be found here for anyone wondering: Swift Springs Swift Coil Over Barrel Spring - RacingPlus.com

Hopefully Ill order these soon and let you guys know how it works out

I am not sure Swift really offers everything in that resellers drop down.

Swift Options

Swift's are great, I run them on my Audi with Custom Ohlin dampers.

You may even want to look at a combo of a 10" 700# with a 4" 600# (or a 6" & 8") to regain the ride quality and have the travel. Effectively giving yourself the best of both. Swift offers perches to combine 2 springs. If I recall correctly King & Fox do a similar setup on some of their longer travel kits.

 

[Troymclure]

I am not sure Swift really offers everything in that resellers drop down.

Swift Options

Swift's are great, I run them on my Audi with Custom Ohlin dampers.

You may even want to look at a combo of a 10" 700# with a 4" 600# (or a 6" & 8") to regain the ride quality and have the travel. Effectively giving yourself the best of both. Swift offers perches to combine 2 springs. If I recall correctly King & Fox do a similar setup on some of their longer travel kits.

Yep, I called swift and they don't make the 14" in 700lbs. The two spring option actually sounds better now that I think about it. What difference would there be between the 6'' and 8'' combo versus the 10'' and 4'' combo? Would the 6 & 8 give a softer ride overall? Sorry for the noobie questions, just really dont wanna have to do this again later down the road.

 

[ebg18t]

Yep, I called swift and they don't make the 14" in 700lbs. The two spring option actually sounds better now that I think about it. What difference would there be between the 6'' and 8'' combo versus the 10'' and 4'' combo? Would the 6 & 8 give a softer ride overall? Sorry for the noobie questions, just really dont wanna have to do this again later down the road.

I asked a Freind that helped setup a few score trucks (privateer team)back in the day and he thinks the 6" (600 or 650) with 8" (650-700) would give the better ride/travel combo. But suggested keeping the rates within the 50# range. So do the 650/700 or the 600/650. Based on what he knows about Radflo it should produce a decent ride with the benefit of on longer, lighter, smoother/straighter rate spring. Just make sure the right thrust washer is used in the middle. Sounds interesting, but definitely not the cheap way to do this.. (~$400)

Eibach offers a 14" 650# for ~$60 at ORW.

 

[Troymclure]

I asked a Freind that helped setup a few score trucks (privateer team)back in the day and he thinks the 6" (600 or 650) with 8" (650-700) would give the better ride/travel combo. But suggested keeping the rates within the 50# range. So do the 650/700 or the 600/650. Based on what he knows about Radflo it should produce a decent ride with the benefit of on longer, lighter, smoother/straighter rate spring. Just make sure the right thrust washer is used in the middle. Sounds interesting, but definitely not the cheap way to do this.. (~$400)

Eibach offers a 14" 650# for ~$60 at ORW.

Thanks for all the info. I think Ill most likely go with a 650lb 6'' spring and the 700lb 8'' spring simply because I cant see myself buying a 14'' 650lb spring considering I already have the 650lb coils. Might be more expensive, but in the long run I think Ill be happier. Im over the hassle of doing things twice, haha

 

[ebg18t]

Thanks for all the info. I think Ill most likely go with a 650lb 6'' spring and the 700lb 8'' spring simply because I cant see myself buying a 14'' 650lb spring considering I already have the 650lb coils. Might be more expensive, but in the long run I think Ill be happier. Im over the hassle of doing things twice, haha

I only wish someone had done this on the 4runner so we had pics and reality vs theory right now.

 

[Troymclure]

I only wish someone had done this on the 4runner so we had pics and reality vs theory right now.

Well Im happy to be the guinea pig, should have the money saved up in the next month or so to go ahead with this. I found hypercoils for $70 a piece at downsouthmotorsports.com which I had good luck with on my old acura coilovers. They also have king springs, but not the right combo of rates and lengths. They only seem to have 10'' and 4'' in the correct rates. Ill keep searching. :thanks:

 

[kkz]

Wish I could help you on the dual rate coil thing, but I've only really seen it done on 10+ travel coilovers, seeing as how they do have the room for it. Would be nice to see it done though. I was looking at replacing my 650 lb coil with a 600. But I guess a 650 with a 600 would be nice for my uses.

 

[Troymclure]

Wish I could help you on the dual rate coil thing, but I've only really seen it done on 10+ travel coilovers, seeing as how they do have the room for it. Would be nice to see it done though. I was looking at replacing my 650 lb coil with a 600. But I guess a 650 with a 600 would be nice for my uses.

Yep, who really knows how well it will work out but no real way to tell without trying haha. Ill try to keep this updated with results, hopefully positive results!

 

[Troymclure]

Wish I could help you on the dual rate coil thing, but I've only really seen it done on 10+ travel coilovers, seeing as how they do have the room for it. Would be nice to see it done though. I was looking at replacing my 650 lb coil with a 600. But I guess a 650 with a 600 would be nice for my uses.

I only wish someone had done this on the 4runner so we had pics and reality vs theory right now.

So after so more researching, Im not sure a 650lb coil and 700lb coil would help too much. Without large amounts of travel, I dont have room to run a stop collar for the first spring, to allow the second heavier spring take over and actually make the truck stiffer like it needs to be. Without the 650lb coil ever binding or hitting the stop collar, the effective spring rate will be too low.

Taken from pirate 4x4:

"The initial spring rate of a dual-rate system is calculated as the product of the individual spring rates divided by the sum of the individual spring rates, according to the following formula:

Ki = (Km * Kt) / (Km + Kt)

Where:

Ki = Initial Spring Rate (of combined springs)
Km = Spring Rate of Main Spring
Kt = Spring Rate of Tender Spring

The final spring rate (effective after the tender spring binds or the DRS has hit the stop) is simply the rate of the main spring.

Kf = Km"

So the effective spring rate would only be around 300-350lbs, which is not enough. I think it would be beneficial to run a setup similar to this guys:
Design your own Dual Spring-Rate Coilovers - Rennlist Discussion Forums
Where the lighter spring is must softer than the main spring and shorter. This way, over bumps, the soft spring will absorb the impact nicely and fully compress to binding, effectively acting as a stop ring, and the spring rate will become that of the main spring. So Im thinking a setup with a 4'' 400lb spring matched with a 10'' 700lb spring will be best. Does this make sense or am I overthinking it?

 

[ebg18t]

You may find that 400# spring unable to support the weight and will be fully compressed. If that occurs you have now lost the ride height support you were trying to originally obtain.