Colorado B.S. Thread

I have mine set at 2.5 with an AAL in the back and I think it rides really well.

That being said, I saw that post you're referring to OST and I was trying to wrap my head around things too.

I think the assertions you are making would be correct if the shock were not entirely extended when you installed the spring with billies set at 0. But if that were the case, why would you need a spring compressor to put the springs on the shock? Couldn't you just extend the shock?

Granted, I installed mine by leaving the top plate on the truck and using a jack under the LCA to compress and release the spring so I didn't use a spring compressor, but that's the way I understand it anyway.

Additionally, I don't think the 2.5" ring on the shock body is actually 2.5" from the 0 ring. If I'm right, that would explain why the correlation isn't linear (an assertion I believe you made in that thread)

I could be 100% mistaken in all of this however as I'm simply going by memory. All I know for certain is that my truck feels like it rides a bit firmer than it did stock, but is by no means unpleasant.

 

Wouldn't additional preload, versus stock, cause a progressive spring to react (not function) differently under load?

 

Only at full coilover uninstalled height. Because you still have to compress the spring to ridehight with vehicle weight, it just eliminated any difference from the installed preload you added.

This is where I need my hands and a working model to show what I'm talking about.

One thing I have noticed is when running at almost 3" lift height, the shocks will fully extend and top out. This will make for an abrupt ride. This was more of a 1st gen Taco problem.

 

Yep, I was wrong! lol

 

It's not that I love to argue it's that I like knowing why something is the way it is. If I don't want to know then I want someone to present actual facts that I can learn why it is the way it is. So many people don't know what they're talking about though that this can be difficult at times. I left out a key part when I was running back through my install a year later in my head and that key part was indeed the difference. It clicked when someone mentioned it in their explanation and I'm fine with being wrong now that I know why. No arguments here.

 

Ooooh come on now. Admit it. You're a debater. One might even say, you're a master debater

 

Preload:
"Something loaded or applied as a load beforehand."

So if stock weight for the truck is "X" and I apply "Y" as preload, I effectively apply load to the spring before the weight of the truck(?).

Maybe I am over/under thinking this, but this is how I see it:
Preload would negatively effect the performance a progessive spring because, part of the "progression" is additional spring rate, and the additional preload would cause the spring to "compress" sooner, under additional load.


I am bored at work and up for the discussion.

 

Yes, that's how I did mine as well and I didn't even get out my spring compressors (god I hate those things) and as such I didn't recall the spring being captive and the shock being maxed out. In my mind, like I stated, the ride height change was a 1:1 increase so I didn't see how the spring progression would change. Now, if what you said is true about the 2.5" setting being exactly 2.5" then that would make my assertion that a 1:1 increase was inaccurate and that's the info I was looking for. If this rate is changed then the spring rate would naturally be changed as well. I'm trying to picture it and it sure seems like that 2.5" setting was about 3/4" from the 1.75" setting but I didn't measure to make sure.

 

This was my initial reaction too. Does the spring compression at 2.5" match that of spring compression at 1.75" and the rake of front to back would affect this. Preload doesn't mean an absolute change in actual load when installed. This is the part I was trying to wrap my mind around outloud because I don't see where even if there was a difference it could be enough between 1.75" and 2.5" to be fine and harsh.... 3/4" in load difference max.

 

Oh shit!

 

Yeah, I didn't measure them either, I just have a vague memory of each of the 4 rings being ~1/4" apart and also equidistant and trying to reconcile that with numbers of 0, .85, 1.75, and 2.5

 

Same.

 

He does debate. But if you know him personally, then you know why he is like that. He's a very factual and knowledgable person and likes to know facts as to why something is the way is the way it is, or isn't. Not just because someone said so.

 

Why do you say that Hoyal?

 

aHahaha! It was more a joke because he said something was so w/o explaining why it was. I don't pay him that well.

 

Wait you pay me and I bought my own tamales that day! WTF!

 

Man, I gotta get me some more of those things. I miss food.

 

I know I gotta enjoy my fooding now. We are looking at houses in berthoud.

 

You'll still eat plenty, trust me. There's some really good places between there and here and you'll be closer to eat lunch with me.