another noob suspension question

[Rice86]

car - ae86
use - street+drift+touge+track+collect dust and rust
problem - how to figure what shock length

so car is lowered with some 200mm -220mm springs in the rear of the ae86, forgot exact height of springs...

anyways, yesterday while putting my S series back in teh rear, putting the shocks back in place made me relise how to figure what the length of shocks im going to need but would like someone to check with my thoughts

so when car is on the ground, measure the shock height as its compressed...for example....compressed is 40cm...so ideal shock length at full extention should be about 50cm-60cm?....10cm more...

by looking at the spring being compressed..i think the springs only compress atleast 1-2cm max as its rated 6kg springs..

is this an ideal way to figure out best shock height to suit spring height?...i know theres a proper way but ive read threads and shit and it doesnt make any sense to me so im trying to make it as basic as possible

[ke70dave]

i dont think there is any real "proper" length but you want to try and get your shock to be in about the middle of its travel at static height.

that way you have equal compression and extension.

essentially so long as the shock never tops out, or bottoms out, its alright.

so measure how long the shock is at static height (which i think you already have), and use this as the basis to work out what shock suits your height. use this figure as the mid point of the shock compression. it will take a bit of thinking, but wont be too hard. you will need the compressed and extended lengths of various shock lengths.

[Sam-Q]

as above, also can I suggest a more decriptive thread title

[Rice86]

oh ok...so just make sure it doesnt bottom out and top out

sorry with title name...thread was made a few mins before i left work =p

[Sam-Q]

no complaining just a suggestion to get more help in your queries. Now as Dave wisely said ideally the dampner should be right in the middle of its stroke when the car is on flat ground at normal ride height

[ae86]

buy my shocks they can sit with stock springs but their short stroke im using 200mm springs at the moment with them