Long Travel BS Thread

Isn't that what I implied in my comment? Even if he brings the preload collar down to make positive contact with the spring, he'll still have no preload and will likely find the truck will sit too high.

 

So what do you believe the solution is? You asked a question, you've received responses but don't seem to like the feedback. I'm curious to know what your ideal solution is. I say just add a tender spring in there and call it a day.

You can't compare the spring rate you ran with a stock length kit to an LT kit as the geometry changes. How much does the spring compress when you set the weight of the truck down?

 

since i'm able to get it down to this size i have space to put it between my brake reservoirs and my hydro bump.

 

On the first settle. Not on minor adjustments there after.

I've driven the truck over 350 miles over the course of 5 days. Settling coils has absolutely nothing to do with what we are talking about. In fact, if this was about settling coils, I would probably be having the opposite problem.

 

I don't know what the answer is. That's why I asked the question.

Where have I said I don't like the answers? The only answer I've seen is that my coil rate is too high. And I agreed, it may be too high. I also said that I'm considering going with a lighter coil for other reasons.

But simply... the coil rate is too high, is overly simplistic. First considering I've already run a higher coil rate without having ride height issues. And second considering changing the coil rate of the spring without changing the free height of the spring is going to cause problems the other direction.

If I just go from a 16 inch 650 coil to a 16 inch 600 pound coil, and just go ahead and crank down the preload collar (say put 1/2 inch of preload on the coil) I'll have around 4 inches of thread on the coilover above preload collar. I guess that can work, but to me that's just trading one issue for a different issue.

I think the solution is to drop to a 550# coil and increase the free height of the coil to 18. That could solve both of my issues. Possibly giving me more wheel up travel without lifting the corner so much, as well as giving me more coil height to get the preload collar on the coil without having to crank it down half the body of the coilover.

But I'm not sure how the coil rates vs free heights intersect. There is a possibility that if I decrease the rate of the coil, and increase the height of the coil, the effective spring rate could actually go up at ride height

 

I agree with everything you just said, but you loose me with the bold. What is the different issue with having the preload collar moved down? Is it a cosmetic concern? I'm failing to recognize any issue with functionality but I also haven't seen what you're working with or touched the truck myself. Just going off your description.

Yes, if you're going to purchase new springs, it sounds like 18" would be ideal. A longer free height spring will provide more spring travel, so theoretically you have less chance of spring bind or the potential to add more preload, neither of which it sounds like you're going to have issues with.

 

You are exactly right. That is what I have found. If I crank the collar to meet the spring, I'm way higher than I want to be.

 

some pictures of the coilovers might help as well.

 

There is a cosmetic concern, yes. Because that would look stupid lol.

BUT... there is a bigger concern. If I have my coil set that far down on the coil over at ride height, it is most likely going to give me coil bind issues at up travel to bump.

 

I haven't had to mess with coil rates at all luckily, but viewing others' problems on this site similar to yours, there doesn't seem to be a good answer. Especially with different LT kits and accessories on different trucks.
My total guess opinion is that a 16" 600lb or a 550lb 18" could get your goal. Others seemed to have just tried different rates and lengths until they get what they want. It'll probably take some trial and error.
Be prepared to buy option 1 and then turn right around and sell/return for option 2 etc...

 

I'm sure you guys are familiar, but this is a pretty useful article.

https://accutuneoffroad.com/articles/coilover-spring-rates-for-toyota-tacoma-4runner/

 

100% with you, and prepared to have to buy other coils. Was just hoping to narrow it down so I don't have to buy every coil on the shelf. I have enough useless shit in my garage

 

100%

Last night I posted after it was too dark to take pics, now I'm at work (with rain also coming)

What would be the best pics to take, when I get a chance to do that?

 

I've seen that article. But it's mainly (totally) geared towards stock travel... It also says they recommend 700# coils for my application. That article is a part of the reason why I was running 700# coils with stock travel. (The set up before I am doing Long Travel now)

 

I was just looking for that!

Accutune has great info.
I need to save the $$ to drop my coilovers off with them and have them rebuilt along with a set of 8" bypasses from them.

 

Yeah. Not sure how I read that the first time.

 

How do you figure? You're not changing the shock travel and you're not changing the spring travel. You're essentially just adjusting for where the spring sits. Didn't you install a raised spring retainer too?

It was late at night. I won't hold it against you.

 

If the spring sits way down on the coilover at ride height, You are putting all of the coil travel at the bottom. The collar sets how high the coil sits. If that is lower, your coil will bind sooner.

 

I just spoke to Accu-tune. I'm going to fill out their work sheet (when I have a chance) and see what kind of numbers they give me.

He did say they normally recommend "twice the length of travel plus 2 inches" on coils. Which would mean I may be on to something with the 18 inch 550# coils.

I'll fill out the worksheet and talk to them again before I just go blindly ordering a bunch of coils



One thing I'm also noticing. Bobby recommends 16 collapsed x 24 extended 8 inch coilovers with 600# 16 inch coils... But I'm noticing that the cones at the bottom are taller than the cones I'm running. I think I may have enough room here for 18s.

 

Here's the 4 runner example on Solo's site.

He's running a taller rod end and maybe the same height cone than I am.



Here's the bottom of mine.




@Robmonster117 you just did a Solo install on a first Gen. Have you had a chance to cycle and dial it in? Are you seeing anything that resembles these issues? What coil length and # did you run?