Coilover Shock Ride Height Mockup Tool
I’ve been building a 4-link rear suspension for my LS powered Pro Touring Chevy truck, and one of the critical aspects of getting the 4-link set up correctly is to get the ride height mocked up. It's also important to get all the links and brackets positioned so the system will work properly. I don’t want to buy the coilover springs until I know what the finished weight of my truck will be, so I can get the correct spring rates. This is where the Speedway Motors Coilover Shock Ride Height Mockup Tool, part # 916-36037, comes in handy. I will be able to use the mockup tool to setup my suspension, and it will also allow me to weigh the truck when it is completely assembled to get accurate corner weights.
My first step was to mock up the body on the frame and get the chassis to the ride height I wanted the truck to end up with.
The mockup tools allow for adjustment from 13.500” to 21.00” in length. If needed, the tool could be cut down and re-drilled for the pin if a shorter length shock will be used. It also comes with reducer bushings to use 1/2” bolts instead of 5/8” if needed.
The RideTech Coilover Shocks I’m using, part # 768-24169901, on the rear end of my application have 6.3” of total travel, and RideTech specifies an installed height of 16.00”. As you can see, the shock without the spring extends to over 19” and that would prove difficult to work around to setup my brackets. I set the mockup tool to be 16.0” eye to eye, just as the shock should set when the truck is assembled and the correct spring rate is selected.
I now have the mockup coilover in position so I can design my upper shock mounts and position everything correctly.
Of course the mockup tool has a much smaller diameter than the loaded coilover shock, so I used the RideTech shock to help me determine clearance issues.
When I get the truck completely assembled and back together, I will weigh it on racecar scale pads (with the mockup tool in place of all four coilovers), and I will have a weight that I can start working with.
I’ll have to weigh the mockup tools and subtract half of that weight from the unsprung weight, and half from the sprung weight. Then weigh the complete coilover assembly with the spring, and add half of that weight to the unsprung, and half to the sprung weight. With this data I should have solid numbers to determine my spring rates.
RideTech has a great spring rate calculator on their website, which I will be using to determine my spring rate.
Speedway Motors carries the full line of RideTech coil springs and when I finally get my truck assembled, I will be able to purchase the correct springs.
Bonus Tip:
The coilover mockup tool can also be used in applications like mine where the front suspension is using a factory style a-arm lower mount. I used the RideTech Trunnion Assembly, part # 768-90009990, which is the same part that I will use when I put my front coilover assemblies together. Since my front coilover uses a stud mount on the top, I would remove the heim joint from the mockup tool and use a bolt. This will allow me to get the front end setup correctly, just the same as the rear end.
