Need help choosing the right height coil

I'm trying to figure out what's the right height coils I need to to replace my vertex RC. I jack up my truck and measured 12" top of the spring to the bottom of the spring. Is this mean I have to buy 12"legnth or the 14"legnth?? I already figured out the inside diameter and the spring rate I need.

 

If the spring is still installed on the strut, it is still compressed

 

I guess I needed the 14" maybe 12 will work i just ordered it‍♂️ the good thing is my coilovers is adjustable. I think I can make it work hopefully

 

Hopefully it works

 

How did you like the set up??

 

Do you have the part number you used for your RC VERTEX COILOVERS?

 

14" actually perfect. But the eibach 700# is way too stiff. When I did my research it say 700# coil is perfect for metal bumper with a winch, but the ride was horrible.

 

So I went with 650# 14" Coil and now the ride is super smooth.

 

Have a link?? Anymore pics of your rig??

 

Been a while I forgot what brand I used for the coil. But you can buy the kings brand. Any brand you like as long as it's the right fitting. So it would be 14" length and 2.5 ID, 650lbs

 

Did you mean 3” ID for 2.5” coilovers,

 

Sorry yes you're right. 3" ID

 

Is your RC COILOVER lift a 3.5” or a 6” lift?

 

Measured the spring 9.5” as it sits on my truck, I know it’s compressed, but I feel 4.5” to compress on the coilover seems like a lot.

 

I would be careful about putting longer springs on the same length shock. The ride might be good, but if the there isn't enough space for the coils to compress before shock/strut is fully compressed then the coils on the spring will slam into each other when the shock/strut compresses. The black tacoma with the red springs looks dangerously close to coil binding, you can tell because the gaps between the coils of the spring are so close together. The ride might be good, but when you need the travel it's not going to be there which is kind of silly on a vehicle that goes off-road.

 

Would you suggest the 12” spring instead?

 

This is OP’s springs with 14” coils.

 

Yeah, if you look at the spring, its already very compressed in that application. I would guess that when OP goes over something that requires all of the travel that the coils on those springs are close to, or do contact each other.

Honestly, you don't want to order springs based on their uncompressed length even if the diameter is the same. You should order the heavier weight spring 700lb, or 650lb, or whatever you are looking for, and get it from the same manufacturer that makes the strut. The manufacturer designs the springs to work with the travel length so that the coils don't bind up. It's probably not what you want to hear, but it's the correct way to do it. If you do go with a longer/taller spring to achieve the same goal you will risk what's called coil binding.

I know that some vehicles come from the factory with springs that are longer than the strut and require a spring compressor in order to remove them. If you look at a spring that is designed to be compressed at installation and remains so for it's life, the gap between the coils is large because the manufacturer expects the spring to be compressed at installation and has factored in the spacing between coils once installed. Generally, aftermarket springs are not designed to be compressed at installation and they are made of a heavier gauge steel so that they don't have to be preloaded to install. If you installed the current setup and the springs did not require compressing to install, then you should be looking for the same thing in for the upgraded spring. Having to compress a spring to make it work for an application where it's not supposed to be compressed is where the problem lies. Again, the ride quality might be improved but you are going to have problems with achieving all of the travel.

 

Had a member measure his VERTEX coilovers that were removed off of his truck, measured at 10.5” unloaded. Safe to say, a 12” coil spring replacement would be the better choice compared to the 14” I originally thought.