Custom made coilovers

Ok, so no one makes anything more than springs for my car. So now Im left wondering if I can get a good set of lowering springs and have sleeves and all made to fit my shocks giving the fact my shocks are [I]supposedly[/I] pretty good shocks and can handle this type of adjustment.

Will this work or are my hopes to high?

why dont you try a custom performance shop like peak, those truck or race shops. you can get custom springs that they offer and you can buy the adjustable sleeves there also. it will be like a ground control/skunk2 etc. setup :shrug:

Well I got a buddy that works in a machine shop who gets away with making some stuff here and there and a friend that still attends a Technical school that may be willing to help me out.

I have been thinking about that though. But for the cost I could get a set of K&W's for the Jaguar S-Type which one source said may fit and another said they could be made to fit but neither were positive of either or working in the end.

wow. k&w huh. thats pretty darn baller.
do you know any other buicks/cadillacs that share similar suspensions. if you do im sure you can have a set custom made. for example, if you know the spindle specs off another vehicle, and the camber/pillowball plates. thats a good majority, besides weight distribution and overall weight of vehicle id say.
goodluck
Charley

The S-Type shares lots of similarities with the Lincoln LS and all I could find for the S-Type was K&W.


Im trying to find the damn specs with out having to measure them myself ( I wouldn't know where the hell to start with doing that myself ) but I cant dig anything up yet.

jag owners.... huh.  actually el presidente of this board may be able to help, idk, he is familiar with jags etc i believe. but as for registering jag boards and finding out technical specs, i bet youd be hard pressed to find close to none. especially for this subject.
try contacting k&w or something. weight im sure is fine, so whatever the spring rates are would probably be good, but now the upper plates and lower spindle connector, is where the issue lies.sp?
goodluck
Charley

or bite the bullet and go measure yourself. sucker... ah ha. jk. the front topmounts should be rather easy, most likely 3 bolt. bust out the measuring tape and take note. same goes for the spindle, usually two bolts, or 1, just measure the bolt distances, thread and pitch and depth of mounts. id say it probably takes a good day to pull down suspension, and measure everything.  and snap some pics when youre done, so that you can send off the photos for reference. 
like i said, try contacting k&w, and let them know what youve accomplished on your behalf to go coilovers, and tell them the specs, and maybe... one of the techs could pull something up and send it to you. i find that usually if youre showing some signs with data at attempts, somebody will shine some light.
Charley

K&W never got back to me. A few other LS owners I know got a mixed response which led me to think K&W's customer service outsources to people that don't know jack.


Im about to get a damn piece of fence post, cut it down, thread it, and add the adjuster and locking washer or what ever they call the things and be done with it.
GHETTO BALLER!

Not really! Just kidding.


EDIT: One of the LS owners supposedly supplied the specs and the response was " we don't have a clue basically, we cant pull the specs our self's".

very true ^^  good luck with the build ?

yeah, what effin retards homo fag cakes monsters. seriously. that type of stuff just pisses me off, when their "tech's" "can't" do something. 
well, im looking around right now, but i need to know what else can cross refernce with your setup. any pics that i can see. try contacting local suspension shops, or offroader sites, or maybe even air suspension shops. or go air.
lol
Charley

Custom making your own coilovers is not something that cannot be done.
I own a y34 and basically there is nothing available stateside for it.  I have done enough research so far on coilovers on similar nissan cars to conclude that its possible mechanically to get this done. 
For my car, the closest i can come to a complete setup is the 350z coilovers. The front and rear suspension geometry is the same as on my y34. The top hats will fit, but i will still have to do custom cut, threading and welding the front spindles. You can start off by purchasing entry level coilovers for your R$D and moving on from there. Be prepared to spend money though. Have a budget..stick to it..

Its a lot of work, if you are cut out for it, i would suggest that you proceed with caution.

Thanks guys! Yeah it pisses me off when such reputable companies pull that shit. I deal with it all the time with companies like those jack asses at Verizon!

Oh yeah and for the cost of getting the K&Ws or a shop to R&D and make me a set for me specifically I could do air, but I'm not in that position to spend that much cash.

eyedea, that's what I was looking for. Thanks. I just wanted support finding out if it would be a hazard or not. What I wanna do use use a set of aftermarket springs with my sport shocks and like I said have my buddies make me the adjusters and sleeves and all. If my shocks blow they blow, live and learn. What else do I have to loose if I wanna succeed?


Charley, thanks man I appreciate it lots! This forum is the shit when you have people like this guy and tons more exist here just like 'em!

Now the thing is that like i said this damn car is a odd ball and I don't know of anything I can cross reference it with besides the S-Type which still has lots of questioning. I gotta get a hold of a camera since my wife recently busted mine and I can take some pics but all the pics online are just generic fill ins unless I can get some members of the other forum I go on to provide me with some.

I e-mailed a few places to get some specs. I dont got much time to do stuff like this.

The only time I have is when the kids are taking a nap ( I should try that once ) since Im at work or playing with them on my days off.

Lets see what I get from these guys. I contacted all the spring companies that make springs for my car ( all whopping 3 companies! ) to get a ID and length of the springs they make. Maybe that might help me cross reference with even at least one of those universal kits if I can find a reputable company for those. All I need is to slam this car and Im set for a bit, I'll be in bliss!

well, if youre still on the prowl for coilovers, then springs are not help, especially for the shock/struts. but yeah, drop springs are definitely a faster, cheaper alternative, if everything is that difficult, id say go UAS.
let us know how it turns out
Charley

i think theres a good chance the jag setup will work with minor mods. i had an s-type couple years ago, and from what i learned your car n the s-type are extremely similar. i think your best bet is to keep digging on info about the k&w

Doesn't the LS share a lot with the Ford Thunderbird models as well? I remember a friend wanting to mod his before he rolled it.

Either way, sweet car and g'luck with the build.

when i called to see if they had coilovers in stock for my car, i remember them asking if i wanted them to weld them or me.Cant you weld the sleeves?

[QUOTE=crxgames;211119]Doesn't the LS share a lot with the Ford Thunderbird models as well? I remember a friend wanting to mod his before he rolled it.

Either way, sweet car and g'luck with the build.[/QUOTE]


Yep. I picked a good one:pat:. I actually didn't even want to do anything with this car at all when I bought it. 

My car before this was a 01 Galant and just as I dumped a good amount of cash into it ( which was [I]almost[/I] as hard to do as this thing )it was totaled so I said the hell with it for a long time.

I saw this and thought well if I wanna keep a car basic I may as well do it with this one cause it can look good basic. It took one other LS to change my mind. Then after that I noticed everyone doing something with this car really is making it worst so I found this site and.....:shrug:


[QUOTE]when i called to see if they had coilovers in stock for my car, i remember them asking if i wanted them to weld them or me.Cant you weld the sleeves?[/QUOTE]


Im not sure I understand, weld them to what? If I go with just making a set Im taking off one front and one rear shock and letting my friends go from there. I guess they will just measure the shocks diameter and make a sleeve out of some good tubing, thread it,...etc,...etc...

Didnt make sense to me ethier but here's a pic i dunno what part needs to be welded. Thats what they sent me the pic.
[IMG]http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/3782/coilovered3.jpg[/IMG]

Okay well if you wanna make your own heres a forum of a mustang custom coilover made but i dunno if it's the same for any car.Hope it helped.

[URL]http://www.fiero.nl/forum/Forum2/HTML/046456.html[/URL]


what kind of car you got again?

oo Lincoln ls.

Thanks for that link! Thats kind of what I had in mind which is why I was trying to get some measurements on springs. I may be able to just piece some things together like that to get a feel of it and then have my buddies do something for me straight up.


Thanks.

anytime.

It may be easier to go with a bag setup...

Some people cant afford that.:sad:

At the cost of custom coilovers, it may be almost as much...besides, with bags it'll be bolt on, go cheap on 'custom' stuff, and you'll end up paying even more in the end...

^^^True but also pay expensive for custom coilover equipment with out technology or experience you'll also be paying more.Well he has a point try bags if its not your style or taste i guess call the number i gave you.But again search there has to be something.

I want bags, I want bags bad but I just know I wont be able to afford that for a while.

The only other guy that I know with a bagged LS said it takes lot more work than you would think.

I got a off topic question what do you guys do about your fender liners/splash guards when you roll the fenders? 

Thats another area Im stuck in. I need to keep them on and I need to be able to remove one cause they stuff all kinds of shit in it like my fuel filter and crap.

^^ Dunno but coilovers run the same price as bags.Depends on the brand though like if im correct showtime has bags that slam the frame and air runner has more of a smooth pshhhhhh type?
 
Well good luck on finding something to work just hope you dont rush it too fast and get smoething or do something you'll regret.

hmmm just go uas bags already. if cost is such an issue, i dont think doing anything custom is a good idea. custom usually costs more and youre never sure if its gonna work out properly. suspension is a critical safety component

[QUOTE=jaynick808;211352]hmmm just go uas bags already. if cost is such an issue, i dont think doing anything custom is a good idea. custom usually costs more and youre never sure if its gonna work out properly. suspension is a critical safety component[/QUOTE]

=)  You know you want to 

[IMG]http://www.universalairsuspension.com/_images/gallery/DSC00158.jpg[/IMG]

^That's the deciding factor right there! LOL.

Check this out.
How to build Coilovers for a Corolla
Don't need to speak Japanese to get the general idea.

Maybe you can apply this idea to your own.
[YOUTUBE]7KWCDDBbpNc[/YOUTUBE]

Found some in English Same car though but good ideas here.
[YOUTUBE]EFMCvF_Fp54[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]3Mz6yij6JsU[/YOUTUBE]
[YOUTUBE]PQ6dc01JD4U[/YOUTUBE]

[quote=1_VIPd_LS;211299]I want bags, I want bags bad but I just know I wont be able to afford that for a while.

The only other guy that I know with a bagged LS said it takes lot more work than you would think.

I got a off topic question what do you guys do about your fender liners/splash guards when you roll the fenders? 

Thats another area Im stuck in. I need to keep them on and I need to be able to remove one cause they stuff all kinds of shit in it like my fuel filter and crap.[/quote]

no you dont, your fuel filter isnt going to be hurt by water, neither is anythign else on your car.

take the fender liners out. dont be a pansy

[QUOTE=jaynick808;211352]hmmm just go uas bags already. if cost is such an issue, i dont think doing anything custom is a good idea. custom usually costs more and youre never sure if its gonna work out properly. suspension is a critical safety component[/QUOTE] 
The bigger the risk the greater the reward. If sure there are quite a few cars out there with some ridiculous stance that have some custom work to pull it off.

yeah but he wants air anyway. i could see if he ONLY would ride on coils. i just dont think experimenting with a custom suspension is a good idea if your on a budget. you could easily spend more than what it would cost you to get some uas bags. but hey if he wants to try it, go for it! i guess id rather just see it layed out =)

i know booja had amr engineer have them make a custom set for him. email them and see if they can make one or not.
[url]http://www.amrengineering.com/[/url]

[QUOTE=Yokotas13;215411]no you dont, your fuel filter isnt going to be hurt by water, neither is anythign else on your car.

take the fender liners out. dont be a pansy[/QUOTE]

Really I need to keep them on. I was rejected inspection twice!

Besides the fuel filter, when I can I'll take a pic of the dozen or so wiring harnesses that are protected by nothing at all but that splash guard. I already have nicks in my paint also from rocks flying up on the underside and making them funny star shaped nicks.

Damicci, thanks! thats a cool clip!

That stance on the blue LS looks nice but the rest almost made me puke!

[QUOTE=1_VIPd_LS;217232]Really I need to keep them on. I was rejected inspection twice!

Besides the fuel filter, when I can I'll take a pic of the dozen or so wiring harnesses that are protected by nothing at all but that splash guard. I already have nicks in my paint also from rocks flying up on the underside and making them funny star shaped nicks.

Damicci, thanks! thats a cool clip!

That stance on the blue LS looks nice but the rest almost made me puke![/QUOTE]

We just do suspension, I don't judge the cars. =)

[quote=1_VIPd_LS;217232]Really I need to keep them on. I was rejected inspection twice!

Besides the fuel filter, when I can I'll take a pic of the dozen or so wiring harnesses that are protected by nothing at all but that splash guard. I already have nicks in my paint also from rocks flying up on the underside and making them funny star shaped nicks.

Damicci, thanks! thats a cool clip!

That stance on the blue LS looks nice but the rest almost made me puke![/quote]
no really, you need to not  be a pansy and realize that being in the VIP style category, you cant care about nicks.  all you need to care about is your fitment and stance, the rest will come later. fender liners have no place in this forum...anywhere

So, I just shouldn't care about my paint, my electrical system, fracturing my fuel line and if I can even drive my car cause here in PA in the US we do need to pass inspection to do so. Sorry if keeping my paint and being able to drive my car makes me a pansy!

weak
money talks at inspection stations

why dont you relocate it? get some fittings, line and move it.
relocate your harness, i do it on all my cars. 
you gotta pay to play my man, insepctions is NOT an excuse. our inspections in japan are WAY more stringent than yours ever will be

How is it weak? All I see are people with nice paint jobs that wanna keep them fresh.

I know of lick and sticks and all it takes is the cost of a sticker. I have been going to one for at least 10 years but for my own sake they wont let me do it. I took it personal when they told me no and thought it was a joke so I went to another and had the same reaction. If it were some other cars they said they wouldn't have cared but my wires and pump are in the full line of fire.

Relocating everything is something I have thought about which is why I questioned. To see what other options people have came up with. 

When Im trying to keep this car a daily driver and avoid the hassles I was so fast to tango with in the past its NOT a excuse at all but to me just a valid reason.

Ehh excuses

Execution ftw

might be able to find some ideas on club lexus hahah

More like Elitism wins all!

Not really

It's more like
People who do their own work and have dedication to make something work at whatever cost wins


If that means eliteism sign me up

[quote=1_VIPd_LS;217232]Really I need to keep them on. I was rejected inspection twice!

Besides the fuel filter, when I can I'll take a pic of the dozen or so wiring harnesses that are protected by nothing at all but that splash guard. I already have nicks in my paint also from rocks flying up on the underside and making them funny star shaped nicks.
[/quote]

You won't get the effect you want here if you need to keep them in. It just won't work, because it's physically impossible for you to have a flush fitment and ride low enough with those fender liners in. They will rub, and they will get mangled. If you need to keep them in for inspection, just put them in for inspection. then take them back out. 

As for wire harnesses, just take off your fender, and relocate them higher, or run them through the frame (harder to do, because you have to cut and splice all the wires.)

Fuel filter is no big deal, I had cars where they were located right next to the side skirt. Completely within any element coming at it, so it will be fine. It's not like it has a pump on it, it's just a filter, a canister with paper in it.

Hydroholics.net coming soon...

[email]info@hydroholics.net[/email]
myspace.com/hydroholicsllc

[IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v373/trefiveincognito/BrianLS12.jpg[/IMG]