Coilover Brackets by ME00stepside (NO LONGER AVAILABLE AS OF 7/23/2021)
#101
I based my designs off of many things: the drawings with measurements posted a while back of the RCD ones, examining everything on the suspension itself, plus making cardboard mockups and revising things based on what I observed. As far as I've been able to tell without actually having things bolted in place, it will all line up properly. However, if I need to tweak anything once I get to that point, it's not a problem. Everything was cut CNC, and I can easily revise the program to make any changes.
As for the top spacer, I haven't done anything on that yet. That's a very simple thing to design once everything is in place. There's no sense in trying to design something like that before hand when you can easily get exact measurement information once the main part is in place. I also still have to work on the spacers that will go on the inside of the mounts. I need to get the width measurements of the eyelets from all the coilover brands to see what sizes I'll need to offer. Mine will use 1/4", as the collar on the spherical bearings is exactly 1", and the space inside the mounts are 1 1/2", but looking at some other shocks, I may have to make some thinner ones as well.
As for the top spacer, I haven't done anything on that yet. That's a very simple thing to design once everything is in place. There's no sense in trying to design something like that before hand when you can easily get exact measurement information once the main part is in place. I also still have to work on the spacers that will go on the inside of the mounts. I need to get the width measurements of the eyelets from all the coilover brands to see what sizes I'll need to offer. Mine will use 1/4", as the collar on the spherical bearings is exactly 1", and the space inside the mounts are 1 1/2", but looking at some other shocks, I may have to make some thinner ones as well.
#102
The following users liked this post:
Morgy23410 (02-07-2024)
#103
The following users liked this post:
Morgy23410 (02-07-2024)
#107
Also, the price I quoted was just brackets, and it seems that most want a kit, so there will be other components involved. Once I get a set installed, I will put together all the information I have and post up prices for brackets and kits so that each request is satisfied.
#109
#110
OK, so good news and bad news time.
Good news: uppers are perfect.
Bad news: lowers needed a slight redesign, but nothing major. Easy thing to do. Hopefully I'll have the new plates within a few days.
Bad news for me, but good information for all: you can not use coilovers with the shock body at the bottom, like the Strange ones I have. You must use shocks with the shaft at the bottom, like Fox or King. Also, highly recommended, if not necessary, are the extended eyelets for them. I'm ordering my new shocks and hope to have them by next weekend to fit the units with the new plates.
Anyway, here are a couple of pics. I tried to snap a shot showing why the style I have will not work, but basically you don't have enough room between the bump stop and the CV joint with the shock body at the bottom.
Good news: uppers are perfect.
Bad news: lowers needed a slight redesign, but nothing major. Easy thing to do. Hopefully I'll have the new plates within a few days.
Bad news for me, but good information for all: you can not use coilovers with the shock body at the bottom, like the Strange ones I have. You must use shocks with the shaft at the bottom, like Fox or King. Also, highly recommended, if not necessary, are the extended eyelets for them. I'm ordering my new shocks and hope to have them by next weekend to fit the units with the new plates.
Anyway, here are a couple of pics. I tried to snap a shot showing why the style I have will not work, but basically you don't have enough room between the bump stop and the CV joint with the shock body at the bottom.
The following users liked this post:
Morgy23410 (02-07-2024)
#111
#112
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8530)
The unfortunate thing is that you can't get extended eyelets for the Strange coilovers, because they're part of the body. I don't think I have read every coilover thread, so I must have missed the one on the eyelets. At any rate, it's moving forward. I'll get it done soon enough. Pics will continue as I make progress.
The unfortunate thing is that you can't get extended eyelets for the Strange coilovers, because they're part of the body. I don't think I have read every coilover thread, so I must have missed the one on the eyelets. At any rate, it's moving forward. I'll get it done soon enough. Pics will continue as I make progress.
#114
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8530)
I had considered trimming the bump stops, but since I'm working on a kit, I want it to require as little vehicle modification as possible.
Also, for a SuperLifted truck, cutting the bump stops wouldn't be an issue, but for a stock height one, you should still have them.
I had considered trimming the bump stops, but since I'm working on a kit, I want it to require as little vehicle modification as possible.
Also, for a SuperLifted truck, cutting the bump stops wouldn't be an issue, but for a stock height one, you should still have them.
#115
For my FOX coilover's the part number is #213-01-138-A, and those will work on a Series 2.0 setup w/ the standard 5/8" Shaft. Off the top of my head they are something like 3 3/4" from center of heim to the end of the rod end where the shaft threads into. They were like $50 for the pair.
In my picture you can see the extended ones as well as the unused standard length ones.
Here is the main thread I put most of my info...this is perhaps one of the threads KLC was talking about: https://www.ranger-forums.com/showth...ilover+sadness
14 pages of really good info....that may save some people headaches!
As far as the bumpstop relocation, I'm interested to see if you can come up with anything, because from all the research I have seen; you really have to trim that off in order to fit the spring in. Even the "kit" from ORW required this.
I have purchased a trim to fit "universal" bump stop replacement that I was planning on making work somehow/someway.
Last edited by logan03CO; 09-26-2011 at 05:02 AM.
The following users liked this post:
Morgy23410 (02-07-2024)
#116
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8530)
OK some good news for me. I checked with Strange Engineering, and I can mount my shocks either way. They don't offer extended rod ends, but I'll design my own and have my brother-in-law machine them for me. I'm going to see if he'll be able to do it this week. If all goes well, I'm still looking at having it all together within the next week or so.
OK some good news for me. I checked with Strange Engineering, and I can mount my shocks either way. They don't offer extended rod ends, but I'll design my own and have my brother-in-law machine them for me. I'm going to see if he'll be able to do it this week. If all goes well, I'm still looking at having it all together within the next week or so.
#117
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8530)
OK some good news for me. I checked with Strange Engineering, and I can mount my shocks either way. They don't offer extended rod ends, but I'll design my own and have my brother-in-law machine them for me. I'm going to see if he'll be able to do it this week. If all goes well, I'm still looking at having it all together within the next week or so.
OK some good news for me. I checked with Strange Engineering, and I can mount my shocks either way. They don't offer extended rod ends, but I'll design my own and have my brother-in-law machine them for me. I'm going to see if he'll be able to do it this week. If all goes well, I'm still looking at having it all together within the next week or so.
#120
I've already designed the new rod ends, and sent the file to my brother-in-law to have him make me a couple. Here's a quick shot of the factory one, and the screen shot of the one in Solidworks. For some reason, the crazy JPEG compression on the screen shot is horrible, and the cell phone shot of the original isn't exactly clear, but you get the idea.
Last edited by ME00Stepside; 09-27-2011 at 05:23 AM. Reason: grammar owned me
#121
I've read all the pages of this thread but I may have missed it somewhere, but are you just trying to get better ride quality out of you dd? And I saw mention of a lot of additional hardware, but is that just planned to be associated wiht a bolt-on kit? I don't know much about it but it seems to me the pics I've seen here and elsewhere just appear to be the brackets fabbed up and welded to the frame, the only "hardware" being shims to center the shock in the bracket, but please correct me if I'm wrong.
#122
Wirelessly posted (Blackberry 8530)
The purpose of coilovers is definitely ride quality. For a DD, this would be pretty much a bolt-on. However, if you plan on doing any off-roading, the gussets are necessary. The brackets bolt to your shock towers and to your lower control arms. They are not welded in. The hardware is what's needed to mount the brackets, and to secure the shocks to them.
The purpose of coilovers is definitely ride quality. For a DD, this would be pretty much a bolt-on. However, if you plan on doing any off-roading, the gussets are necessary. The brackets bolt to your shock towers and to your lower control arms. They are not welded in. The hardware is what's needed to mount the brackets, and to secure the shocks to them.