how do I go about making measurements for the coilover mounts? Is there a rough estimate of how high the shock hoops should be from the frame?

I have 12" fronts and 14" rears...


pretty much any information on making mounts for the coilovers front and rear is appriciated :shocked:

take the total measurement of the shocks when at ride height and make that the distance between the tabs on the axles and the tabs on the hoops. No big deal.

You need to pick your ride height now.

Thanks Brink

let me see if I got this right,

how do I get the measurement of the shocks at ride height when I don't have the hoops mounted? do I tack weld one on?

I am aiming for ~6" of lift.

If I posted up the rates of my springs would that help? or it wouldn't because we don't know the exact weight of my Jeep right?

Not so much.

When dealing with coilovers it changes form x amount of lift to how much up vs down travel you will have.

You need to decide how much of your travel you want to have in the up direction. Then just extend the shock to have that much shaft showing and measure eye to eye. Be sure you don't want more up travel than you have room for.

I like to get a tire positioned in the wheelwell at ride height using blocks or whatever. Then I just measure how much clearance I have in the up direction for both the tire and the axle to move. This is my max up travel (otherwise I'd be hitting stuff) Then I use that to set my shocks (go an inch or so less because they will come up a little more when the axle is articulated)

Make any sense?

lil suggestion..... instead of posting each question under a new heading for each step you do just rename this as a build thread and keep posting on one thread and post pictures as you go folks will be more likely to keep helping you and less likely to start flaming...

Yeah I'm new to this whole hardcore tech stuff, but I thought I'd ask you guys since you guys are the best with this stuff :)

your explanation makes sense to me. but there is one gray area still...

so after I measure everything(uptravel) then make the hoops and put on the shocks, wouldn't the shocks sag due to weight and the springs? and make the Jeep sit lower than what we defined "ride height" and theoretically I could have gotten more uptravel, no?

THANKS! :D

lil suggestion..... instead of posting each question under a new heading for each step you do just rename this as a build thread and keep posting on one thread and post pictures as you go folks will be more likely to keep helping you and less likely to start flaming...



:D I will do so.

I thought build threads were for the ones that have the killer rigs, I don't think mines worth mentioning here :zzz:

Sounds like you are doing fab to me. That makes it a build in my books. If nothing else pick one of the other forums instead of hardcore. Only if it would make you more comfortable.

Without any weight they will open right up. The springs are much longer than what you are using for a ride height. If you are sagging more than you set your height at when you get the weight on them it means you are using the wrong springs. This can, and likely will, take several attempts to find the right set of springs for your rig. Spring rates are difficult to dial in sometimes. Have you got the per corner weights of your rig (sprung only)? That's the first step in picking the coils. Second is choosing your travel (we just covered how to do that) I'm running4 up and 10 down just for an example.

Welcome to coilovers. :grinpimp:

Lower the vehicle until something hits then raise it up an inch or so. Compress your shocks all the way and mount them to the axle. Now you can make your hoops.

I used some large PVC and made a mock up shock. I slipped another pvc tube inside of it and it fits snug. The one in the picture is mocked up at the exact same specs as a FOX 18" 2.5 Air shock. Pictures are at full compression, and I have about 1.5" of shaft still showing.

You can build a couple PVC shocks, and then set your project full compression. Set the shock up on the hoop so almost all the compression is used up and your done.

http://myweb.cableone.net/rnjacobson/test4.jpg

http://myweb.cableone.net/rnjacobson/test5.jpg

im doing rear coilovers and with my wheels it looks that i dont have to notch the frame ill let you guys know what i come up with though

:D I will do so.

I thought build threads were for the ones that have the killer rigs, I don't think mines worth mentioning here :zzz:

Mine is far from cutting edge but I've gotten some decent help and I figure maybe someone will find something I've done helpfull on their own rig.

Hey for all you guys that have done coilovers, you probably had to take off the front right shock mounting bracket, but on taht bracket is the front track bar mount, how and where did you relocate it to?

Thanks :)

haha any ideas so I can get started? I am totally lost :p

i put my axle at full bump and set the hoops up accurding to the shocks at full compression plus about 1/2 an inch

so anybody have any ideas on how to relocate the front trackbar mount? :grinpimp:

build a new one maybe? :flipoff2:

build a new one maybe? :flipoff2:


yeah definitely but its not like I can buy tabs for them because their perpendicular do the axle...so I was wondering if there are mounts that I can just weld on(sorta like tabs but maybe at an L shape?)

:D

draw some up on some 1/4" plate and make them yourself :rolleyes:

http://www.4x4shots.com/albums/userpics/10025/normal_DSCF0471.JPG

draw some up on some 1/4" plate and make them yourself :rolleyes:

http://www.4x4shots.com/albums/userpics/10025/normal_DSCF0471.JPG



I like those :eek: got a picture of the front by any chance? :D

This one kind of shows the front of the tab. I just drew the tab on the steel the way it looked right and cut it out. it wraps around the side and the bottom of the frame and the bolt center is parallel with the side of the frame.

http://www.4x4shots.com/albums/userpics/10025/normal_DSCF0478.JPG

this is the side.
http://www.4x4shots.com/albums/userpics/10025/normal_DSCF0472.JPG