[shippo's zook]

whats everyone else running that isn't custom made?

[Reubs]

shippo's zook wrote:

whats everyone else running that isn't custom made?

On 2 different coilys I've had both have used the Ultima struts and shocks from ebay. One used 'lifted' Kings Springs and the other 'lifted' Pedders branded springs.

By 'lifted' i mean those springs could have been 30mm, 40mm or 2" - overall height is subjective to the weight of the vehicle so the design height of the springs is irrelevant.

[Gwagensteve]

I believe only ultima offer an off-the-shelf replacement strut.

I don't know if it is any longer than a standard strut. I'd be interested to know.

[Reubs]

Gwagensteve wrote:

I believe only ultima offer an off-the-shelf replacement strut.
I don't know if it is any longer than a standard strut. I'd be interested to know.

From page 1:

Reubs wrote:

From memory the extended length of the 'coily' Ultima struts is about 20mm longer than some stock ones.

Steve, (probably for the reasons you mentioned already in this thread) the ultima strut is not much longer than standard, but still alright for some 'slightly' longer springs.

I have some photos of an Ultima strut next to a standard KYB one somewhere - i'll go look for them.

[shippo's zook]

anyone know somewhere I can get custom made shock in NSW?
and what are they worth?

[Gwagensteve]

I assume you are looking at custom shocks to achieve more wheel travel?

Race suspension shops may be able to help - Shops that carry Koni and Bistein, for example. For any shop to build a shock into a coil over, they aren't going to be cheap. I won't comment on fabrication cost, but, for example, a Koni shock (bare) is over $200, plus custom valving, plus fabrication to mount the coil. Additionally, you'll have to be able to provide the shock builder with something to aim for in relation to valving, because a custom shock won't be valved to suit your application. Some suspension shops have a shock dyno, and, for a cost, can dyno your existing strut and then base their valving on that.

Here's some other considerations:

There is very little room for a larger diameter shock absorber. The car I worked on had Koni shocks made up to suit, I think by S.G. Leslie and Sons in West Heidelberg. (Victoria) they were the smallest diameter Koni's available. Many aftermarket shocks are too large to fit through the coil mount. Increasing droop makes this worse as the shocks move rearwards as the suspension cycles. This particular car had stock front travel and a small increase in rear travel through the use of bumpstop spacing, which were installed by the suspension shop who did the fitment.

This car drove very well and damping was tightly controlled. It was really excellent at speed. It had no more front travel than standard, and had inadequate caster though, which we fixed by redrilling the axle brackets. It was much nicer to drive then.

Many aftermarket shocks aren't as travel efficient - because all the internals are larger, theres less room in the shock. This means that to achieve the same travel, the shock is longer compressed. If you buy on compressed length, you might have no travel gain at all.

If you want to run bumpstop spacing, then you could shorten the stock top shock mount. This would allow you to regain the travel lost by the bumpstop spacing, which would be better than nothing. It's a fabrication job though.

All up, custom front shocks are a waste of money in my opinion. You need to look at the rest of the limitations in the coil front end, and having the best shock in the world won't overcome them.

I think that the best way to improve the shock and coil selection on a coil car is to remove the coil tower and shock mount and convert to a jimny arrangement. You then have free choice of shocks and a multitude of coils to choose from. You'll still have to deal with the roll stiffness problems, but they effect Jimny's too.

Steve.

[shippo's zook]

On 2 different coilys I've had both have used the Ultima struts and shocks from ebay. One used 'lifted' Kings Springs and the other 'lifted' Pedders branded springs.

By 'lifted' i mean those springs could have been 30mm, 40mm or 2" - overall height is subjective to the weight of the vehicle so the design height of the springs is irrelevant.[/quote]

what size struts Reubs?

[Reubs]

shippo's zook wrote:

what size struts Reubs?

Possibly one of these ones...

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Suzuki-Sierr ... 27d1fe5b14
http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2-Front-Exte ... 1c344a10f3

[shippo's zook]

can you run 2" springs on 30 - 40mm struts?

[Reubs]

shippo's zook wrote:

can you run 2" springs on 30 - 40mm struts?

Yes.

Reubs wrote:

30mm, 40mm or 2" - overall height is subjective to the weight of the vehicle so the design height of the springs is irrelevant.

[shippo's zook]

thanks heaps reubs, ill just stick to my blue pac shocks and put my 2" springs in
is ultima any better the blue pac?