Installed Dobinson's 1.75 Inch Variable Rate Suspension Kit: C59 - 222V, C59 223V
- Thread starter culturedredneck
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There's the vt coils which are supposedly for heavier 80's and there's the flexi coils which are for lighter 80's.
C59-612V/C59-613V are the 3" flexi coils I was looking at.
I was just wondering if anyone has had experience with both for a general comparison. As far as I can tell the main difference is just an inch difference in lift height
This thread helped me decide on the right coils for my fairly stock 94. Thanks all.
Running:
35” Duratracs
Slee Shortbus
Installed:
Front C59-234 coils, 683 Yellows
Rear C59-223V coils, 682 Yellows
CoH to BoF
LF-21.5”
RF-21.5”
LR-22.125”
RR-22.25”
Very happy with the height as the truck still feels and drives like stock, but with much better bump compliance and much less jarring. If only plan to add weight to the rear via hitch bike rack or gear/roof rack. I’d likely level out when I do load it up.
Running:
35” Duratracs
Slee Shortbus
Installed:
Front C59-234 coils, 683 Yellows
Rear C59-223V coils, 682 Yellows
CoH to BoF
LF-21.5”
RF-21.5”
LR-22.125”
RR-22.25”
Very happy with the height as the truck still feels and drives like stock, but with much better bump compliance and much less jarring. If only plan to add weight to the rear via hitch bike rack or gear/roof rack. I’d likely level out when I do load it up.
This looks great, thanks for the detailed info as well, I've been keeping track of all of these lifts on a spreadsheet to compare.
Are you using any caster correction? Stock or DC front driveshaft?
Thanks.
I had the vt coils and although rated for "heavier 80's" they were no stiffer than the 169, or the 220. Which is why I sold them and replace with the 222/223 which are rated heavier. These are IMO the most comfortable ride on road for a lighter stock 80, but too soft off road even though they are variabe rate. I bottomed out while off road. which was suprising and annoying. So now I am looking for the next heavier rated coil or may move to an OME coil. I love dobinsons stuff but now that Im on my 4th set, I am learning that they are very over-rated in terms of weight. @Shoredreamer watch for those rear 223v's to bottom out when your rig is loaded.There's the vt coils which are supposedly for heavier 80's and there's the flexi coils which are for lighter 80's.
C59-612V/C59-613V are the 3" flexi coils I was looking at.
I was just wondering if anyone has had experience with both for a general comparison. As far as I can tell the main difference is just an inch difference in lift height
The vt coils have a stated lift of 2.5 inches and I netted 4 in the front which was another reason I sold them as I have a lighter than stock 80, as the 3rd row is removed.
They were softer than I expected and were great on road, although the spring slap was maddening (which reportedly has been eliminated with the new black version) although a little wobbly over bigger bumps, possibly because they are so long.
I have no experience with the 612/613 3" flexi. and will most likely not buy them as anything over 2.5" of lift and my rig gets driveline vibrations and I am not interested in a part time kit. Post back with your results with what you get!
YMMV HTH
Definitely staying away from the VT's. I was mainly looking into those 3" flexi coils as it seems most guys throwing on the 222/223 combo are stock-ish weight. I have a shortbus w/ winch & base 4x4 labs bumper w/ drawers so carrying a bit more than stock.
Vasopressor
SILVER Star
Bummed to hear you are bottoming out with the 222/223 combo in a lighter than stock 80. What kind of shocks do you have? Any other suspension mods? Stock bump stops?
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by bottomed out, what were you doing? pre-running or something high speed? i don't see what shocks you are running but you might want to look at something better, if running a twin-tube, and checking your bump stops.
fwiw, i'm on the linear springs for 2"-2.5" lift. specifically the c59-166 and c59-167 paired with the twin tube 683/682 shocks. hub to flare measurement around 22.5". ARB/winch up front, deleted 3rd row seats/tote full of recovery gear out back, and full length front runner roof rack. so not heavy but not light...not sure what to categorize it as. loaded up rear for camping and can't say i noticed any squat.
anyways, it rides stiff but high speed handling is predictable and i can take on/off ramps more aggressively than i should. there is an expansion joint i hit at slow speeds 4x a week and it is horrible, but nearly equally horrible in my sedan on Ohlins Road&Track monotube coilovers. i keep circling back to this thread as i re-think the 222v/223v for a little softer ride and maybe better articulation, but then get pulled into looking at the "flexi" 612v/615v springs and longer shocks. i wonder whether the IMS shocks would soften expansion joints with a more compliant rebound. i have a road racing background but get lost when turning too many knobs based on seat of the pants feel
Did you need to do anything else like caster bushings, etc? I’m between this and the 222V/223V setup, but I think I want the linear springs rather than the variable ones.
I bought the rubber caster bushings but have not put them in yet. This 80 of mine doesn’t see much trail and is mainly a daily driver and around town truck. I haven’t felt the need to correct the caster with this setup.
short answer. yes.
long answer. i haven't yet. i've been meaning to get an alignment so i have the actual before numbers to correct based off of. it is drivable as-is but is on my list to optimize. either through replacement radius arms or eimkeith drop brackets and trunnion bearings.
Running Dob fully 3 way adj mrr shocks. They are great. Also over-rated (for weight) in my opinion. But plenty of adequate damping for any rig. I just didn’t anticipate having them set at almost the highest settings for a stock weight rig.by bottomed out, what were you doing? pre-running or something high speed? i don't see what shocks you are running but you might want to look at something better, if running a twin-tube, and checking your bump stops.
fwiw, i'm on the linear springs for 2"-2.5" lift. specifically the c59-166 and c59-167 paired with the twin tube 683/682 shocks. hub to flare measurement around 22.5". ARB/winch up front, deleted 3rd row seats/tote full of recovery gear out back, and full length front runner roof rack. so not heavy but not light...not sure what to categorize it as. loaded up rear for camping and can't say i noticed any squat.
anyways, it rides stiff but high speed handling is predictable and i can take on/off ramps more aggressively than i should. there is an expansion joint i hit at slow speeds 4x a week and it is horrible, but nearly equally horrible in my sedan on Ohlins Road&Track monotube coilovers. i keep circling back to this thread as i re-think the 222v/223v for a little softer ride and maybe better articulation, but then get pulled into looking at the "flexi" 612v/615v springs and longer shocks. i wonder whether the IMS shocks would soften expansion joints with a more compliant rebound. i have a road racing background but get lost when turning too many knobs based on seat of the pants feel
The bottoming out was while off roading in desert on desert washes going no faster than 15-30pmh. General rollers and dips and whoops. Had to slow down.
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Why do you want linear over variable?
Maybe flawed logic, but these were the reasons:
1. It seems like many who go variable have to add spacers in one side or in one location just to even even things out. I don’t see threads (maybe I wasn’t looking) about that with OME.
2. I prefer something that rides a little rougher on the road, but is more stable cornering and at higher speeds. Seems like one cannot have both.
3. I’d like a little more than 2” — seems like 166/167 seems good for that. Paired with IMS seems like a good option for mild lift with heavy mall crawling and driving by new drivers.
Very happy with this setup and glad i had this thread for some references. sitting at 22" center hub to fender on all four with all the gear. and still fit in the garage!
I went with 222V / 223V combo with the adjustable poly radius arm bushings set at 2.5 deg, truck drives great.
I went with 222V / 223V combo with the adjustable poly radius arm bushings set at 2.5 deg, truck drives great.
Very nice. What size tires?
Trusty Rusty
SILVER Star
Great looking setup, nice work!
315/75/16 Wildpeak MT's
This is a great stance and what I'm hoping for but I've got 33" shoes, full Front Runner rack, and plan on ARB bumper up front, and potentially the rear bumper. Trying to keep things relatively light. I wonder if the 223V rear springs will prop me up too much without the weight of the bumper. IMO, you've got a perfectly modified Cruiser aesthetically and just what I'm hoping to achieve.
