Tophat Spacer vs. Preload

It can certainly help avoid the issues pointed out in the animation. I cannot confirm if an aftermarket UCA would clear since they are not typically designed for that much droop. I can also not confirm if the uniball or ball joint would not bind at full droop.

 

this guy says top spacers are ok as long as it's .5 inches or less. I think lots of people are using the .25 to correct lean
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l1tTelhdEiM

 

Maybe, but spending $$$ on an aftermarket UCA to overcome problems with cheap top hat spacer doesn’t seem cost effective. You could spend less money on something like a Bilstein 5100 instead.

 

i definitely see that being a viable option for some but i bet the ride quality on the top setting sucks a** lmfao

 

?

 

which part do i need to provide more context on Lol?

 

Start from the beginning, perhaps?

 

If I'm not mistaken, the whole "down to a lower clip setting for a softer ride" isn't actually a thing. Really it's keeping the shock from bottoming out maybe, sure, which might make it seem like a smoother ride (and maybe it is), but the clip location has zero effect on the spring itself.

Going to a higher clip setting does NOT compress the spring, it just steals available suspension travel to gain ride height.

 

"clip settings" on a Bilstein coilover is just a preload setting. Does not change shock travel.

 

The softer ride at lower preload most likely has much more to do with control arm angles then it has to do with the coilover itself.

 

Uhm what?

 

I have the TRD 2" lift. If I want to add .5 inches more lift, is adding a .25 inch top spacer and spc uca's a good combo?

 

Excuse my quick solidworks drawing. But it would make sense to me that the left one would ride worse due to some of the force of a bump going directly up the control arm instead of through the coilover. This is common with lifted solid axle vehicles, I believe it is similar with IFS

 

I see what you're saying, but thats much more of an issue with solid axles, which you mentioned.

 

It would be interesting to see a comparison with actual acceleration data between 1" of lift and 3" of lift. Having leafs in the back complicates getting an apples to apples comparison though.

 

Isn't the rough ride just a byproduct of reduced downtravel?

 

That's what I always thought too. In fact, I only learned that from Accutune's GIF diagram on their website.

 

the more preload, the more stiffer the ride is right??

 

yes and no in my opinion.. bottoming out often is one thing. poorer rebounding and digression is another.

 

No, changing preload does not change the spring rate or valving.