There is only one thing potentially different between these two cars. . .spring rate (and it may be the same).
So, if either car is set up for a ride height with two people (driver and passenger) and a plush ride (low spring rate), they may both experience bottoming out if enough weight is added to the vehicle (especially in the rear as the spring rate is lighter than the front).
Take the same two cars and put higher spring rates in them for a more performance vehicle, and the bottoming out will not be as severe when weight is added.
As you can see, if the travel remains the same there is virtually no difference as both cars have 5-inches of travel and springs holding them up.
Now, if you are truly concerned with changes in load affecting ride quality you need a coil over with an adjustable spring rate. . .which just happens to be our Shockwave unit. It doesn't care how much weight is on the vehicle as it can adapt to each situation.
I hope you find what you are looking for. For me, for example, I plan on changing my air bag suspension (which is perfectly fine for my daily driving) to ride techs coil-over setup as soon as they release it for my 70 chevy pick-up. I know that ride tech test their product far beyond the limits of my driving/trucks ability. I would personally go with a front and rear setup from the same manufacturer. For example, ride tech, hot chkis, or art Morrison.
One thing to compare with the coil overs to the leaf springs, is that leaf springs are progressive rate, that means that the more they're loaded the more rate they get, which is better for the dynamic loading mentioned earlier. Front coil overs don't perform BETTER and a traditional setup, but they do the same thing weighing less. You can have ride height adjustability without a coil over too, I have traditional style springs in a bucket that adjust the installed height, that way I can adjust the ride height(and cross weights) by adjusting the installed height of the spring with no cutting and no special tools.
one thing that I was planning for my future build was to use the F55 magnetic ride control system from a donor CTS-V or Zo6. What do you guys think ?
Mine will be a daily driver too. I am wanting the best of both worlds, comfort and performance.
sorry if I hijacked the thread. It just seems like the same type of question
The magnetorheological shocks are a great idea for ride quality and sport feel. However, I can tell you that the computer and software running these things are very much tuned to each vehicle (we work with the OEM supplier of these shocks). Though it may work I have a feeling the first attempts will be like trying to put the fuel injection from one motor onto another relatively different motor. Will it run? Maybe. Will it run correctly? Likely not.
I cannot wait for someone to try them. We've been playing with some stuff for a while, but I'd like to see someone fit them in their garage.
The MR shocks do not address the weight problem, however. The shock can only control how fast or slow the suspension moves. It is the job of the spring to hold the vehicle up.
The magnetorheological shocks are a great idea for ride quality and sport feel. However, I can tell you that the computer and software running these things are very much tuned to each vehicle (we work with the OEM supplier of these shocks). Though it may work I have a feeling the first attempts will be like trying to put the fuel injection from one motor onto another relatively different motor. Will it run? Maybe. Will it run correctly? Likely not.
I cannot wait for someone to try them. We've been playing with some stuff for a while, but I'd like to see someone fit them in their garage.
The MR shocks do not address the weight problem, however. The shock can only control how fast or slow the suspension moves. It is the job of the spring to hold the vehicle up.
As a guy who has used QA1'a,Strange,Afco,And ridetech.The ride tech's are far better ride qualtiy than any of the other's I have used.You will be much happier w/ the ride tech's in ride qualtiy,Build qualtiy,Customer service.The ride tech's also come w/mounting spacer's,which is a real nice option.
Brian Hobaugh SCCA National Tour June 2014
First Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Ever Built
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