Radflo 2 inches for 2.5 inches

[pdxlc200]

Question for the coilover owners out there. I recently upgraded my Old Man Emu front struts to 2.5 Radflo coilovers. They shipped with 14 inch length springs, rated at 600 pounds. To achieve 2.5 inches of lift, I had to crank the coilovers down to 3.0 inches of thread showing at the top of the shock, which was about half an inch further than the max recommended online. I figured it was my fault since I ordered the Radflo's without telling them that I have a TJM bumper.

Ok, so I call Radflo and they recommend I purchase 14 inch length springs, rated at 700 pounds. I buy the springs and now I am achieving 2.5 inches of lift with only 2.0 inches of thread showing at the top of the shock. However, I'm concerned that when I get a winch, that I will need to crank them down another 1/2 or 1 inch to maintain my height.

Now I've noticed that several other people have Fox and Icon's with about 2.5 of lift and ZERO preload on their springs. How is this possible? Do they have springs rated at 800 pounds, or do they simply have longer springs? It seems logical that if I upgraded to 16 inch springs, rated at 700 pounds I wouldn't need to crank my coilovers down my current 2.0 inches, since the springs are 2.0 inches longer? If that's the case, why didn't Radflo just recommend I buy the 16 inch springs in the first place?!

 

[Billfish]

16" springs, 2.5" lift- no preload. Strange that you ended up with 14 inch springs.

 

[pdxlc200]

I knew it... well there goes another $100 for springs and $100 for swap out. I'll give Metaltech a ring. Thanks Bill

 

[Billfish]

I spoke directly with Glen at Radflo to get my order straight, discuss future loads, bull bars etc. He set the specifications of the order based on this. Only once this was sorted out did I place the order through Metaltech (their reseller).

 

[pdxlc200]

Hey Bill, do you have the standard length coilovers or extended? If extended, how much longer are they?

 

[Billfish]

Not sure that there is a "standard" length as such, sorry. They design and tune specifically for your vehicle and I know they come in 14" for those that dont want a lift and 16" for those that do. The springs of course are also rated for different constant loads and to allow for bullbars, winches etc. Of course you can also get significant extra lift by dialling up the preload on the springs.

 

[mark71]

Good info, guys.