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Thread: Coilovers and slipper springs

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    Spanner Monkey

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    Coilovers and slipper springs

    Hi anyone running coilovers and slipper springs together?

    i know some will state about 6 linking and doing away with leafs, but I already have coilovers and slipper springs and 5 linked atlas so would like to use these without the extra cost of watts and turreted shocks.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Anyone

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Your question doesn't make much sense bud, you say your already 5 linked but not turreted, is that correct?, if so you must have coilovers fitted at an the std shock incline which ain't gona work very weLl. Your best option if your already 5 linked is to turret the car and do away with the slipper springs. It's very unusual to be 5 linked and not turreted tho. A watts link is just a better way of side axle location to a panhard rod which you must have already if you're 5 linked.
    Last edited by Erikmex; 12-10-2015 at 16:38.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    I have turreted coilovers 5 linked with Panard rod ( I read a thread on here leaf or not to leaf to run historics ) where someone said to run slippers with coilovers just wandered if anyone had and how they set them up

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Ok so you're building to historic regs, in that case yes I think you have retain the leaf springs. I've seen both fitted yes, not much setting up to do really just need to get the spring rate right for what your doing.
    Last edited by Erikmex; 12-10-2015 at 19:11.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Why does a 'lay-over' coil over shock not work very well? True it won't control the spring in a linear fashion like if mounted vertically but will still work - probably benefit from a harder spring and accept that the closer the shock is to 45 degrees between it and the axle the damping / springing will get softer! Think Bike shocks - lots of them have been used in a lay down fashion.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Bike shocks pivot, shock and spring at a std escort angle is working at a mechanical disadvantage, that's why they turret them. The aim is to keep as vertical as possible. Even on a bike or mountain bike when the shock is laid over the linkage or movement is set up so the travel is kept linear, on an Escort where it's fixed the load isn't very linear if it's at the std angle.
    Last edited by Erikmex; 12-10-2015 at 19:48.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    20 years ago we tried running 80lb coil over helper springs along side 146lb single leaf slipper springs as a way of stiffening the back end up for Tarmac events. The problem we found was that the springs had to be loosely fitted on the shocker otherwise the ride height would be too high.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    I have that very problem just now, need to go stiffer on the rear but car isn't turreted.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    You could try speaking to a company that makes Commercial Vehicle Springs to see if they can either re temper your Springs or make new ones to a higher poundage Erikmex. The problem is, unless they de camber them the Car still looks like it's on Stilts. No one likes to go silly on deep lowering Blocks.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Yeah good point, would probably be pricey though, I also thought about fitting an ARB on the rear.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Quote Originally Posted by Erikmex View Post
    I also thought about fitting an ARB on the rear.
    Don't do that.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Why, Simon Mauger has a cracking set up on the back of his

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    If my memory serves me right, West Wales Rally Spares do adjustable rear ARB's.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Quote Originally Posted by Erikmex View Post
    Why, Simon Mauger has a cracking set up on the back of his
    Just my experience.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Tell me more then??

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    We tried several set-ups on a Mk1 racecar (220 bhp Pinto) many years ago and in the end the best handling was achieved with a soft rearsuspension: 85 lb/in springs and adjustable dampers set almost to full soft.
    Heavier springs/dampers and/or adding a ARB at the back all gave less grip.
    Idea is to let the front do all the 'work' , but you need a stiff shell otherwise it will flex.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Hmm, I'm not so sure about that, some of the quickest Escorts I know in the UK including the national Tarmac champion car doesn't run that soft. The best handling circuit escort I drove with 380hp had 350lb rear springs, with the right tyres softening defo doesn't increase grip in my experience. 85lbs springs??
    Last edited by Erikmex; 14-10-2015 at 18:33.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Yes 85.
    But there are more ways to build a quick racecar I guess.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Quote Originally Posted by Erikmex View Post
    Why, Simon Mauger has a cracking set up on the back of his
    Simon's current car runs an ARB on the back, it was designed this way from the start. Very thin bar though, will only be a "few" lbs of Force. His old car had an ARB fitted but usually it was disconnected, worked better without, particularly in low grip conditions. More relevant when running bigger wheels and subsequent raised ride height.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Quote Originally Posted by Forest_rallying View Post
    You could try speaking to a company that makes Commercial Vehicle Springs to see if they can either re temper your Springs or make new ones to a higher poundage Erikmex. The problem is, unless they de camber them the Car still looks like it's on Stilts. No one likes to go silly on deep lowering Blocks.
    I may be wrong but I don't think the temper will have much if any effect on stiffness. It's the geometry of the coils that dictates stiffness/spring rate. The temper will alter how far you can stress it before it yields.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Until he wrecked it recently??

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Ford did a multi leaf spring for the Escort that was called a CD6 which was rated at 85lb which was very soft and the CD8 which was 115ib. both of these were for Road and Stage Rallying back in the 70s.

    We seem to be getting our wires crossed here regarding leaf and coil springs fitted to the rear of Erikmex's Escort, I though he wanted to stiffen up the rears without resorting to Coilovers and Turrets. 350lb springs might be okay for smooth circuit Racing but would be far too stiff for bumpy Tarmac Rallying.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    That's exactly what I'm trying to do.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Im no expert but if regs require leaf springs to remain (whether slipper or standard) why would you bother with coilovers? Just get the correct poundage and height leaf springs made up and have the shocks by themselves? We have companies like King Springs over here in Aus which will make you up leaf springs any way you want them.

    I understand leaf springs aren't quiet as efficient as coil, but its still a solid axle (not independent rear) and you have axle location by the 5 link. More springs for the sake of it would just be adding weight? And at the end of the day its just giving rebound.

    The only other thing I can think is coils are a lot easier to swap out for different poundages. Which would be handy/cheaper for different events or testing etc..
    Last edited by evobda2; 23-10-2015 at 02:20.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Your limited to 147lb springs though.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    alot of guys running historic spec rally cars run leaf springs with coilovers but the leaf springs are dummy springs only there to stick with homolagation rules as the coilovers are called spring assistors .grp4 fabrications in ireland sell thoes leaf springs.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    How are you limited to 147lb Erik? Is that regulation thing?
    Like i said we can can get any lb we ask for over here.

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    Re: Coilovers and slipper springs

    Quote Originally Posted by Forest_rallying View Post
    20 years ago we tried running 80lb coil over helper springs along side 146lb single leaf slipper springs as a way of stiffening the back end up for Tarmac events. The problem we found was that the springs had to be loosely fitted on the shocker otherwise the ride height would be too high.

    Messed about with it abit (Same problem )so I'll run turreted bilsteins and slippers

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