Ride height adjustment - how many threads?

So based on what I'm reading adjusting the collar on my coilover has the potential to be a pain once they're on the truck. So I'd like to get the height as close as I can before putting them on. I've heard ride height is 2 to 1 in inches. 1" of thread is 2" ride height. I've also heard every 4 to 5 threads showing is about an 1". Are these numbers accurate for a fully stock DC with no heavy bumper? This is a 700 lb spring.

Here is what they came preset at...im shooting for 3" on the nut.

 

That gap is about 3/4"

 

@Brock
I suggest measuring your vehicle as it sits now and compare the before and after measurements. It's very difficult to determine ride height using just thread showing. Every truck is different and a 1" thread showing on some models/trims will yield 2" over stock. The heavier models/trims will yield less.

Comparing before and after will allow you to figure out how your vehicle changes due to a change in thread showing. With solid base lines you can figure out your heights prior to adjustment.

 

I just installed fox coilovers and adjusting the height is very easy. Jack up one side of the truck til the tire is off the ground. Spray the threads with WD-40. Loosen the set screw on the collar, not too much. Then i use a 3/8 punch from harbor freight to rotate the collar. Tighten the set screw. Put truck back on the ground. Drive back and forth a few times. Re-measure.

 

I tried rotating the collar and couldn't move it. Took it into the local shop and had them put it on the spring compressor. Gave it four more turns (preset was 10) and im hoping for 2.75"-3" lift when it's on the vehicle.

 

Did you spray with WD-40? What are you using to rotate the collar?

 

No... They're brand new so didn't think wd40 would've made a difference. Elka recommended releasing spring tension anyway. Used the punch that was included with the shocks. I didn't spend too much time on it... It didn't move after I pushed on it a couple times so I said ef it and brought it into the shop. Once they compressed the spring I could spin it by hand pretty easily.

 

Next time just jack it up to where you can spin the front tire, spray the threads with wd-40, buy the harbor freight punch (3/8 is what i use on my Fox's) and you should be good to go. Should only need to loosen the set screw not even a full turn (too much and you'll jump the threads and it's a mess after that).

 

You should be around 1-1.5” of thread with the 700lb spring. It will bind. You can go 2-2.5” with the 600lb spring.

 

I have the 700 lb spring. You think I'm going to bind with it set the way it currently is?

 

Try to stay close to spec. Just stay between 1-1.5”. Some will say don’t go over 1” but I have mine at 1.5 and all is good.

 

I have 15 threads showing and that measures at a hair under 1" so I should be good.

 

I see conflicting Info though. Some say that every 1/2" of exposed thread equates to 1" of lift, meaning 1.5" would equal 3" of lift. Others say every 5 turns equals 1" of lift, 15 turns equals 3" of lift.

They don't equal out to the same since I have 15 turns and only 7/8" of exposed thread.

So, Which one is it?

 

So I just found out that the C12.5x406 spring I have on these Elka shocks is not the spring rate that is designed for the 2-3" of lift height. Elka says that the 13.4x406 Spring (750 lb) is the correct spring for 2-3" of front lift height. So they are shipping me the correct spring so I can swap them.

There seems to be a lot of misunderstanding about these shocks. For a while they were using the eibach springs (I think 700 lb) on their shocks, and I believe this is what @Toytec Lifts has in stock (even though their picture shows the black springs which are the Elka Springs). The eibachs are the silver springs that @Bailey has on his shocks. I'm not sure on the ride height specs for the eibach stuff as that did not apply to me.

The shocks I ordered from @DSM Micah are C12.5x406 (700 lb spring) which is rated for the 0-2" of lift, these are the springs that @jberry813 has on his tundra.

Elka says that if my ride height is adjust at 2.75" at the ABSOLUTE maximum, I will have 1/4" play left at maximum shock compression before I get spring binding. Anything over 2.75" of lift height and I run the risk of spring bind with the C12.5x406 Spring rate. In other words, its physically possibly, even if unlikely or uncommon. This of course, all just depends on how big of an impact they take.

As a side note: Frank at Elka has been excellent in getting this resolved for me. Communication has been outstanding and he has made sure to get me all the correct technical information from the engineers and their modeling software to ensure that I have the correct spring rate for what I'm wanting to do in terms of ride height and corresponding spring rate.

5 star customer service rating from this guy!

 

I'll tell you that with a 700lb spring, you don't want too much preload or you will feel the shock topping out when going up the face of whoops (front end becomes lightly unweighted at the top) or when coming off of big rocks.

 

@Brocksw
Max thread showing is different for each shock manufacturer and spring. The stack up components for each manufacture is different so max thread showing is not a universal standard but rather changes from app to app. I recommend contacting the manufacture and asking what that max thread showing is for combination of shock & spring.

 

@Icon_Adrian so what’s the 411 for tomorrow.. any good stuff for the tundras?

 

This assumes the thread pitch is the same on each shock. Not totally sure about your coil overs but I just adjusted my Toytec Bosses this afternoon. It's really not that hard. I haven't been counting threads though. I'm measuring from the bottom of the nut to center of the lower bolt head.