Racelands installed...now what?

[rix337]

Okay, so I purchased some raceland coilovers for my Cabby. Installation was realatively easy, but they were WAY too low, So I adjusted them up a bit. I had them at 22" arch to floor front and back, but they were still a bit too bouncy, so I moved them up some more. Now they are at 23" front and rear, and the bouncy is actually worse in the rear than when it was lower. So what is the deal with this? I have patec holeshot coilovers on my corrado, and yeah they are stiff, but not bouncy at all. Also, when I adjusted them up the last time, I noticed the rear helper spring is now completely compressed even with the car on jack stands. Is this normal? I have seen some posts where guys have taken off their helpers and trimmed the bump stops. My understanding is that is to allow them to go lower. I have about a 3/4" clearance from the arch to the top of the tire. I know they will be a little bouncy just because the wheel base is so short, but right now when I hit the slightest bump, my rump actually comes off the seat!! The wifey will not be pleased if that is the best it can do...

Maybe someone can let me know where I am going wrong. The more I adjust the rear up, the more it compresses the spring. Is this what is making them so bouncy?

[s2kvondeutschland]

Yes, that's called preload; it effectively raises the spring rate.

You don't want the main coil to have any tension on it before you set the car down. If you've compressed the helper entirely, you're as high as you're going to get, and this will cause bounce as well. The coilover is designed to operate in a butter zone. When you raise it too high, the strut "tops out" when you unload the rear (what happens after your crest a speed bump and the car starts to move downward again).

Removing the helpers is primarily for tire clearance. Cutting bump stops is so you don't bounce off of them when you're super low. I'm fairly certain neither will help you here.

You may have to go lower man, and I'm here to tell you from personal experience: Rokkors are not comfortable, at all. My wife hates them... her chest really hates them... I love them.

[rix337]

Okay, I guess that's what I get. My car as it sits now, is still at least an inch lower than the stock height. I guess, I'll have to bring it back down a bit. Thanks for the tip.

[s2kvondeutschland]

No problem.

FWIW, My Rokkors ride best when they're low enough that the axles touch the frame from time to time. I'll be upgrading to some JOMs or KW's as soon as my 280ZXT's resto gets finished

[rix337]

MMM, I love those old Z cars. Very cool, any pics?

[s2kvondeutschland]

MMM, I love those old Z cars. Very cool, any pics?

Sure... love to whore. She still needs her wheels polished and a few runs in the clear sanded, but I'll finally be home for good in two weeks!

[lshee778]

I can get some measurements on mine for you but its going to be boucy either way. The car is a very light car with very stiff coilovers. I am a little lower than you in the rear but i'm still letting the springs settle in. You should keep them adjusted up for a week or so after the install i order to allow for settling. Then go back and adjust to your preferred height.

Mine is bouncy but not terrible and, to be honest, i didnt expect anything else haha.

[rix337]

The way mine is sitting right now, if I push the back end down it bobbles up/down 3 to 4 times before settling, like there is not dampening at all. As if I was sitting on the stops, yet I have 3.25" of threads left on the adjuster.

[hyperlightboards48]

Can you get a picture of the spring? Do you have the helper springs in there still? Sounds like they are wound up too high.

Nevermind that was already established ... I think you'll have to go lower

[lshee778]

3.25" of thread left? WOW. You are way too high. If you didn't want to be that low then you shouldve gone with lowering springs. Coilovers are not meant to ride that high. You need to lower it down a lot. I have 24 threads left in the front and rear and my rears need to come down a little. Shoot for something around that height.

[imoldgregg]

I have a brand new set of vogtland springs 35mm drop

[Beetle.freak]

I can get some info on mine here shortly, I just took my old rears out last night and putting the new Racelands in as we speak (if this t-storm holds off).....I'm going to set mine as stated above at "24 threads left" and see how it sets (but I'm running 205/40/16 BF Goodrich G-force SS's)....amazingly my 88' had the origanal struts from the factory still in it and still rode half decent !!! Maybe try contacting Raceland @ 801-365-1440 and ask about your bouncy issue and/or advise ?

[rix337]

Okay, so as was stated earlier, I was putting pre load on the main spring being up that high. It was not changing the ride height at all, just compressing the spring. So I adjusted them down about 3/4" on all sides. The ride height stayed the same, and now I have dampening again. I am just below 23" from fender arch to the ground at the read and 22.75" at the front. Ride is palettable now and corners like it is on rails just like my corrado...well maybe not THAT good. Thanks for the advise all. I will post some pics of my car once I get back from Daytona. She is looking sweet now...

P.S. I thought this thread would go away if I ignored it like that rash on my nads...did I say that out loud?

[Beetle.freak]

Lol....mines still in the air but rears bolted in and dam it looks low....I slapped my old 15 x 7 rims with 195/50/15s on them and looks like no "clearance" issue....Yet !

P.S. You can go to Southern States and get a cream for that !

[rix337]

P.S. You can go to Southern States and get a cream for that !


Hehe, thanks for the tip!

Yeah my ride height seems low, but It wasn't getting any higher by adjusting them up. I was at the end of the adjustment, so I was extending the housing but collapsing the spring. Once someone called that to my attention I felt like an idiot, but was glad to get it sorted. They are stiff, but it isn't any worse than my corrado. Actually rides better than I thought it would. I like them. Now.

Now if I can find some mesh wheels with a polished lip I can color match to the car, and finish the top, carpet and seats, I will be good to go.

[rix337]

Something like these painted red to match my car:

[Beetle.freak]

(I could be wrong) - But as much as I can't believe it my rears look to have had the factory 23-24yr old factory struts in it with these lil "helpers" wedged in the springs as they've sagged over the years....I'll post some pics of them later.

[rix337]

Wow. I am pretty sure mine were the originals as well, but without the shims. My cay will be 20 this fall. I put my new stone guards on tonight. Came out pretty good. Adjusted my clipper kit while I had it apart as well. Car is really starting to come together now.

[Beetle.freak]

Wow. I am pretty sure mine were the originals as well, but without the shims. My cay will be 20 this fall. I put my new stone guards on tonight. Came out pretty good. Adjusted my clipper kit while I had it apart as well. Car is really starting to come together now.

[vwpunk]

hey Rix, any pics of the car post-drop?

I just picked up a '90 Cabby. I have Koni's on my Corrado and was under the impression I'd be looking at another grand for coilovers for this one but was shocked when I saw JOMs/Racelands etc. were under $500!!

How's the ride now with the Racelands and your spring issue ironed out? I'm thinking of ordering these very soon. I was on Raceland's website before and they list Caddy (not Cabby), mkI Jetta & mkI Golf. No idea which set to order.

[Beetle.freak]

I got mine in and love them so far....one bit of advise, Raceland says to run the bottom collars halfway up as a starting point then tune from there. .You'll want these if your looking at Racelnds...http://www.racelandus.com/coilovers/...lover-kit.html. Before... and after... I still would like to get the front down a tad more though.

[Dinobeavis]

I was on Raceland's website before and they list Caddy (not Cabby), mkI Jetta & mkI Golf. No idea which set to order.

Not the ones for the Caddy.....it is the truck and that set is only for the front. I think you want the MKI Golf set. Also, you can check out Rokkor coil-overs.....they are the same company as Raceland but have slightly stiffer springs.

[rix337]

Yes, it is the set for the MKI golf for the Cabbies. I will post some pics by the end of the week. It is pouring here in ATL the last few days and I am still trying to get the top on it.

I had an emergency apendectomy two days before I was supposed to go to Daytona...so much for vacation. I have not been able to work on the car until end of last week. Always something!!

[topduko19]

Something like these painted red to match my car:

Where can I get these at???
I've been looking at something like this for a while now...