Coil Over Conversion Installed

[Tahoewhat]

Mike, do you have any ideas why your truck and Blackout's truck aren't very different in front end height even though you have 2" drop spindles and he doesn't? I know his fender is a little higher than yours, but he has taller tires, I would think the difference would be more than what it is since you have the drop spindles. Especially since he appears to have room to adjust down on the coilovers and you're already on like the last thread. Is this just a case of different trucks being different? Thanks.

My tire comes to 31.22 his comes to 32.40 i think, so not much tire difference. I also have the upper reinforcement bracket that adds rougly .5". Which take the 1" tire taller on his and my .5 bracket, if im thinking right would be .5" difference.

On blackouts in his thread, (i had to go back to it) he is only a tad further up on the threads than i am currently. He appears to have 2 threads showing where right now i have 1 thread showing. (will snap a pic this weekend) and i currently measure 31.5" in front think he is at 32 1/4".

Honestly I do not know why the difference is only marginal w/ me having 2" drop spindles. I am not positive he does not have spindles.

But you have my curiosity going now and will come up with an answer

 

[buddlyduddly]

so i wonder if this would work with ridetechs air ride kit except for using it on a 4wd..

---------- Post added at 11:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 PM ----------

Im really getting interested in this if i could make it work with the ride tech kit for the 2wd guys..

 

[Tahoewhat]

so i wonder if this would work with ridetechs air ride kit except for using it on a 4wd..

---------- Post added at 11:44 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:20 PM ----------

Im really getting interested in this if i could make it work with the ride tech kit for the 2wd guys..

Those that have done this mod are 2wd, I am and atomic made the brackets for his own setup and he is 4wd / awd.

I personally do not know what ride tech kit your a speaking about, but i imagine they have their kit that works, but dont know.

 

[04blackout]

Im 4wd

 

[buddlyduddly]

This is the ridetech airbag struts i was talking about.http://www.ridetech.com/store/trucks/?subcats=Y&features_hash=V292.V328

---------- Post added at 01:09 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:06 PM ----------

Im 4wd

Is there still a bit a room between the upper arm were a bag strut would work and not rub against the 4x4 front shafts or on the upper a arm, if that makes sense.

 

[Tahoewhat]

This is the ridetech airbag struts i was talking about.http://www.ridetech.com/store/trucks/?subcats=Y&features_hash=V292.V328

That top bracket they use is almost exact same thing as the pro comp adapter. I remember seeing it while i was searching around for the pro comp one. So it will work just fine, with atomics upper as well. Just measurements will be off around .5" w/ the upper reinforcement bracket.


Did not get a chance to cut off bumpstop cup & raise it up some, but will in the coming week hopefully.

 

[buddlyduddly]

That top bracket they use is almost exact same thing as the pro comp adapter. I remember seeing it while i was searching around for the pro comp one. So it will work just fine, with atomics upper as well. Just measurements will be off around .5" w/ the upper reinforcement bracket.


Did not get a chance to cut off bumpstop cup & raise it up some, but will in the coming week hopefully.

Sweet then i think ill be trying this out, but using bags instead. Im just wondering how close the bag is going to be to touching the upper a arm. I couldnt find dimensions on any of those bags, so ill have to email them or somthing. Im suprised more people on here havent been interested in using bags in the front for all those guys out there that wanna bag the front and keep the 4x4, especially for the guys that wanna keep the 4x4. Thats the goal im going for.

 

[Atomic]

Im gonna try a few ideas when I get home this afternoon on the stud top thing...I personally dont think a bushing (and all the problems associated with it) are really needed considering the procomp adapter is a solid mount. So im going to see if I cant find a bearing that will work with it to pivot on.

 

[Tahoewhat]

Im gonna try a few ideas when I get home this afternoon on the stud top thing...I personally dont think a bushing (and all the problems associated with it) are really needed considering the procomp adapter is a solid mount. So im going to see if I cant find a bearing that will work with it to pivot on.

So how did those ideas work out? Lol

 

[Atomic]

Well good and bad. Good is it seems easy to make work just avoiding the bushing all together. Bad the part i need doesnt seem to exist and there is no such pivot bearing. I am having some washers custom made.

 

[digitalfiend]

The first prototype set is done. These are for the stock upper mounts and they're slated to go to 04blackout:

I'm cross-posting this to make sure those interested see it. I've been on a hiatus from posting on here because I've been going mad inside my lab trying to get these washers machined right. This 4340 steel is pretty darned tough. This is good once it's put into place, but it makes machining it and cutting it *very* difficult. I have a small lathe and basic tooling and it has ruined just about every HSS lathe tool that I've thrown at it. It tends to extremely HOT while it's being machined...once it heats up it ruins anything you throw at it until it cools down. I finally tried out some carbide cutting tips and that seemed to be the best. So now I believe I have a way to produce many of these on a small scale.

If 04blackout is ready to go then I'll get this first set to him and have him test them. Once we work out any kinks then I'll produce more of these and they'll be for sale in my own thread like Atomic did with his mounts.

 

[Tahoewhat]

Looks good Andrew. You guys will have to keep me informed.


Review on my Ride as of now----

Changed the shock settings on the front to softer, been going down 1 click everyday to get a feel for the ride. Whatever setting it is at now is very nice. Its no longer a firm ride and drives very nice, much softer and bearable.

Still have not added stops nor cut cups off yet, time is not on my side lately.

 

[Tahoewhat]

Center hub to Fender is about 17" on a 285-50-20 about 31.2 tall tire.

for those that may wonder.

Next question is why are me and blkout at around the same height and he doesnt have drop spindles

Any one know a reason? If i can have my turn radius back, i'll swap my stock spindles back on and sell these drop ones.

 

[Tahoewhat]

--UPDATE--

Now that I have some miles on the setup and with all the good and bad things going on w/ my comments & Blkouts, here is my little review thus far.

First, I have been tweaking the shocks setting daily for around 2 weeks now. I have started at around 12 clicks from 0 and slowly gone down, softening the ride. I have gone down one click a day to get a full feel of the change and not just a quick drive around, actual day use of the change. I am not sure where they are now, but the ride is much more softer and cushions the bumps in the front much better. ( sometimes too good) The firmer settings were stiff and gets stiff quite fast the higher the click. (the reasoning behind my one click at a time.) From another point of view, my bro was me at lunch today and said its bouncy now, but liked the ride better now.

I guess this will be a review of the rear as well, even though has nothing to do w/ the front. (sort of) but the rear seems to be a problem now. Its kind of bumpy and feels very stiff when bumps are hit. Not jarring, but very stiff feeling. So to compensate for this, today i have started to dial in only the rear settings and leaving the front alone. (as i am happy with the front now) Since the front and rear work together for a soft ride, I am tackling this at the same to see where this can end up and hopefully by the time this is all settled and done, there will be valuable information for others that want to be low and ride good. (dont belong in the same sentence, lol)

All in all I am still very happy w/ my setup and just needs tweaking to be even better. So if you plan on doing this, do not think it is a instant fix for the ride. It makes the ride better, but must be tweaked to each individual's feeling.

Will update once i get it all dialed in and any changes i make.

(no still have not cut stop off yet nor the bump stop installed, Yes i know. ha ha.)

 

[YukonXL04]

Hurry up Mike! Figure it out! Lol JK I bet you will need to stiffen the front a click or 2 after you get the rear softened up. Right now your soft up front, stiff in the rear... So your kinda "see sawing" down the road . You want to get it where front and back work evenly together.

 

[04blackout]

Mike has no turning radius bc of spindles... I have no turning bc my tires are jammed all up in the fender LoLzorz

 

[Bomba02]

Slammed and big rim/tire combo daily problems...ha ha...looks sweet tho!

 

[Tahoewhat]

Hurry up Mike! Figure it out! Lol JK I bet you will need to stiffen the front a click or 2 after you get the rear softened up. Right now your soft up front, stiff in the rear... So your kinda "see sawing" down the road . You want to get it where front and back work evenly together.

Oh trust me I am trying & been pming couple folks tonight.
Still need to level the whole thing up, front is still lower currently, hoping to adjust that tomorrow morning before work. And that is exactly what im thinking on the front and rear. They are currently both on the same settings, but changed the rear one click softer tonight. Going to try that out tomorrow and see.

Mike has no turning radius bc of spindles... I have no turning bc my tires are jammed all up in the fender LoLzorz

Where did this come from? ha ha.. I do not remember turning anywhere. ha ha ha... But yea turning is no bueno, but since i have had them on for so long, there is a grove embedded into the spindle now,so some radius has come back. Still stuck on why your just as low and i have spindles.

Slammed and big rim/tire combo daily problems...ha ha...looks sweet tho!

I think we are getting mine & blkouts threads confused. lol. But yes, if a nice set of 24's come along I will be changing them out. Tired of my SS wheels.

 

[04blackout]

You had mentioned getting some turning radius back from the spindles so i commented on my situation. Still no idea why ur same as me, unless you're resting on the bumpstop cup and dont realize it... i know that when i did the coilover swap, i hadnt trimmed the new stops yet and as i lowered the springs down the truck wouldnt sit any lower, then i realized it was just sitting on the bumpstop

 

[digitalfiend]

Where did this come from? ha ha.. I do not remember turning anywhere. ha ha ha... But yea turning is no bueno, but since i have had them on for so long, there is a grove embedded into the spindle now,so some radius has come back. Still stuck on why your just as low and i have spindles.

I despised the loss in turning radius with my 2" drop spindles. If you have a rotary grinder then there is an easy fix for this. I am MUCH happier with the stock turning radius that I *now* get from my McGaughy 2" drop spindles.