How to measure the length of a shock?
How to Measure Your Shocks 1 With the shocks off the vehicle, get fully extended and fully collapsed lengths, measuring mount to mount. 2 With the shocks still on the vehicle, get ride height from mount to mount. ... 3 Find a part number somewhere on the shock, this isn't always feasible, but as a last resort it could help out.
What is a coilover shocks?
Coilover shocks have been around since the late 1950’s and are still going strong on Street Rods and Race cars today. Coilovers offer benefits other springs and shocks may not, including tight packaging for custom suspensions, easy ride height adjustment, and the ability to swap springs at a low cost.
Can I convert my shocks to an aftermarket Mount?
There are mount conversion kits in some cases, but there's additional risk with that route in that you're extending out the leverage point of the shock to an aftermarket part (not factory). See below for the spots to measure your shocks, whether on the vehicle or off.
Which shocks can be upgraded to Qa1?
Actually, outside of a spindle-mounted strut, factory coil-over, or an odd clevis-type mount, just about any shock with a stud, an eyelet, or a T-bar mount can be upgraded to a QA1 shock.
How are cut springs measured?
0:342:30How To Cut Coil Springs | EATON Detroit Spring Featured ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipYou can take the coil out of the car measure the height of the coil. You want to cut it about twoMoreYou can take the coil out of the car measure the height of the coil. You want to cut it about two inches just go around the coil here till you get about a 1 inch drop mark.
How do you measure coilover springs?
6:0514:30Coilover Springs, Spring Rates, and Calculations - Filthy MotorsportsYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipThe height of each spring under the weight of the vehicle. And then you figure out how much isMoreThe height of each spring under the weight of the vehicle. And then you figure out how much is compressed multiply it by the spring rate and you a known corner weight.
How much should I cut to lower coil springs?
Lower Your Vehicle A Maximum of Two Inches Because as a vehicle is lowered, the amount of travel left in the suspension before there is a jounce, metal to metal contact, condition is reduced also. Too much lowering can cause other parts of the vehicle to hit each other, and this would be a bad thing.
Can I cut my stock springs to lower car?
You can lower your car by cutting the coil springs that are compressed in the strut above the car's tires. A professional mechanic often carries out the process of cutting a car's coil springs and lowering the vehicle. With a few tools, such as a coil compressor and angle grinder, you can cut the coil springs yourself.
How do I know what spring rate I need?
1:213:48What Spring Rate Do I Need? - QA1 Quick Tip - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGenerally. We want to shoot for somewhere between 25. And 35 percent of the free lengths to beMoreGenerally. We want to shoot for somewhere between 25. And 35 percent of the free lengths to be compressed with the weight of the car on it.
How do you calculate spring suspension?
How To Calculate Spring RatesL = Free Length of The Unloaded Spring (m)G = Shear Modulus of Rigidity of Material.d = Wire Diameter (m)D = Mean Diameter (m)N = Number of active coils (an active coil sweeps one full circle)
How do you cut stock springs?
0:399:15How to cut springs- Smooth ride still holding up 3 yrs later (2018)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI cut mine see this is a factory rear spring I wanted to lower just a few inches. So I just cut youMoreI cut mine see this is a factory rear spring I wanted to lower just a few inches. So I just cut you know one coil out like one whole coil. So it looks like two but one really good coil. And that wasn'
Does cutting a coil spring change the spring rate?
The only thing that will change will be the length of the wire used to wind the spring. The longer the wire is the lower the spring rate. As the wire get shorter, such as when cutting the coil, the spring rate increases.
What happens if you cut a spring in half?
When the spring is cut into two equal halves, the spring constant doubles.
How much spring do I cut?
Probably 1-1.5 coils for a 1" drop in the front, maybe 3/4 coil for the rear. Depends on the springs. Rule of thumb is to cut in smaller increments(1/4) if you're unsure of things. As long as you don't use heat to cut them and you'll be fine and won't be bashed.
Why you shouldn't cut your springs?
3) If you cut your springs excessively without changing the shocks, you will have poor handling dynamics. The system will become underdamped. The suspension will bounce up and down, which is bad for traction and bad for comfort.
Can you daily drive a car with cut springs?
1:128:23Can You Daily Drive A Car With Cut Springs? - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipBad.MoreBad.
How to Measure for The Correct Shock Length
Before taking your measurements, it is very important to get the vehicle positioned in the ride height that it will be set at while going down the road. Whether it has leaf springs or coil springs, let the vehicle rest under its full weight at normal ride height.
When to Choose QA1 Shocks
Whether you want to change the ride height using coil-overs or you like where it sits and just want to improve the ride quality, QA1 has a shock for you. QA1 shocks are smooth-operating hydraulic-filled shocks with no gas charge, which adds to the vehicle's spring rate.
What Do I Do with My Measurements
Once you have your measurements, give us a call and our tech team will be waiting to assist you on supplying you with the right shocks for your vehicle.
Where is the ride height on a shock?
Ride height is supposed to be in the middle of the shock travel length, so we're able to see how much travel you should have in both directions at the given height. Find a part number somewhere on the shock, this isn't always feasible, but as a last resort it could help out. Shocks aren't universal in length or fitment.
Do lowered trucks have shorter shocks?
There are also lowered trucks and cars which may have shorter shocks, bottom line is that you never guess! Mount types are another important aspect of buying shocks, assuming an eyelet-to-eyelet shock will work on every application doesn't hold true.
How to measure shock absorber?
To find the correct measurement for a shock absorber, you will need to measure from the center of a loop style mount and from the closest point on the mount for a stud type shock (since the shock is measured from the base of the stud, not the tip). To get the collapsed length measurement for your vehicle, you will need to compress your suspension ...
How to get extended shock length?
To get the collapsed length of a shock, compress it by hand or by using a strap and take a measurement.
What happens if a shock doesn't fit?
A shock that does not fit correctly could have a reduced life or cause improper and dangerous handling characteristics. Often, the description of the type of upper and lower mounts on a shock are only listed by the manufacturer code for the mount. Below you will find a list of values to identify what each code means.
How to get extended suspension?
To get the extended length of your suspension, you will need to jack and secure your vehicle and allow the suspension to drop. Jack the vehicle up until the wheel is off the ground, then lower it so the tire is just on the ground. Take a measurement with the suspension at this point.
When did they start selling shocks?
Selling Shocks Since 1988. When ordering shocks for most vehicles, all you will need to do is enter your vehicle information into our shock finder and pick the best shock for your needs. Some vehicles do not have shocks built specifically for them, usually this is only the case with particularly rare vehicles or trim lines, ...
Do you need to remove shocks before measuring?
If your vehicle currently has shocks on it , you will need to remove them before measuring, as the shock could limit the suspension travel. Once you have determined the correct size for your shocks, find one that is as close as possible to your measurements using one of the guides at the bottom of this page.
Do you need shocks for lowered suspension?
Vehicles with lowered or raised suspensions need different length shocks than a stock-height vehicle, and often there is not a shock built for the specific amount of lift or lowering your vehicle might have. In these cases, you will need to measure your vehicle to find the correct dimensions. For lifted and lowered vehicles, there is often an ...
How long should a 12" shock be?
If you need a 12” mounted length at ride height you should get a shock that is approximately 9” compressed and 14” extended. When selecting the mounting points and ride height of the shock, select the longest shock that you can within reason.
What is coilover shock?
Coilover shocks have been around since the late 1950’s and are still going strong on Street Rods and Race cars today. Coilovers offer benefits other springs and shocks may not, including tight packaging for custom suspensions, easy ride height adjustment, and the ability to swap springs at a low cost. There are many factors that go into selecting the correct coilover assembly in order to get a good performing suspension. We will go over some of the basic pieces of information that will help you get the right parts the first time.