Elka 2.5DC / Halo stage 3

[GHawk16]

I received my replacement shocks from Elka yesterday and I learned a few different things that I was wrong on prior. the first number on the spring "11.3 x 408" is going to be Kg per MM and the second number is the length of the spring in MM. So I did call Elka once they arrived since I have to pay to install them again to make sure that they are the correct ones. The new ones have a different valving curve to where they are set up to run with the high speed set at full open for the road. Since the springs are #550 instead of a #700 I was told that there is more of an adjustment on the stiffer side of the HSC to give better bottom out control off road. We will see how this set up works. Since leaving Utah for Tennessee the most off roading I get to do now are driving the forestry roads. I will let you guy know the outcome and difference in ride quality. I know Fox uses #550 in there pro race 2.5 coilovers so I am thinking that these may be close.

Appreciate the update. i think the best roads to test these on would be forestry roads as they have the small holes and are typically washboarded in areas. I can go on some of the country dirt roads somewhat near my house and test them once I get mine. Seems like they turned them around pretty quick for you which is great. Did they set yours at 2.5" ride height? Be nice to see a pic of what they set your collars at for comparison so when I get mine I can compare.

 

[southerntremor]

Appreciate the update. i think the best roads to test these on would be forestry roads as they have the small holes and are typically washboarded in areas. I can go on some of the country dirt roads somewhat near my house and test them once I get mine. Seems like they turned them around pretty quick for you which is great. Did they set yours at 2.5" ride height? Be nice to see a pic of what they set your collars at for comparison so when I get mine I can compare.

I did request them to be set at 2” I will take a picture once I get to work on Monday for you. If I remember they were set really close to the top of the strut maybe 4 threads showing,but I only took a Quick Look

 

[GHawk16]

I did request them to be set at 2” I will take a picture once I get to work on Monday for you. If I remember they were set really close to the top of the strut maybe 4 threads showing,but I only took a Quick Look

Awesome! Thank you.

 

[GHawk16]

I did request them to be set at 2” I will take a picture once I get to work on Monday for you. If I remember they were set really close to the top of the strut maybe 4 threads showing,but I only took a Quick Look

So I received my new shocks today, out of the blue. No notification by Elka they were done and ready to be shipped. Nope, just shipped. Luckily UPS sent an email saying I needed to be home to sign and I was able to be home. Crazy. Especially when I left Elka a message last Friday for an update.

Anyway, here are pics of my new shocks. Notice the spring numbers are different than what you state above. What are yours? But the card on the screen does have them at -10 like you mention above. I'm just worried they set them at 2.5" lift when I requested 2.0" lift. I've sent an email to confirm how many threads should be showing. I'll probably just give their tech line a call tomorrow as well.

 

[Aliass24]

So I received my new shocks today, out of the blue. No notification by Elka they were done and ready to be shipped. Nope, just shipped. Luckily UPS sent an email saying I needed to be home to sign and I was able to be home. Crazy. Especially when I left Elka a message last Friday for an update.

Anyway, here are pics of my new shocks. Notice the spring numbers are different than what you state above. What are yours? But the card on the screen does have them at -10 like you mention above. I'm just worried they set them at 2.5" lift when I requested 2.0" lift. I've sent an email to confirm how many threads should be showing. I'll probably just give their tech line a call tomorrow as well.

Yours are a 550 spring rate and if his are 11.3 that’s about a 630 rate.

 

[southerntremor]

Yours are a 550 spring rate and if his are 11.3 that’s about a 650 rate

Yes my original ones were apparently a 650 lbs spring If I remember correctly. I will look at them when i get to work tomorrow to confirm. I always thought the metric system was supposed to be easier. lol I am hoping they will get my truck squared away this week at work. I am hoping that the stiffness is not due to the valving set up to harsh. We will find out. The guy I spoke to in the sales department at Elka asked me to call him back and let him know the feed back on the new set they sent out good or bad. @GHawk16 I will report back on the ride height adjustment once installed.

 

[Aliass24]

Also I just want mention that the elka’s are very easy to adjust. I recommend that you go buy the $10 punch set from harbor freight it has the 5/16 size that will be used and also some wd 40 to spray on the threads to make it easier to turn. Just raise the truck enough to get the tires off the ground, spray the threads insert the punch and turn. If I remember correctly I think 2 full turns of the collar increased ride height about .25”.

 

[Aliass24]

I use 2 punches to make it easier.

 

[GHawk16]

Also I just want mention that the elka’s are very easy to adjust. I recommend that you go buy the $10 punch set from harbor freight it has the 5/16 size that will be used and also some wd 40 to spray on the threads to make it easier to turn. Just raise the truck enough to get the tires off the ground, spray the threads insert the punch and turn. If I remember correctly I think 2 full turns of the collar increased ride height about .25”.

This is exactly the way I used to adjust my Icons. The wrench was garbage. At least the wrench Elka gives you has a 3/8" square cut into it for a wratchet. But, if the holes are off you can't really adjust it. Sooo...punches it is. But, I want to see where 2" is on these 2-3" lift coilovers before I install them. I would think 2" would be all the way up with maybe one or two threads showing. Call their tech line in the morning and ask.

 

[southerntremor]

@GHawk16 i just looked at the struts to be installed today they are identical to the ones you have posted pictures of I counted the threads and there 8 above the preload collar. Which if memory serves me right was the same setting as the set that is currently on the truck. This may lower the front end a bit since the spring rate is 100lbs lighter. I was assured that they would be installed today so I will report back with pictures . I talked with the tech to see if he would set the front ride height at 1.5 Lower that the rear measured from the bottom of the rim to the bottom of the fender.

 

[GHawk16]

@GHawk16 i just looked at the struts to be installed today they are identical to the ones you have posted pictures of I counted the threads and there 8 above the preload collar. Which if memory serves me right was the same setting as the set that is currently on the truck. This may lower the front end a bit since the spring rate is 100lbs lighter. I was assured that they would be installed today so I will report back with pictures . I talked with the tech to see if he would set the front ride height at 1.5 Lower that the rear measured from the bottom of the rim to the bottom of the fender.

Awesome. Good to know. It'll be interesting to see if they have to adjust it at all. I have a topper and Line-X in the rear so I know that adds some weight. I'll be curious to know how much I can adjust mine up so I could get 1.5-1.75" of lift to offset the weight in the rear and still have a little rake. Probably not much, if any as I remember they said you wanted a little preload on the spring.

 

[southerntremor]

Absolutely, I would hope with it being a 16" spring that there would still be some preload with the collar at the top of the strut.

 

[GHawk16]

Absolutely, I would hope with it being a 16" spring that there would still be some preload with the collar at the top of the strut.

My springs are only 13.5". Do you have the same part number on your springs as my pics above?

 

[southerntremor]

Yes 406 cm = 15.98 inches

 

[GHawk16]

Yes 406 cm = 15.98 inches

Ah, that must be OFF the shock body, not compressed. As mine sits now on the shock, it's 13.5". DERP!

 

[southerntremor]

Ah, that must be OFF the shock body, not compressed. As mine sits now on the shock, it's 13.5". DERP!

That means we can run the collar all the way to the top and retain preload on the spring. Thanks for getting that measurement.

 

[southerntremor]

Ah, that must be OFF the shock body, not compressed. As mine sits now on the shock, it's 13.5". DERP!

It’s all good I have been getting confused this whole thread with the kg per mm

 

[southerntremor]

Update: Got the struts installed. The 8 threads healed a 2” rake I added 2 full turns on the preload and I am now sitting at the 1.75 rake that I was hoping for. Also a much better ride quality with these lighter springs.

 

[Escape Hatch]

I was curious on the Icon coilover spring so gave them a ring, they stated 550.

 

[Aliass24]

Update: Got the struts installed. The 8 threads healed a 2” rake I added 2 full turns on the preload and I am now sitting at the 1.75 rake that I was hoping for. Also a much better ride quality with these lighter springs.

What’s your settings for your high and low speed? With my fox 2.5’s I’m running 9 clicks on the high speed and 1 click on the low speed up front. I spent weeks of running different combinations up front to finally end up with this. This combo gives a really comfy around town ride but soaks up pot holes and rough/chattery stuff. I know the elkas are a bit different but if your trying different combos to see what works maybe try something like that.