with our coilovers - lower the front rideheight, softer the spring rate?

[shiyan]

Had the guys at Rent4Ring.de set up my KW V2 for the 'Ring, and raised the front 10mm. Handling is much better as a result, was hitting the bump stops too much before the change. Ride height is now about 25mm lower than standard at the front, 30mm lower than standard at the back.

I noticed that to raise the front, the front springs were pre compressed 10mm more by turning the ring, which means the springs were now harder.

Seems just the opposite of what you want really - the lower the car, the harder the springs should be to limit body movement

 

[shiyan]

?

 

[Aron]

when you say they where compressed by 10mm have you measured it and the springs are now 10mm shorter due to compression?

or did you see them compress the springs 10mm then wind the spring pan up?

 

[Fred@BTM]

they won't be compressed by 10mm, they're just 10mm further up allowing slightly more damper travel

 

[Mesa]

I wouldn't even try to set suspension up myself. Get it professionally setup with a corner balance.

 

[Aron]

he didnt set it up himself?

 

[shiyan]

when you say they where compressed by 10mm have you measured it and the springs are now 10mm shorter due to compression?

or did you see them compress the springs 10mm then wind the spring pan up?

they put the car on the lift, turned the ring a bunch of turns till it was about 10mm higher up on the shock body, then when they put the wheels back on the front was about 10mm higher than before :dunno:

 

[shiyan]

I wouldn't even try to set suspension up myself. Get it professionally setup with a corner balance.

the guys at Rent4Ring are professionals, lol

getting corner balance done in 2 weeks, but was fine before the 10mm raise of the front

 

[shiyan]

they won't be compressed by 10mm, they're just 10mm further up allowing slightly more damper travel

I'm confused

Sorry for the noob question

 

[shiyan]

what really annoyed me is that after I raised the front, 2 days later my oil pan starts leaking, I now have to get it replaced. Guess I raised the front too late.

 

[Fred@BTM]

the spring rate is set, you can't change that without changing the springs for different ones, you will have "pre loaded" the spring slightly (but nothing to notice a huge change) which in english means the springs are forcing the wheels down more (so you might have a better bump response), but the main thing you have achieved is better damper travel

everyone gets hung up on minimising body roll, in my opinion body roll (to an extent) is good/fun! sideways = fastways (ok i'm lying slightly on that!)

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

You could take the shocks off and it wouldn't change the ride height (unless they've been preloaded as Fred mentioned).

Can you adjust the height and preload separately on the KW V2s?

 

[Fred@BTM]

no if you think with the platform at maximum height (ie the car is as high as it will go) you have the maximum length of damper to deal with, so you may find the spring will have to be compressed slightly at max ride height to "fit" on with the damper, but at lower ride height the platform is obviously lower and the shock is still able to go to the same max height = no compression of spring

as i said i doubt you'll have affected the pre load, its purley down to damper travel the difference that you feel

 

[mbarnes]

regarding the springs, winding the base of the coilover platform up just means the springs "stick out the top more" they do not compress, they just lift up. this is what raises the car the weight on the springs is the same so the spring is not compressed anymore than it was before, its just in a different place.

 

[Ex-User (19928)]

regarding the springs, winding the base of the coilover platform up just means the springs "stick out the top more" they do not compress, they just lift up. this is what raises the car the weight on the springs is the same so the spring is not compressed anymore than it was before, its just in a different place.

Aye. Until the damper is at full extension, at which point the spring will have to compress to wind up any further, putting preload on the spring but not raising the car anymore.

 

[drhowser]

Had the guys at Rent4Ring.de set up my KW V2 for the 'Ring, and raised the front 10mm. Handling is much better as a result, was hitting the bump stops too much before the change. Ride height is now about 25mm lower than standard at the front, 30mm lower than standard at the back.


reading this, i'd guess you were set very low beforehand.

the improvement in handling will quite likely be to do with roll centre and centre of gravity.
lower is not always better and beyond a certain point going lower will begin to increase understeer, there will be a certain height where all the suspension components will be working together.

the difference with a properly setup car is huge!

 

[shiyan]

Had the guys at Rent4Ring.de set up my KW V2 for the 'Ring, and raised the front 10mm. Handling is much better as a result, was hitting the bump stops too much before the change. Ride height is now about 25mm lower than standard at the front, 30mm lower than standard at the back.


reading this, i'd guess you were set very low beforehand.

the improvement in handling will quite likely be to do with roll centre and centre of gravity.
lower is not always better and beyond a certain point going lower will begin to increase understeer, there will be a certain height where all the suspension components will be working together.

the difference with a properly setup car is huge!

It was previous lowered 35mm at the front, 30mm at the back (didn't specify it myself, told the shop to set it up for 'Ring use and that's what they lowered it to), it's now at 25mm, 30mm