coil overs?

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lil jeep mec
Posts: 94
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:17 pm
Location: Kennewick, WA

coil overs?

Post by lil jeep mec »

anyone running coil overs?
this winter I am hopefully doing d60 steer axles front and rear, 4 wheel steer. soa with sliders front and rear instead of shackles, under frame mounted.

I guess my question is I plan on running axle tech 4000 axles once I finish college, I have a buddy selling them for $3000 for 2 steering axles. and I want to run 44+ in tires, I plan on making it fly that's why the d60's will not last. but I want a decent ride. I have been looking at the KING 2.5 coilover shocks but im not sure how to determine what size springs to run.. any info on spring rate etc. I have read the coilover bible on Pirate but it confuses me.
78 j10 4bbl 360 on 35's
360, t18, d20, d44, 4.09's
plan on...
-SOA
-40's-77's
-Axletech 4000's 4 wheel steer
-not cutting the flares
-twin stick
-4 link front and rear

AwesomeJ10
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Re: coil overs?

Post by AwesomeJ10 »

I'm equally confused with regards to coilover spring rates.

To my knowledge nobody on this site is running coils except for Austin4x4 and his is not for 'wheeling.

I'm running a J10 truggy on tons and 42's, but still on leaves (keep breaking leaves, which is one of the reasons I need coils).

Hoping someone can provide some good info!

Topic author
lil jeep mec
Posts: 94
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:17 pm
Location: Kennewick, WA

Re: coil overs?

Post by lil jeep mec »

Thats what i figured, i guess i may have to go on pirate and ask, i just dont care for it, too many jerks on that site.
78 j10 4bbl 360 on 35's
360, t18, d20, d44, 4.09's
plan on...
-SOA
-40's-77's
-Axletech 4000's 4 wheel steer
-not cutting the flares
-twin stick
-4 link front and rear
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Stuka
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Re: coil overs?

Post by Stuka »

There is a post here with coilovers on a J-Truck: http://fsjnetwork.com/forum/viewtopic.p ... ver#p67902

Coil over spring rates are measured the same way standard coils are. The differences is you typically use two rates. One that is softer, and one that is stiffer. The soft one absorbs smaller bumps in the road/trail, and the stiffer one is for when you hit things harder.

BigJ200 (in linked post above) is running 250/350, and he seems to like them.
2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ

Topic author
lil jeep mec
Posts: 94
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:17 pm
Location: Kennewick, WA

Re: coil overs?

Post by lil jeep mec »

Wonderful! I forgot about his build!!
78 j10 4bbl 360 on 35's
360, t18, d20, d44, 4.09's
plan on...
-SOA
-40's-77's
-Axletech 4000's 4 wheel steer
-not cutting the flares
-twin stick
-4 link front and rear
User avatar

jaber
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Joined: Sat Aug 27, 2011 5:24 pm
Location: Chino Valley, Az.

Re: coil overs?

Post by jaber »

One thing to note, the major shock companies will help with figuring out what is going to work for your set up. If you are close to a dealer, they will also help tune the pressures. A "good" off road shop will not only install, but help with the fine tuning. The shop I worked in, we would get people the shocks to self-install and come back to adjust the Nitrogen. ;)
Jeff

'46 cj3a
'51 Willys p/u
'51 Willys Parkway Conversion
'74 CJ5
'75 J-20 Wrecker
'75 J-20 Cummins service truck
'77 J-10 p/u
'79 Cherokee
'88 Grand Wagoneer
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Topic author
lil jeep mec
Posts: 94
Joined: Fri Nov 09, 2012 11:17 pm
Location: Kennewick, WA

Re: coil overs?

Post by lil jeep mec »

Im not sure if there are any off road shops around me, ill have to check
78 j10 4bbl 360 on 35's
360, t18, d20, d44, 4.09's
plan on...
-SOA
-40's-77's
-Axletech 4000's 4 wheel steer
-not cutting the flares
-twin stick
-4 link front and rear

pcoplin
Posts: 452
Joined: Sun Feb 17, 2013 12:46 pm
Location: Beaverton, OR

Re: coil overs?

Post by pcoplin »

I'm more of "go-fast" when it comes to coilover tuning. But it works well for crawling, too. I like preload, so I go real light springs. Keep your coils close in weight. The main spring is your 'step up' coil. Run a main spring that is two inches longer than your travel. This stops it from catching the shock edge.

Ignore the preload numbers if you're just a crawler. You'll end up with heavier springs.

You'll need to weight your sprung weight.


Here's from my notes:
Initial spring rate=(Main spring rate * Tender spring rate)/(Main spring rate +Tender spring rate)
Shaft showing= Shock Travel – ((Corner weight/Initial spring rate)-Pre-load distance)
Est spring rate needed: corner weight/(inches shaft showing+preload)


On my TJ I'm on 150/250 front
85 Grand Wagoneer 5.2/44RE/NP229
98 TJ 5.9/46RE/D300
97 F250 Powerstroke

pcoplin
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Re: coil overs?

Post by pcoplin »

Reading this all the way through should help. http://www.pirate4x4.com/forum/general- ... hread.html
85 Grand Wagoneer 5.2/44RE/NP229
98 TJ 5.9/46RE/D300
97 F250 Powerstroke
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BigJ200
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Re: coil overs?

Post by BigJ200 »

If possible, weigh your rig -- each corner or at least front and back. My front coilover setup is working fine with 250/350, but I will probably change it out to 400/350. The 250 seems just a bit soft for my tall rig.
American Vintage 4x4
"Where four wheel drives are a way of life"
www.AV4x4.com

pcoplin
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Re: coil overs?

Post by pcoplin »

BigJ200 wrote:If possible, weigh your rig -- each corner or at least front and back. My front coilover setup is working fine with 250/350, but I will probably change it out to 400/350. The 250 seems just a bit soft for my tall rig.

Where did you place your tender coil stops?
85 Grand Wagoneer 5.2/44RE/NP229
98 TJ 5.9/46RE/D300
97 F250 Powerstroke
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BigJ200
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Re: coil overs?

Post by BigJ200 »

I'm not running tender coils.
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pcoplin
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Re: coil overs?

Post by pcoplin »

No, not a third coil, your secondary coil.
85 Grand Wagoneer 5.2/44RE/NP229
98 TJ 5.9/46RE/D300
97 F250 Powerstroke
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BigJ200
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Re: coil overs?

Post by BigJ200 »

Right now I have it set where I am riding almost entirely on the bottom 350# coil. The 250's are too soft and cause just a little bit too much excitement. Once I swap out the the 250 for a 400, I will have 350/400. That should be perfect.

If you aren't lifted as high as mine, 250/350 could be just right.
American Vintage 4x4
"Where four wheel drives are a way of life"
www.AV4x4.com

pcoplin
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Re: coil overs?

Post by pcoplin »

Wow, thag surprises me. you running sway bars?
85 Grand Wagoneer 5.2/44RE/NP229
98 TJ 5.9/46RE/D300
97 F250 Powerstroke
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BigJ200
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Re: coil overs?

Post by BigJ200 »

It isn't that far off. I'm just a perfectionist, so I will fine tune it. It doesn't sway. So no need for a sway bar. It is steady and drives straight. It surprises me how smooth it is with 41" tires. At some point, I may put on the 37" I have, which will make it even better.
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Stuka
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Re: coil overs?

Post by Stuka »

Coils with no sway bar with that much lift? Be careful with those emergency maneuvers.


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2017 JKU Rubicon
Pevious Jeeps: 1981 J10, 1975 Cherokee, 2008 JK, 2005 KJ, 1989 XJ
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BigJ200
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Re: coil overs?

Post by BigJ200 »

It maneuvers really well. No tipping or squirrely behavior at all. I really thought I would need a sway bar. But with leaf springs in back it rocks.
American Vintage 4x4
"Where four wheel drives are a way of life"
www.AV4x4.com
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