Guys, I'm going nuts trying to figure this out, hoping someone here can shed some clarity.
I'm currently running a QA1 shock in the rear with a 8" 500lb spring. When the car is seated at the ride height I want, the shock is compressed an appropriate amount in its travel range. This shock only allows ride height adjustment via spring perch, there is no secondary height adjustment.
When I jack the rear of the car up, the spring comes unseated by about 1/4". ie, "negative preload". I'm guessing it's pretty unlikely for the rear wheels to come off the ground in street driving, but it's possible in racing and this might result in a loss of control. Therefore I'd like to maintain my ride height but have a bit of preload on the spring.
Do I need a shorter spring or a longer spring? What's messing me up is the lack of preload.
I could also think of this problem as if I added in the appropriate preload, it would end up raising the car by about 1/2". In that case, since I want to go lower from there (back down 1/2"), I'd need a shorter spring, right? Or would the shorter spring result in even more negative preload?
I know helper springs exist, but is it possible to solve this problem with longer or shorter main springs?
Appreciate any help!
I'm currently running a QA1 shock in the rear with a 8" 500lb spring. When the car is seated at the ride height I want, the shock is compressed an appropriate amount in its travel range. This shock only allows ride height adjustment via spring perch, there is no secondary height adjustment.
When I jack the rear of the car up, the spring comes unseated by about 1/4". ie, "negative preload". I'm guessing it's pretty unlikely for the rear wheels to come off the ground in street driving, but it's possible in racing and this might result in a loss of control. Therefore I'd like to maintain my ride height but have a bit of preload on the spring.
Do I need a shorter spring or a longer spring? What's messing me up is the lack of preload.
I could also think of this problem as if I added in the appropriate preload, it would end up raising the car by about 1/2". In that case, since I want to go lower from there (back down 1/2"), I'd need a shorter spring, right? Or would the shorter spring result in even more negative preload?
I know helper springs exist, but is it possible to solve this problem with longer or shorter main springs?
Appreciate any help!