Modifying Your Front Upper Shock Mount
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.
Even revalved shocks are going to ride harsher due to lack of compression travel if lowered, but any shock will benefit from this mod if the car is lowered. That is to say, what can you reasonably expect any shock to do with 1-2" less travel than that for which it was designed?
Now as far as ride quality goes, there are a lot of factors.
Stock height: revalved will ride better than DeCarbons.
Lowered: same thing.
Even a revalved shock on a slightly lowered car will ride better than a DeCarbon at stock height.
I even prefer the ride quality of my Koni's and 550 lb springs with 2" of compression travel over the stock height, stock shock and stock spring setup, but just barely. The superior stability and handling gives it the advantage. Now I could soften my Koni SA's rebound and make it ride smoother, but what's the fun in that?
Last edited by JasonWW; Nov 19, 2008 at 11:53 AM.
I think you're getting a lot of confusion because people are trying to apply this mod specifically to their cars. What if they're at stock ride height? What if they cut their springs or have an eibach prokit and are still using stock shocks. I understand you completely but most people don't know what spring rate they have and why it will damage shocks over time. Can you put the info out in lets say, different scenario forms with different rates and shock combos? I know this is alot of work but I don't know many people with band saws to cut these things and would be willing to pay u to do it for me.
I think you're getting a lot of confusion because people are trying to apply this mod specifically to their cars. What if they're at stock ride height? What if they cut their springs or have an eibach prokit and are still using stock shocks. I understand you completely but most people don't know what spring rate they have and why it will damage shocks over time. Can you put the info out in lets say, different scenario forms with different rates and shock combos? I know this is alot of work but I don't know many people with band saws to cut these things and would be willing to pay u to do it for me.
Also if you don't have a basic understanding your F-body suspension, or why you would do this "Mod" don't do it.
And if you don't feel comfortable about doing this "Mod", again don't do it.
Furthermore this "Mod" does not require a band-saw, it's only recommended, but I definitely would recommend it!
I actually did mine with a dremel on the first one, which took around 1 hour to do and the other with a hacksaw, which took me around 30 minutes with taking several 5 minute breaks.
Myself I read this thread probably 5 times before I really contemplated doing this "Mod"; I would suggest the same to everyone who has any interest in doing it.
I'm going to do this Jason. I think it's one of the best free mods available to date. Very innovative. I sure hope you're making a lot of money doing smart **** like this for a living.
~Austin
~Austin
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wow and i thought i was a badass when i lowered my car 1.75" and had it still ride decent.
looks pretty good man. i think you're one crazy f*ck, but i have always admired your ideas and the fact that you actually have the ***** to try them. i could never personally tear into my car like that. glad someone out there is crazy enough to come up with new ideas
looks pretty good man. i think you're one crazy f*ck, but i have always admired your ideas and the fact that you actually have the ***** to try them. i could never personally tear into my car like that. glad someone out there is crazy enough to come up with new ideas
My car is lowered with 97 SS SLP springs and Koni DA's. I am not sure just how much it is lowered, but it is noticable in the way it looks and rides. Would performing this mod make my car ride like it was lowered half of the total drop?
I read through this entire thread. I must say that this is a awesome idea, although, I am guessing that this mod is only necessary for those that push their cars that hard. That being said, I have to question my statement because of your above statement that you made on the first page.
My car is lowered with 97 SS SLP springs and Koni DA's. I am not sure just how much it is lowered, but it is noticable in the way it looks and rides. Would performing this mod make my car ride like it was lowered half of the total drop?
My car is lowered with 97 SS SLP springs and Koni DA's. I am not sure just how much it is lowered, but it is noticable in the way it looks and rides. Would performing this mod make my car ride like it was lowered half of the total drop?
when you lower your car, you loose some compression...the compressing of the wheel into the wheel well. you loose about an inch, this is what makes roughens up the ride, you fix that with this mod
So I will notice a difference in ride quality even thought I do not drive my car as aggressively as some?
Wheel travel example below.
stock car : 3 inches travel up and 3 inches travel down
lowered car : 2 inches travel up and 4 inches travel down (pothole ouch!!)
shock mod : 3 inches travel up and 3 inches travel down
It's not really meant for aggressive driving although advantages will be felt as you will have more compression. If you daily drive your car, this is where you feel the difference.
Wheel travel example below.
stock car : 3 inches travel up and 3 inches travel down
lowered car : 2 inches travel up and 4 inches travel down (pothole ouch!!)
shock mod : 3 inches travel up and 3 inches travel down
Wheel travel example below.
stock car : 3 inches travel up and 3 inches travel down
lowered car : 2 inches travel up and 4 inches travel down (pothole ouch!!)
shock mod : 3 inches travel up and 3 inches travel down
i haven't done it yet, but the couple who have say they loved it and in theory should put you to what a stock camaro feels like going over bumps.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.
With this mod you'll gain more than that much travel back. Now since you have progressive springs, all the gains will be in the stiffer 450lb/in. part of the rate. Under normal smooth-ish roads the ride will be the same, but rougher sections, potholes and dips will be noticable less rough.
Wheel travel example below.
stock car : 3 inches travel up and 3 inches travel down
Your lowered car : 2 1/4 inches travel up and 3 3/4 inches travel down (pothole ouch!!)
shock mod : 3 1/4 inches travel up and 2 3/4 inches travel down
(Like off-road vehicle = good
)I don't know if I've said this or not, but
this mod is recalibrating your bumpstops.
The factory has to limit wheel travel very much on the safe side. Just from my experiments, there is easily an extra inch of room in the fenders for the tire to go up more. We are just taking advantage of that extra space.
If you lower the car an inch and then move the bumpstops up an inch, you've compensated. Ride quality is back to where is was originally.
As far as aggressive driving and rough roads are concerned, more suspension travel helps keeps the tires on the ground and allows the suspension to keep the car more level. More grip and a smoother ride is good for racers as well as the average guy.
Last edited by JasonWW; Mar 8, 2009 at 04:20 PM.
According to this page you probably have either a 1/2" or 3/4" drop. http://www.angelfire.com/my/fastcar/suspension.html
With this mod you'll gain more than that much travel back. Now since you have progressive springs, all the gains will be in the stiffer 450lb/in. part of the rate. Under normal smooth-ish roads the ride will be the same, but rougher sections, potholes and dips will be noticable less rough.
I don't know if I've said this or not, but
this mod is recalibrating your bumpstops.
The factory has to limit wheel travel very much on the safe side. Just from my experiments, there is easily an extra inch of room in the fenders for the tire to go up more. We are just taking advantage of that extra space.
If you lower the car an inch and then move the bumpstops up an inch, you've compensated. Ride quality is back to where is was originally.
As far as aggressive driving and rough roads are concerned, more suspension travel helps keeps the tires on the ground and allows the suspension to keep the car more level. More grip and a smoother ride is good for racers as well as the average guy.
With this mod you'll gain more than that much travel back. Now since you have progressive springs, all the gains will be in the stiffer 450lb/in. part of the rate. Under normal smooth-ish roads the ride will be the same, but rougher sections, potholes and dips will be noticable less rough.
I don't know if I've said this or not, but
this mod is recalibrating your bumpstops.
The factory has to limit wheel travel very much on the safe side. Just from my experiments, there is easily an extra inch of room in the fenders for the tire to go up more. We are just taking advantage of that extra space.
If you lower the car an inch and then move the bumpstops up an inch, you've compensated. Ride quality is back to where is was originally.
As far as aggressive driving and rough roads are concerned, more suspension travel helps keeps the tires on the ground and allows the suspension to keep the car more level. More grip and a smoother ride is good for racers as well as the average guy.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 6,814
Likes: 3
From: Hou. TX.