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King Coilover Height Adjustment

Discussion in 'Suspension' started by buggin, Jul 16, 2012.

  1. Jul 16, 2017 at 8:15 PM
    #41
    roadrashchic

    roadrashchic Well-Known Member

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    Jk figured it out. Counter clockwise
     
  2. Aug 6, 2017 at 8:05 AM
    #42
    3pooches

    3pooches Well-Known Member

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    How is the ride with that much preload?
     
  3. Sep 12, 2017 at 6:52 PM
    #43
    Taco2525

    Taco2525 Well-Known Member

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    So I need to adjust my preload the t handle is the best way??? And it is possible to adjust with it on the truck?
     
  4. Sep 12, 2017 at 7:05 PM
    #44
    3pooches

    3pooches Well-Known Member

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    A spanner is the easiest way to reach around the shock to tighten the preload. I left mine on the vehicle but used spring compressors to make it easier to turn the preload adjuster.
     
  5. Sep 12, 2017 at 10:33 PM
    #45
    bullaculla

    bullaculla IKA fabrications

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    Amount of preload won't affect ride quality because the length of the compressed spring will still be the same at ride height. Still has the same spring rate. It only changes the trucks ride height... unless of course you crank the coils so much that the truck does not squat under its own weight, but then you have other problems...
     
  6. Sep 13, 2017 at 4:37 AM
    #46
    3pooches

    3pooches Well-Known Member

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    Hmmmm... I spun mine three turns tighter and it sure seems to stiffen the springs up a bit on mine.
     
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  7. Sep 13, 2017 at 8:40 AM
    #47
    bullaculla

    bullaculla IKA fabrications

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    If you say so. But I bet if you measured the length of your spring at ride height before and after you adjusted them, they would be exactly the same. Unless your truck somehow changed its weight. Spring rate does not change. You didn't compress the springs, you simply raised the truck.

    Unless you raised the truck too much and you are hitting max extension when hitting bumps, so that would make ride shitty.
     
    Last edited: Sep 13, 2017
    Coot83 likes this.
  8. Sep 13, 2017 at 8:54 AM
    #48
    Coot83

    Coot83 DORKEL NATION

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    For the most part this is correct. To elaborate on this, your spring with added preload will just mean you are slightly cycling the spring further when it is at rest in order for it to achieve the increased height. As @bullaculla stated, the spring rate doesn't change, so in essence the spring rate will cycle the same, but will be just a little bit harder to cycle initially due to the lowest part of the spring being utilized in the preload.

    I think many guys freak out as the small bump sensitivity that are on your coilovers might go down and cause them to be "rougher" on the road as that fraction of an inch that they cycle over these bumps feel much harsher because the spring length to compensate for these bumps is already used in your preload so it hits harder to cycle. When you hit the trail, your shocks will feel like normal as they are cycling more than an inch and thus arnt constrained by your initial preload. I don't know if I worded that right, but check out this link if it isn't clear.

    http://www.worksperformance.com/html/tpl_desc.html
     
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  9. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:01 AM
    #49
    bullaculla

    bullaculla IKA fabrications

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    It doesn't matter where I set my ride height. Compressed length of the spring under the trucks own weight doesn't change no matter how much I want to crank them. It just changes the ride height. My shocks are different from IFS shocks, but the way they work is the same.


     
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  10. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:07 AM
    #50
    3pooches

    3pooches Well-Known Member

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    My simple mind comprehends it this way. A progressive spring progressively gets stiffer as its compressed. I am compressing my spring so the stiffer portion of the coil in engaged and applies more force to "lift".
     
  11. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:09 AM
    #51
    bullaculla

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    You are only compressing the sping more at full extension. Under the trucks own weight, its the same length.
     
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  12. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:12 AM
    #52
    Coot83

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    In a way that is correct. If you were to look at the spring rate in the graph Ideally the curve doesn't change cause the spring rate on the spring cant be altered. This just means that instead of starting out at "1" on the spring scale example, you would start out at the "1.5-2.0" range depending on preload. Once you hit something enough to cycle the spring at that amount of preload, it would go through travel at that point the exact same as if it had no preload.

    [​IMG]
     
  13. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:18 AM
    #53
    bullaculla

    bullaculla IKA fabrications

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    Does king even make progressive springs?
     
  14. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:24 AM
    #54
    3pooches

    3pooches Well-Known Member

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    I was under impression they did. But I'm very new to Tacomas.
     
  15. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:27 AM
    #55
    bullaculla

    bullaculla IKA fabrications

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  16. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:36 AM
    #56
    Coot83

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    For a dual rate coil as you have for your SAS application would be considered a "progressive" spring set up from an assembly standpoint. King springs themselves independently are linear. What makes king coils progressive is all in the valving that they do for them.

    For gigs and shits I actually called up King to discuss this for my own interest because of this debate. When you add preload, you increase the "build up" rate of the spring as it has less distance than at zero preload to cycle itself so the rate of the spring wont be as smooth and progressive, but feel more exaggerated which can cause a harsh feel to it. He elaborated that if you are seeking 3 inches of height in preload, that king will always recommend to put a +50 pound spring in it in order to get your preload down and to help with ride height.

    Long story short, you preload, it will be harsher and more erratic than what it could be in a smooth, very balanced progression feel if it had no preload. The more preload the shock, the more erractic in nature through its travel is it liable to become.
     
  17. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:43 AM
    #57
    bullaculla

    bullaculla IKA fabrications

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    I know, just seeing if he knew :D and my "progressive" setup is adjustable :cool:
    I still don't agree with "preloading" tho, since the compressed coil length at ride height is still the same. The only difference you would feel is at the extreme ends of shock travel.
     
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  18. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:46 AM
    #58
    Coot83

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    I think you are right with the extreme ends of the shock, but in essence the top part of the shock could be considered an extreme end depending on your theory approach.
     
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  19. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:51 AM
    #59
    bullaculla

    bullaculla IKA fabrications

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    True. That's why i was saying that he could be at nearly max extension at ride height, so they might be why he feels it's rougher.

    I finally have my dual rate coils setup nicely. The first stage is set to only have an inch of bump travel, then the second stage engages so even tho my springs are very soft, I hardly have any body roll :) they are only 200/250lb springs. Like riding on clouds :cool:
     
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  20. Sep 13, 2017 at 9:53 AM
    #60
    Coot83

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    Too bad you are over in the islands, would love to ride in a quality SAS build. Where do you wheel over in Oahu? I used to live there back in 2000.
     
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