Ride height, spring length and rate

[RichardHyde]

Hi everyone,

Now that my car is back from James, I can crack on with the build. As the CA18DET is significantly lighter than the Sprint lump and I’m using slightly smaller diameter 185/60/13s, the car sits very high. Admittedly there’s no interior yet, but it’s still too high.

What are the normal distances from the top of the wheels to the bottom of the outer wheel arches ? Mine are currently 12cm at the rear and 15cm at the front.

I’ve acquired some height / rate adjustable AVOs.

What sort of spring lengths / spring rates have you found good for a fast road car ? Thinking I might try 2 inches lower than the current springs and wind them down on the AVOs with 150lb at the back and 170 at the front ?

Thanks, Richard

[Aleco]

I'll have a dig about and try and find the details of mine. I run adjustable AVO's but with a sprint lump.
From memory my front is far stiffer than 200lbs, I think they're 400lb 10" springs. The rears are 200lbs. Please don't take that as gospel, I'll try and find the exact details from the invoice.

When I started playing with the suspension, I didn't realise just how much spring length plays in the settings too. It's taken several changes to get a compromise of height/stiffness/handling and compliance.

I think my first set at the front we're 400lb and 12" and even with the suspension at it's longest setting (spring seat at the lowest part of the shock) the spring was heavily compressed and meant I couldn't lower it and the ride was really hard.

Alex

[RichardHyde]

Thanks Alex...do you use your car on the road ? 400/200 sounds very hard to me !!
What size tyres are you using ?

[yorkshire_spam]

Also be aware that if you buy springs from Rimmers their descriptions are b0ll0x and they have no interest what-so-ever in whether or not their springs are as described or fit for purpose.

I had a set of rears that were described as standard ride height heavy duty that didn't fit in the spring end caps and a set of standard height heavy duty fronts that gave a ride height the same as the -1" springs I had. Many many emails were sent, but no actual outcome acheived other than me getting annoyed with the fob-off.

Cheers, Sam

[Aleco]

Thanks Alex...do you use your car on the road ? 400/200 sounds very hard to me !!
What size tyres are you using ?

Yes, it's a road car. I use 185/60/13s
To be honest it's stiffer than a stock sprint but I don't find it uncomfortable. I found the stock set up pretty unnerving as it felt very soft, it was a relatively new stock set up so it wasn't worn

[Carledo]

Admittedly my car is very light, but yours will also be lighter than a stock Sprint.

My advice is don't go mad! Stock length or 1" drop is PLENTY, you can take the height down with the ASPs. And with a Dolomite, there IS such a thing as too low! There are lots of things to bottom out, subframe, exhaust, sump etc (been there, done that, drawer full of tee shirts) Dunno about you, but the roads round our way are getting FIERCE! And worse every day! It'd be a shame to do all that work and then rip the sump out of it, just for a "stance"!

I'd start around 175 on the front and a stock Sprint rear (140?) and only make it harder if you find a need!

Steve