Also, has anyone come up with a reliable solution to adding coilovers to the rear? With either trailing arm or 4-link?

 

I'm not positive, but it seems you're confused about what they meant by preload. Preload just refers to the tension on the spring and is adjustable up and down the shock body to get desired corner weighting and ride height.
Your shorter 8" coil probably lacks the range to match your longer shock and will run out of preload adjustment (one of the reasons you have to go to such a stiff coil when going shorter with them). To go up, just tighten preload on coil, to go down, loosen it... same concept on a dirt bike or mountain bike if you've ever set up suspension on those for sag/ride height.
Also your short coil may float when shock is fully extended.





Depends on your ride height.
For many of us who are lowered around 4"+ up front, the collapsed dimension on that longer travel shock is too long and would bottom out on itself and restrict up travel.

 

Would it be better to use their 5.2 stroke shock due to the range of the compression/extension?

Coil-Overs :: Coilover Shock - 5.2" Stroke - HQ Series - RideTech.com - Suspension Specialist - Online Store

Also, do the strongarms have any drop in them?

Thanks.[/QUOTE]



dont make the mistake of getting these, these will lower the truck at lease 4" or better. Ride Tech doesnt state this, but to match the shocks i have from RT i went with these,Had to modify them to work cause they dropped the truck on my front tires and didnt have enough shock for the ride height i was looking for!


i should have went with these and added a shock mount!

 

For the OP that measured 13" it would seem the 11.225" to 16.425 would be a good choice. Or would you want a lower compressed height over a higher extended height?

From what I read these coilovers alone give a 2" drop which is what I am looking for.

 

Thanks for the info Skeet. I definitely do not want to go that low.

EDIT:

Actually, could you just use a 12 or 14" spring and a 6.3" stroke shock to make up for it?

 

after rereading my statement i guess i should have worded it a little better. the tech i talked to was telling me i needed to add preload to the spring, saying i needed a considerable amount. the only preload i have is just enough so that the coil doesnt float at the shocks full extended length.

 

I had thought about using the 5.1" stroke shocks but doing the math at my desired ride hight it was too close to bottoming out the shock - not enough travel

Theoretically yes you should be able to run a longer shock/spring setup to compensate for the drop in the strong arms

To me this would be worth it to gain travel

 

Plus it seems as though the SA provide better geometry for ball joint angle. They are just damn expensive.

 

Yes and ideally you would want to pair them with the uca's as well or run into my problem with horrible balljoint angles lol

 

I wonder if a 6.3" stroke is too much travel?