Coil-over types

[Herzog]

Couple questions about Coil-overs... I'm a coil-over newbie.

2.5 vs. 2.0?
I plan on staying somewhat light still, but for rockcrawling & moderate speed, which would you consider? I'm leaning toward 2.5 but I keep reading that a 2.0 coil-over will be plenty for what I plan to do.

Coil-over shocks vs. Coil-over w/reservoir

vs.

I'm leaning toward the non-reservoir version for packaging & compactness. Any reason I'd want a reservoir version?

 

[LT.]

2" will be fine for your light weight buggy. The only reason I would look at going with a remote reservoir would be if you are planning on driving your rig to and from the trails or if you plan on driving fast in it. All the remote reservoir is going to do is keep you shock fade down to a minimum. If you are just crawling then I don't see why you would need it.

LT.

 

[RockMonkey]

Are we talking about 14" coilovers?

Keep in mind you'll need to buy 8 springs, plus 4-8 more when you actually figure out what spring rates you need. Go price 2.5" ID springs and 3" ID springs.

You can pay ~$40 per 2.5", or ~$100 per 3". Here are all the 14" coilover springs Summit Racing sells. Look at the prices and selection for 2.5", versus the prices and selection of 3". You'll save $500 or more just on the springs by going with 2.0" shocks.
http://www.summitracing.com/search/...ings/Length-in/14-000-in/?Ns=Price|Asc&RC=100

2.5" shocks work better for heavier vehicles, but 2.0" shocks will be more than sufficient for your chassis.

The remote reservoirs just add additional fluid capacity so the fluid can stay cooler for longer which reduces shock fade. This is important if you're driving 100 miles an hour on desert roads for hours on end. For rock-crawling, it's a non-issue. I've never seen a need for remote reservoirs in a rock-crawling application. KOH, maybe?

 

[Herzog]

Yes 14".

This is for a new chassis, same basic sprung weight (same engine, trans, etc...) but 2 more seats in the back. So knowing that, I should be ok with 2.0 Coil-overs then?

I just don't want to make the same 2.0/2.5 airshock weigh capacity mistake.

Thanks!

 

[choptopbII]

Good info in here i was just about ready to start a thread on coil overs.

My Toyota needs coil overs bad... air shocks just ain't cutting it for what i like to do with it. looks like my rig would be perfect with a set of 14'' 2.0's

 

[RockMonkey]

Yes 14".

This is for a new chassis, same basic sprung weight (same engine, trans, etc...) but 2 more seats in the back. So knowing that, I should be ok with 2.0 Coil-overs then?

I just don't want to make the same 2.0/2.5 airshock weigh capacity mistake.

Thanks!

Yeah, 2" is fine.

 

[Herzog]

Yeah, 2" is fine.

Are yours 2"?

 

[ChestonScout]

I to say 2" will be fine. But I would probably do 2.5 just because I overkill everything.

 

[Goose]

Ive been trying to choose which shocks as well. I think Im going with a 2.0, emulsion.
Ive been looking at the fox shocks, does anyone know much about the FOA shocks ?

 

[cjncustoms]

Herzog will your old chassis be up for grabs? If so how much?

 

[RockMonkey]

Are yours 2"?

Yes. 2" emulsion shocks, just like the ones on my old buggy.

 

[I Lean]

The other thing the remote reservoir adds (besides fluid capacity) is a floating piston, which separates the oil from the nitrogen. In a non-reservoir shock, the two are free to mix, which creates an emulsion. (thus the term "emulsion shock") That's where a big part of the shock fade will come from, not just from heat.

That said, even an emulsion coilover will by far outperform the airshox you're used to. The air's are an emulsion shock as well, but with even less oil volume and with more heat generated.

For your uses, I wouldn't be afraid of an emulsion shock at all.

Besides the cost difference RockMonkey pointed out, the selection of lighter rates is probably a lot slimmer in the 3" ID coils. You may have a hard time getting the proper spring rate. (although I haven't checked recently)

 

[RockMonkey]

Here's Summit Racing's selection of 14" long 3" ID coils. 175 is the lowest rate.
http://www.summitracing.com/search/...-in/Inside-Diameter-in/3-000-in/?Ns=Price|Asc

You could very easily need a lower rate spring than that. Go with 2".

 

[Herzog]

Herzog will your old chassis be up for grabs? If so how much?

Actually yes it will be. It will be a rolling chassis w/ suspension, axles, tires & wheels all intact.

No idea how much yet. Will consider parting it out too if I can't get what I need out of it. Might be posting it up after Memorial.

 

[Herzog]

I think it's safe to say that we definitely have some coil-over experts on here. Thanks a ton for the info. I will be looking into 2.0 emulsion coil-overs. I'm particularly liking F.O.A. at the moment.

 

[GOAT]

I think it's safe to say that we definitely have some coil-over experts on here. Thanks a ton for the info. I will be looking into 2.0 emulsion coil-overs. I'm particularly liking F.O.A. at the moment.

PM sent yo'

 

[utah340six]

i put foa on 2 years ago.
love them.
i went out forst week end to test tore my axel truss off ( not heavey enuff)
for rebuilt them and got them back to me in like 8 days.(no charge)
2 inch is what i went with.

 

[LT.]

FOA's are a little less expensive than the competition but, that does not mean that they are cheaper by any means. FOA save the consumer some money on things that don't help performance. The shock bodies are not polished, and the threads on the body are not fine thread. The fit and performance is fantastic and is on par with any other company out there. FOA is also a one stop shopping experience for everything you will need. Here in New Mexico Fox shocks are the biggest item you will find under the desert rigs. I have every thing they have with a smaller price tag.

LT.

 

[midog]

I put 2.5" FOA remote res. on my buggy and they have been great. I had some sizing issues and FOA was great to work with. Great customer service (even though its email only). I went back and bought a set of their bump stops as well.

 

[Erik d_lux]

I would do a 2.0 remote.

I would not be happy with the spring selection on a 2.5 shock.

Why have a potentially bad ass shock and fall short by not getting a remote res?

I think air shocks are great for people who want to rock crawl. I think remote res coilovers are great for crawling and going fast. I just dont see anything in between.

Does FOA have a shock that takes 2.5 I.D. springs? I thought they only had shocks that took 3 I.D. That puts them in the ballpark of a 2.5 shock to me because of the spring selections.