TheSamba.com :: View topic

Tue Nov 03, 2009 12:27 pm

Okay gang here is my situation. I have a Spatz buggy with LP front, IRS rear, 3" body lift, suspension seats, T1 tranny, T4 engine. Stock suspension and will be putting in a rollcage for safety and strength. But the hard part is that my wife has a herniated disk (L5 S1) and needs to be comfortable to ride. She loves adventure and I would love to take her up to the dunes with it but am worried about a harsh ride. I have some blind chicken 2x3 arms and could put some longer front arms on. I know this would put more stress on the torsion bars/ leaves, but would it in turn allow a smoother ride? I have KYB shocks on it. 1300 paddles in the back and some tall street tires on the front (205/80/15 if I remember). This would be used for some casual, spirited cruising (okay, an occasional jump with just me in it) and I just want to make my wife comfortable. Any thoughts? Thanks!
Jeff

Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:35 pm

Build a passenger seat with an active suspension on it. Give it little shocks and springs. I know that sounds extreme but thats all i can come up with. Either that or have the doc fuse the vertebra together. That sucks though because then she would be in pain for a while and she would be that less flexable and maneuverable.

Tue Nov 03, 2009 1:39 pm

Ohh wait, i dont think the doc will fuse L5 ans S1 together

Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:22 pm

JiI wrote: I have KYB shocks on it.

KYB's are typically very stiff. A shock upgrade could help soften things up a bit for the wife.

Tue Nov 03, 2009 5:44 pm

My old buggy was a mid travel car and was harsh in the supension area. I got rid of the torsion bars and went with coil overs and it was a much softer ride and easier on the body. now the new car has about 18-20 inches of travel and is an even better ride.

Tue Nov 03, 2009 6:23 pm

piezzi wrote: JiI wrote: I have KYB shocks on it.

KYB's are typically very stiff. A shock upgrade could help soften things up a bit for the wife.

I was thinking you might need them to be a touch stiffer so the suspension isn't totally soft and you have some control of the bounce. GR-2 or Gas-a-just: which is usually softer?
Jeff

Wed Nov 04, 2009 3:28 am

shmoe2k wrote: My old buggy was a mid travel car and was harsh in the supension area. I got rid of the torsion bars and went with coil overs and it was a much softer ride and easier on the body. now the new car has about 18-20 inches of travel and is an even better ride.

Getting too expensive for me. I can't sell a kidney so coilovers are out of the question.
Jeff

Wed Nov 04, 2009 8:29 am

You wont need to use coil overs. You can get a really nice setup is you have the correct T-bars and valve your shocks correctly.

Wed Nov 04, 2009 9:37 am

How do you valve a shock?
Jeff

Wed Nov 04, 2009 10:17 am

You will need to buy shocks that you can valve for starters. I know Fox are user friendly with the valving charts and instructions.

Basically its just removing the piston and getting different valve stacks and reassembling. You can buy rebuild kits that have all the seals needed also.

Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:43 pm

What kind of money are we talking here?
Jeff

Wed Nov 04, 2009 11:24 pm

JiI wrote: What kind of money are we talking here?
Jeff I bought my foxes used for 100 bucks for the front.Weighed my car to get corner weights then took this info to makenzies they charged me 20 bucks per shock to revalve them.These are non res shocks.

I bought the rears for 150 and they were resevoir style foxes happened to be valved for my rear or at least feel very good.

Thu Nov 05, 2009 12:01 am

77charger wrote: JiI wrote: What kind of money are we talking here?
Jeff I bought my foxes used for 100 bucks for the front.Weighed my car to get corner weights then took this info to makenzies they charged me 20 bucks per shock to revalve them.These are non res shocks.

I bought the rears for 150 and they were resevoir style foxes happened to be valved for my rear or at least feel very good.

What valving did you end up with?

Revalves are not that difficult if you know how to take apart the shocks. I think If you buy them new, Fox will revalve them for free.

--Tim