Coil lengths on stock setups

Joined
Jun 22, 2020
Messages
17
Age
28
Location
Colorado
So is it possible to stuff a 16x500 coil on 5" travel shock or is that too much for stock arms on a 3rd gen 4r?
doing all the math with block height and extended/collasped lengths on the shock it seems like it would fit, but if anyone wants to shed a little insight on the subject thatd be great
currently ion 6112s with an spc upper. Trying to open up the front end and get some good travel charactaristics (if thats a thing) out of the shocks.
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,959
Age
31
Location
Yucaipa, CA
So is it possible to stuff a 16x500 coil on 5" travel shock or is that too much for stock arms on a 3rd gen 4r?
doing all the math with block height and extended/collasped lengths on the shock it seems like it would fit, but if anyone wants to shed a little insight on the subject thatd be great
currently ion 6112s with an spc upper. Trying to open up the front end and get some good travel charactaristics (if thats a thing) out of the shocks.
So first of all, with the 6112's you need to make sure whatever spring you get will fit on those shocks. Those shocks aren't the traditional style coilovers using universal style springs so they likely require a specific spring to fit.
16" springs might be a little too long I'd suspect. Seems like a pretty tall spring for such a short shock. Some quick math I've used for coilovers in the past is (Shock Stroke *2)+2" = Spring length. Now this might now work for those 6112's since they are a different type of shock.
Lastly what are you trying to accomplish out of swapping springs? The only thing springs should realistically be used for is setting ride height. Typically you want the tallest/softest spring you can get to achieve this.
 
Joined
Jun 22, 2020
Messages
17
Age
28
Location
Colorado
So first of all, with the 6112's you need to make sure whatever spring you get will fit on those shocks. Those shocks aren't the traditional style coilovers using universal style springs so they likely require a specific spring to fit.
16" springs might be a little too long I'd suspect. Seems like a pretty tall spring for such a short shock. Some quick math I've used for coilovers in the past is (Shock Stroke *2)+2" = Spring length. Now this might now work for those 6112's since they are a different type of shock.
Lastly what are you trying to accomplish out of swapping springs? The only thing springs should realistically be used for is setting ride height. Typically you want the tallest/softest spring you can get to achieve this.
So the stock coil on there is a 14x600 3” ID
From every resource I can find any way, Bilstein themselves don’t put a whole lot of info out on the 6112 specs.
Currently just to get the 2.5” lift up front that I’ve got I’m on the top rungs and it seems to be a little stiff.
Main goal is to get equal ride height but maybe less preload on the factory coil, I could be wrong but does a taller soft spring allow for not necessarily more travel (limited by the shock length in the end) but help the front end move or articulate a little better? 600lb seems to be a little high for the minor amount of weight I have up front
Figured maybe a longer softer spring would allow for less preload and better movement. Im pretty ignorant to this still so trying to get info on it all. Appreciate the response!
 
Joined
Jan 10, 2020
Messages
381
Age
33
Location
Phoenix
Seems like too much work for a budget 2.5” shock. Leave it alone or run their upgraded heavier ones. Or run a 8” stroke shock with a shock hoop. Oem 5” stroke shocks are great for what they’re meant for. Adding a taller spring really just seems like a waste of time.
 
Joined
Jun 22, 2020
Messages
17
Age
28
Location
Colorado
Seems like too much work for a budget 2.5” shock. Leave it alone or run their upgraded heavier ones. Or run a 8” stroke shock with a shock hoop. Oem 5” stroke shocks are great for what they’re meant for. Adding a taller spring really just seems like a waste of time.
Is it even possible to run an 8” with stock length arms?
is there any possible way to get long travel ish style movement out of stock arms
Not necessarily travel numbers but free moving arms if that makes any sense at all.
 

AssBurns

will wheel for beer
Staff member
Joined
Oct 1, 2018
Messages
7,959
Age
31
Location
Yucaipa, CA
You are correct in the fact that the shock is going to be the limiting factor in your travel. When it comes to spring rates and coil lengths the benefit of a taller softer coil is you can have some preload on the spring still at full droop which helps keep the spring rate consistent rather than going from very stiff to basically no spring rate if there is no preload. You definitely don't want too much preload on your springs but some preload is definitely a good thing. With a taller/softer spring you would actually have more preload to get a similar ride height (which again is a good thing up to a certain point).
Like @honda250xtitan stated above, it would probably be more beneficial to upgrade to a shock that you can tune with spring rates and valving than put more money into a shock like a 6112
 
Joined
Jan 10, 2020
Messages
381
Age
33
Location
Phoenix
Is it even possible to run an 8” with stock length arms?
is there any possible way to get long travel ish style movement out of stock arms
Not necessarily travel numbers but free moving arms if that makes any sense at all.
Travel won’t change unless the bilstein is limiting travel. You’re still at the mercy of full droop/cv bind, tie rod bind. And full bump being the bump stop. If you want bind free travel then you can upgrade bushings. The longer shock would be neat but otherwise a waste until you went long travel.
 
Joined
Nov 18, 2019
Messages
588
Age
41
Location
Glendale AZ
I went with Freedom Off-road uca's and struts on my truck. For the amount of off-road I do it is perfect and netted me about 4 in of lift. Ride feels a little stiffer than stock. As for the rears I have 3rd gen leaf with wheelers 3 leaf and F O shocks. I'm running 285 75 17's and don't rub.IMG_20220117_144042057_HDR.jpg
 
Joined
Jun 22, 2020
Messages
17
Age
28
Location
Colorado
Travel won’t change unless the bilstein is limiting travel. You’re still at the mercy of full droop/cv bind, tie rod bind. And full bump being the bump stop. If you want bind free travel then you can upgrade bushings. The longer shock would be neat but otherwise a waste until you went long travel.
Gotchya. Thanks for the info!
 
Top Bottom