Elka setup- too much preload?

Howdy all. Common question in a lot of Threads, but still need advice. I have the Elka 1-3” setup. Installed on my 33” tires and had a lot of rubbing. Initially set at factory max preload of 1.27”. I’m now at around 2” of preload to level it. I also have JBA UCA’s. Truck was definitely nose down. I looked up a similar Fox 2.5 setup and saw the preload max was right around the 2” that I now have. I have 700lb springs which should accommodate my bumper/winch combo (not yet installed). So with the coil overs cranked down past factory specs,
I’m concerned that I’m not going to get full travel and I’m messing with the ride quality.

Would it be at all advisable to put a 1” spacer up top and crank back the preload back down to close to factory spec, or is that stupid? Pic for your review (factory pre load pic 1), current setup leveled out now with lots of clearance.

 

What size coils? It should say right on them by the Elka logo. It's usually measured in mm. Elka also doesn't have a 1-3" option. They have 0-2" and 2-3". I'm guessing you got the 0-2" kit and are trying to get too much lift out of them.

Having a lot of thread showing above the adjustment collar isn't necessary anything to worry about. If you have a 12" or 13" coil instead of 14" then this is perfectly normal.

Do not add a spacer above these shocks. If you need more height, that's what the preload adjustment is for. You won't ruin the ride quality by adjusting preload, the spring rate isn't changing. And you shouldn't lose an total travel, just downtravel as you go higher with the lift (relative to stock).

What are your hub to fender measurements?

 

What @Saskabush said is right on par with what I would say.

How exactly are you measuring preload?
Do you know what rate & length springs you have? How about shock lengths? Also need to confirm where they are measuring for lengths.
The UCA and your alignment specs are probably the issue with tire rubbing. More or less lift will not solve that problem. Our UCA probably would

To give you a more precise answer, all of that info is needed, otherwise we would just be guessing.

https://accutuneoffroad.com/preload-adjustments-on-oem-fit-coilovers/
https://accutuneoffroad.com/oem-front-coilover-shock-setup/

 

Let's see, Elka springs are C125x330, rated at 700lbs, I believe stockers are 600. Center of hub to the fender lip is 23.50".

 

stock coils on a 3rd Gen are 13” 700# (for the TRD OR)

your measurement means you have 2.5” of lift since stock is 21” (again TRD OR)

 

Hmmm, so I'll be putting on about 200lbs of bumper/winch...hmmm, wondering if these coils are going to be enough.... At this stage I guess I'm not going to worry about the function of the suspension setup, even though it's about double the recommended preload.

 

Where did you buy your coilovers from?

Elka's are usually built/tuned to order. If you told the shop or Elka that you wanted ~2" of lift with 200lbs extra on the front they would have made you a coilover that gives you exactly that. The fact that you have 13" coils suggests to me that these were not setup for your specific use (I'm pretty sure 13" 700lb are the default coils). If you are wanting a lift and have added weight I think a 14" coil is typically used.

I'm not saying what you have is wrong or won't work, just that if you had 14" coils you would only be sitting at about 1" of preload right now which is about right for the amount of lift you have. But because you have 13" coils, you will need more preload to end at the same height. Again, nothing to worry about. The recommended preload is exactly that, a recommendation. There are guys on this forum running a full 3" of preload without issues.

 

This is all really great info, and hope it serves more folks down the road as well. I'm going to consider the 14" coils...after I put the bumper and winch on and measure everything out, then take it out on a washboard section, then some whoops to see how I like it all around. Hey, guess what just showed up at the doorstep......Nitro 4:88's.

 

Just a follow up. I took all of the advice and ordered up 700lb 14” springs from King. Massive difference without all the preload. Now only have 3/4” preload, and the shocks are doing their thing. These Elka’s are smooth!!

 

So you are running King coils with Elka struts? I’ve always wondered if someone did this in the past, can you upload a few pictures?

 

Yep, that's what I have. Going with the 14" was definately the way to go, and the front end is much more comfortable off road. I'll take some pics this afternoon for ya.

 

Elkas are not built and tuned custom to order, they are just generic Tacoma valving, and you can choose between a couple spring rates.

Their spring rates are all over the place, and I find that the 700lb Elka coil is much softer than eibach or king (eibach) 700lb coils.

Preload is not measured by the amount of threads on your shock, it's measured as coil free length (uninstalled on the coilover) minus installed length with the coilover fully extended.

The only thing you have to watch out for with adding preload, is that you don't add so much that you end up with coil bind before bottoming out your suspension.

Glad that the 14x700 worked for you.

 

Put bumper n winch on before you make any adjustment or you'll be doing it again

 

Here ya go:

 

Looks very colorful! On a serious note, I also run elkas I actually have a about 2.75” inch of lift after the c4 full hybrid steel bumper plus 12k smitty winch. The amount of threads showing for me is 1.47”. I only notice the suspension becoming very stiff is when I tune the valves on the reservoir to the stiffest settings, both high speed and low speed compressions. I was just curious because I did think on changing the coils, prior to adjusting the preload on the coils. From the pictures I see the coils look very close on the kings it do the not bing when fully compressed?

p.s elkas have been very smooth for me and I drove same 3rd gen on kings and I feel like the kings were a bit stiffer.
I also dont have a sway bar so it makes the coils flex a bit more

 

This is what I had previously with the 650lb 12.5x330 coils....without the winch bumper. I would bind up on the lower 1/3 of the stroke. I haven't hammered the new setup very hard yet, but what I have plowed through so far doesn't seem to show the binding. Good reminder when it get's a little warmer to start experimenting with the compression and rebound settings to see if I can find the magic setup. For now, this setup corners tight, isn't bouncy, and is pretty smooth through most of the travel....I can actually feel how the shocks work now.

 

that makes sense. Kinds in general are a tuned a bit stiffer and work on higher speeds unless you tune them. Great shocks but need refinement for your use case. (I also run kinds have had Mid and LT setups). I always have said they drive a really nice when im hauling but a bit rougher at lower speeds.

 

I’m running 315/70-17 toyo mt’s with true black rhino beadlocks so my wheels are pretty heavy in general I drive on about 30-31psi and I still sometimes try to avoid potholes because it does feel a bit rough but I’m okay with that as soon as I hit off road in the British Columbia Rockies it works completely different. I gotta say I beat the living hell out of my taco. I fully tuck till the oem bump stop front and back allllll the time, an I love the elkas. I do have a plan for future is to get the kings 3.0 for the fronts and do the shock relocation for the rear with 14 inch bypass. Just gotta save up for this big project.

 

Yeah you don't wanna be lifting wheels on eagle! Gunna be sick. If I finish my truck this year we should get up there sometime