Just checking before I order up

[Shooter63]

I'm going to get new dampers and springs for the rear of my stylus, and I just want to make sure I'm ordering the right ones, reading through the other posts, it seems I need 15" open length 1.9 diameter dampers with 220lb springs, these are to match my 250 lb front springs with 11" dampers ( all will be protech. )

Shooter

[stylussprinter]

I'm going to get new dampers and springs for the rear of my stylus, and I just want to make sure I'm ordering the right ones, reading through the other posts, it seems I need 15" open length 1.9 diameter dampers with 220lb springs, these are to match my 250 lb front springs with 11" dampers ( all will be protech. )

Shooter

Shock lengths open at 11 front 15 rear correct , not original factory fit but over many years of mod's I've arrived at these to be ideal for road/standard cars or competition. The only variable is spring length and poundage which depends entirely on use and your own body weight( how much piston travel in rear shocks ie. soft springs and large guy = useless)
Using 250 front is good for road and track , just adjust shock clicks on the 7 inch front springs. Rear springs at 220 is fine for road if heavier than me at 80kgs , otherwise 200 or less if lighter still. Spring length advised for 15 inch length shocks is 10 inches but I'd advise 9 inch. That will save you buying another set of springs after you've played around with it ride height wise and decided to lower the car at some point( 9 inch will allow more thread adjustment on the shock)
For road only I'd set front at 1 maybe 2 clicks ---- rear 3 to 4 clicks( all weight dependant - yours & the spring lbs)
Track or competition -- front 3 to 4 clicks plus ideally an ARB( I know this sounds like a sales pitch for my ARB !!!)
Then rear -- 6 to 8 clicks . All the above dependent on whether dry or pissing down obviously.
Hope this helps but there's no 1 fits all with setup . Having said that I've spent 16 yrs testing plus competition to optimise lap times , and tyre pressures have a huge influence too and even tyre manufacturers have advised me way above the pressures I now use. Can't beat test time.

[Shooter63]

Thanks for the reply, as I weigh the same as you but my car definitely weighs more ( I would guess a minimum of 75 kg) would rear rear springs at 220lb be ok? Using the old 12% front to rear spring ratio it's seems to be yes.

Regards

Shooter

[stylussprinter]

Thanks for the reply, as I weigh the same as you but my car definitely weighs more ( I would guess a minimum of 75 kg) would rear rear springs at 220lb be ok? Using the old 12% front to rear spring ratio it's seems to be yes.

Regards

Shooter

I've NEVER used anyone's rule of thumb ----- just my own on track constant testing of various spring rates , shock settings , tyre pressures , against lap times. My objective was always that and not road comfort(it was road registered in the beginning) So it's really what you want out of the car and mainly use it for. For me 220 is fine , even a little soft but then I don't road it anymore. Springs are the cheapest component of the suspension , so for £40 a pair you can afford to experiment --- I've been through 6 sets of spring lengths and lbs from first build to date , all due to track work or competition.

[CMA]

I had 200lbs springs on the rear and I'm a fair bit heavier than Rob but my car was for road use. If I had kept it I would have dropped down to 180lbs as the 200lbs kept the ride a bit too firm and height a bit too high for my liking, also I would have gone to 200 or 220 on the front from my 250lbs'ers

[Shooter63]

Just to give people an update, I've fitted the new dampers and springs to the front, what a difference it's made the ride is 100% better! I was able to lower the front by around 50mm giving the car plenty of rake, a quick blast up the road showed excellent stability up to around 100mph ( private road obviously ) and the ride was much more compliant, even with the 250lb springs. I expect this is due to the rake putting more weight over the front wheels.
Before the car was all over the road at speeds much lower with just me in it, with the mrs on board as well it was real bum clenching stuff, how the last owner drove it like that was a mystery.
I was hoping to fit the rears at the same time but the lower damper bolts have decided to weld themselves to the metalastic bushes so I'll have to drill the gits out.
A big thanks to stylusprinter for all the info.

Shooter

[josephmoore]

Been there done that on both rear damper top bolts, Shooter. Sawed through both of them by hand with a hacksaw blade in the dark in February!

[stylussprinter]

Just to give people an update, I've fitted the new dampers and springs to the front, what a difference it's made the ride is 100% better! I was able to lower the front by around 50mm giving the car plenty of rake, a quick blast up the road showed excellent stability up to around 100mph ( private road obviously ) and the ride was much more compliant, even with the 250lb springs. I expect this is due to the rake putting more weight over the front wheels.
Before the car was all over the road at speeds much lower with just me in it, with the mrs on board as well it was real bum clenching stuff, how the last owner drove it like that was a mystery.
I was hoping to fit the rears at the same time but the lower damper bolts have decided to weld themselves to the metalastic bushes so I'll have to drill the gits out.
A big thanks to stylusprinter for all the info.

Shooter

You're very welcome , always happy to save development time for anyone who wants to know

[Shooter63]

A further update,

I've just got round to fitting the new rear dampers and springs, after 2 weeks of spraying plusgas on the offending bolts just a gentle tap to get the bolts out WRONG!!!!! The sods were still seized solid, so out with the drill bits etc, to be honest it all went better that hoped, I managed to do both sides in 4hrs using decent drill bits and cutting fluid from my lathe/ mill.
A quick 30mile blast to see what it will be like, 100% better at the rear! a lot less crashing over bumps etc and felt more planted ( once the 888s had a bit of temp in them). Just the tracking to sort out now
A MEGA thank you to stylusprinter for all the advice so freely given.
A happy new year to all

Shooter

[stylussprinter]

You're welcome , it's nice when people take advice then get the result . It takes lots of track time to find these things out , trying many spring rates and lengths , shock lengths and settings ----- it just can't be done on the road because there's never repeatability or possibility of finding the ' edge '
It's rewarding for me too