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134 Posts
I have been kicking around some front suspension ideas because of the uptravel stiffness I have found with my adjustable coilovers.
I've been into wheeling for quite a few years, and we always wanted to have a soft pliable suspension to soak up the bumps, dips, and rocks. I have found so far that I can't compress my front suspension to the bump stops even when the rear is compressed in all its travel. Basically this means the rear is a lot softer than the front. I can understand this with the engine and most of the weight up there, and needing to be stiffer. I assume the idea of the shocks were built around the idea of giving a good ride (which they do) with dampening, and not allowing bottoming out with spring rate.
So--
I did some observations, and crunched some numbers. I found that most of the adjustable coilovers are 650 lb coils, and have a 4.5-5.93 shock stroke. The regular Donohoe are 5 and extended are 5.4 inches. Now OME Shocks are 5.4 inches in stroke, and springs come in 3 different lengths, all having the same 500 lb spring rate. I would think that the OME would allow for easier compression, and a less jarring ride going through slow technical terrain, and the adjustable coils would be better for high speed dampening action. Given that the spring rate is not lowered, along with the ride height, say at 2-2.5 inches--Is this right?
Do OME fronts have better full travel flex for slow terrain 4 wheeling?
I've been into wheeling for quite a few years, and we always wanted to have a soft pliable suspension to soak up the bumps, dips, and rocks. I have found so far that I can't compress my front suspension to the bump stops even when the rear is compressed in all its travel. Basically this means the rear is a lot softer than the front. I can understand this with the engine and most of the weight up there, and needing to be stiffer. I assume the idea of the shocks were built around the idea of giving a good ride (which they do) with dampening, and not allowing bottoming out with spring rate.
So--
I did some observations, and crunched some numbers. I found that most of the adjustable coilovers are 650 lb coils, and have a 4.5-5.93 shock stroke. The regular Donohoe are 5 and extended are 5.4 inches. Now OME Shocks are 5.4 inches in stroke, and springs come in 3 different lengths, all having the same 500 lb spring rate. I would think that the OME would allow for easier compression, and a less jarring ride going through slow technical terrain, and the adjustable coils would be better for high speed dampening action. Given that the spring rate is not lowered, along with the ride height, say at 2-2.5 inches--Is this right?
Do OME fronts have better full travel flex for slow terrain 4 wheeling?