Hello Fellow Track junkies!
I have a bunch of track related coilover spring questions.
Background: I was recently blessed with a fantastic bonus that allowed me to pick up my dream damper setup - a set of MCS 2 way non remote coilovers. I had been lusting after for a year, and after multiple phone conversations, I went with the vendor recommendation on spring length. The springs I got are 7" long Hyperco 650# /in and the rates feel great on track. Finally got the damping set where I like it - and these things are great.
Except (!!) a few times when on a bumpier track this past weekend, with the car loaded up at apex or just after - I would hit a small bump and hear / feel a stop/clunk from the rear like I am bottoming out?
One of three things is happening, right?
1) hard parts making contact. I have looked for witness marks or impact marks on all of the arms and have seen no signs of contact on any of them.
2) Damper running out of travel. Not sure how to diagnose if that is the issue
3) Coil-bind is stopping the damper travel. I have removed the springs and looked between coils from all angles and see no evidence on the powder coat that they are making contact with each other.
These are the first set of non-factory dampers I have had, and they did not come with bump stops. Should I source some and see if it goes away? How concerned should I be if I bottom out a handful of times a day? I don't want to damage these things - they are like precision instruments in my mind and I don't want to break / damage / ruin them.
And finally - regarding the spring lengths. To get the ride height that was recommended to me, the front dampers are out of threads on both sides using the 7" springs. The rears have several inches of thread room left. Would a longer spring - say an 8" in an identical rate theoretically have more stroke and possibly achieve less bottoming, or would that only be if the impact was hitting coil bind?
In the front, could I get away with a 6" spring in the same rate and possibly have some more adjustability?
Lots of questions, lots of thanks to anyone with info / data to share
