Seems like every Indy builder is using Gaz shocks with 13" centres. Can someone tell me what the ride height is with this setup?
I don't understand suspension geometry too well but I have worked out with 12" centre shocks (Nitrons) the ride height would be about 61/2" at the rear and 6" on the front. This seems to be a bit on the high side according to some of the book built cars but surely Gaz shocks with 13" centres would sit the car even higher.
Like I said, I dont understand this suspension voodoo very well so I've probably got it all wrong. If someone can confirm one way or another I'd appreciate it. After all I dont want to buy Gaz shocks if I end up with a monster truck.

I guess the whole reason for using decent coil overs is that they are adjustable so you can get the ride height you want. The Nitrons do not have adjustable damping so for a few extra quid the Gaz shocks look the better deal.

Andy

Adjusatable spring platforms are there primarily to set the cornerweights. In other words, if more of the cars's weight is being presented to one front (or rear) wheel than the other then the spring platforms can be adjusted to correct this.

On a twin wishbone suspension system the ride height is correct when the normally laden car's lower wishbone is parallel to the road surface. Small adjustments may be necessary to acheive this. If large adjustments are required then the springs are wrong and should be changed.

John

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On a twin wishbone suspension system the ride height is correct when the normally laden car's lower wishbone is parallel to the road surface

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The shock absorber does not of itself set the ride height. This function is carried out by the spring.
The shock should be chosen to provide full suspension movement. In other words, the varying distances of the mounting points as the suspension moves through its stroke should be matched by the available movement of the shock.
Shocks are defined by their open and closed lengths, you cannot define a shock by one measurement

John

Cheers John, it looks like I am looking at it from a far too simplistic stand point. I keep reading the book I have but I just end up frying my brain. I think I'll follow Bob's example and buy a set of Gaz shocks with the same spring rates and hope the spring lengths are correct. After all Bob is doing the same build as I am, Pinto engine now with a view to upgrade to 16 valve some time in the future. And if it all goes wrong I can blame him.

Paul
(In sunny west Swindon)

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Originally posted by paulbeyer
. After all Bob is doing the same build as I am, Pinto engine now with a view to upgrade to 16 valve some time in the future. And if it all goes wrong I can blame him

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This is what I was thinking. With my lower wishbones parallel to the road surface the distance between upper and lower mounting point for the shocks is 12" at the front and 11.75" at the back. This incidently is the same as the dims for the Nitron shocks. Putting aside the pro's and con's of Nitron v Gaz it seems to me that the Gaz shocks are going to be too long at 13" resulting in the lower wishbones pointing down. In the book I have on sports car suspension it says this is not an ideal set up and one to avoid if at all possible.

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Stu and John, thanks for your input. I took onboard all you have said and had a look at my book again and all has become clear. I completely missed the fact that the shock dims I was quoting were fully extended, what a muppet.

And to think if it went pear shaped you were going to blame me.

Paul i keep telling you,dont panic unles i panic

Ok i have now received my Gaz shocks but i have a few questions.

1, what tool do you use to adjust the spring compressor ring?
2, How far up are you all going with spring comprassion as a starting point?
3, How many clicks from 'soft' are you going with the damper adjuster knob also as a starting point?

Fanx

Andy

I wasn't going to blame ya Bob, but if you do start a panic don't forget to send me a U2U so I can follow yor example.

Nice one paul,i'll keep you informed of when next panic attack is coming

Hey Andy
You will only know if you want soft or hard damper setting once you are on the road.
By the way how different are the spring rates for zetec engine compared with pinto,i'm just interested

The springs are the same as pinto i think, 325 front and 175 rear. I asked for the same as you and the guy at Gaz said they should be fine for zetec. I don't know how much differencr in weight there is between pinto and zetec, probably not alot.

I still need to know which tool to use to adjust the adjuster ring thingy.

Cheers

Andy

The tool you need is a 'c'spanner, needs to be the right size for the spring platforms you have. Probably available from the people you bought the shocks from, or from Demon Tweeks etc definitely a special tool so don't bother looking in Halfords.
For initial adjustment I would suggest winding the spring platform up maybe 10 mm from the bottom.
Don't forget that the rate of the spring is only one factor in deciding the ride height of any given weight of car, the other factor is the unfitted length!

John

Cheers for that John

One thing... I have put the springs on the dampers and tightened up the spring platform as far as it will go by hand with the damper at full length and there is about an inch and a half between the platform and the bottom of the shock. There are aprox 5 - 7 threads showing between the weld and the platform bottom. Is this ok?

Cheers

Andy