SAW pre-load height?

slade-titan · 06-19-2009, 10:01 AM

I recently purchase the extended travel package (extended length SAW c/o, PRG UCAs, C-30 Deaver and rear SAWs) from Greg @ PRG for my 2wd cc Titan. I would like my truck to sit level with maybe a slight rake from back to front but after the install it sits a little bit higher than I would like. I currently have the pre-load set at 2" (2" of thread showing between the base of the shock and the coil spring) which I believe is the maximum stated in the instructions but I would like to raise it as much as I can and still be safe. Is anyone running their SAWs at 2 1/4" or 2 1/2" pre-load? I will be purchasing some spindles in the future but I need to put some time between my last purchase and the spindles so the wife does get upset. Let me know your thoughts.

Thanks

christo · 06-19-2009, 12:28 PM

I've been running mine at 2 1/4" for over a year now, the ride is a bit stiffer and the front end sits about 1/2" higher in front - but I do not have the deaver pack in the rear.

Now I do have a leak in one of my SAW's, I don't know if this is due to beating the crap out of them in the desert, poor seals on the SAW's, or due to running them at 2 1/4".

**Juday** · 06-19-2009, 01:31 PM

For 2wd Titans, I believe you can crank the SAWs up to 3" max. It's only for us 4wd guys that we have to keep ours at 2.5" and less to not mess up our front axle angles.

Remember, the higher you preload them, the stiffer the ride.

slade-titan · 06-19-2009, 03:07 PM

Juday,

Just to clarify are we talking about the amount of thread showing or the total amount of lift provided by the shocks? Since I have extended length coilovers I thought that cranking them to 2" of thread showing would give me the 3" of max lift but I may be wrong on this. In Blackbeauty's (4x4) awesome write-up on installing the SAWs he mentions cranking them to a max of 2" of thread showing and then states that the max amount of lift is 3" for 2wd and 2.5" for 4wd. So did he set his to 2" of thread showing to get the 2.5" of lift (4x4) and, therefore, I could crank mine to 2.5" of thread showing to get to the 3" of max lift (2wd)? Maybe a question for Blackbeauty. Thanks for the input.

**Juday** · 06-24-2009, 02:29 PM

Yes, I'm talking about the amount of thread showing. I've got the same shocks as BlackBeauty, so we're on the same page. 2" seems to be the ideal place for the 4wd guys for a balance of height and comfort. Me, I wanted more height, so I went up to 2.25" on the threads. I'm almost positive you could go up to 3" (though it's going to ride like a chuck wagon) for a 2wd vehicle (threads showing that is). If you are very concerned and what the best answer possible, give Greg a call and he'll tell you.

pipho · 06-26-2009, 10:31 AM

Ive put a call in to grag about this ill hopefully have an answer soon. I put my kit on last night and with 2inchs of thread showing my truck sits over 2 inchs lower then then stock with a 3/4inch thick spacer on top. All my arms and CVs are prefectly strait at 2 inchs as well as the ride was like jello, all mushy. I cranked them up to 2.5inches of thread showing and the ride is better, a little more controlled and not so mushy but im still over 3/4 of an inch from where I started and my CVs are just slightly offset. I would like over an inch more lift with out ruining the ride, and my CV would easily handle it. I dont know whats up with my truck but ill post as soon as I talk to greg.

pipho · 06-26-2009, 11:20 AM

Like Clock work greg called me back he said in 08 (my year) they changed frame makers and 08s differences amaze him, he said in my case crank them to 3in or if I like the ride and still can use an inch and a half flip the top cap and put it under the coil bucket and check my angles then. So ill report back tomorrow after I get it done, I plan to leave 2.25 inch of preload and flip the top hat to get me back to my stock height

**Juday** · 06-26-2009, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pipho

Like Clock work greg called me back he said in 08 (my year) they changed frame makers and 08s differences amaze him, he said in my case crank them to 3in or if I like the ride and still can use an inch and a half flip the top cap and put it under the coil bucket and check my angles then. So ill report back tomorrow after I get it done, I plan to leave 2.25 inch of preload and flip the top hat to get me back to my stock height

Good deal!

pipho · 06-26-2009, 08:23 PM

So that didnt work, I dont know how people got the top hat under the coilbucket. With an inch of preload my upper arm was maxed out as well as I fell it rides too soft with that little of preload and second I couldnt figure out any way to get the bolts tight with the cap and shock all in place. I flipped it back right and cranked it up to 2.75 inches of preload and its rough now so tomorrow Ill drop it to 2 and 5/8 preload and go from there.

ricepow · 06-26-2009, 09:37 PM

Jeez. That really sucks you are having so many issues man. I had those on my 06 and I was planning to get them for my 09 but it sounds like there may be some bugs to get worked out. I was happy with them on my 06 but dont want to have these issues. Thanks for keeping us posted. Let us know what you figure out.

**loufish** · 06-26-2009, 10:41 PM

Quote:

I could crank mine to 2.5" of thread showing to get to the 3" of max lift (2wd)? Maybe a question for Blackbeauty. Thanks for the input.

You can crank them to 2.5" until you get the lift spindles, but of course the ride will suffer...Try 2.25" and just deal with it until you get the other parts.

If you spend most of your time just looking at your truck, then crank it to whatever, BUT if you spend way more time driving it, then set the preload where it's comfortable to drive...you know you have more parts coming...

pipho · 06-29-2009, 10:44 AM

Well I got my truck done this weekend. Im at 2.5 inches of preload and I am still nose down but the ride is so much better, I also got my prg arms on. I Talked to greg again and Im going to try the top cap for the lift bracket trucks to get that extra inch and a half and take some more preload out of my coilovers and soften the ride up some more. Greg is really working with me here and all I can say is great things about him and his company. I also want to add that my A arms are sitting taller then my coil buck now and my CVs are less then a half inch misaligned with that 2.5 of preload, I deff have room to go up beyond what the coilovers can give me. I dont want people thinking Im over extending everything to get some height.

**yamatitan** · 06-29-2009, 02:33 PM

Personally I think the c-30 pack your running is too big and thats your problem. I ran that pack with a procomp lift and my rear was only a inch shorter than the front. Thats with the preload on my coilovers at 2". With the basic 6" is would probably be even. So your trying to get way too much lift out of just coilovers imo.