2015 ES - rear spring swap

elricfate

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Okay, so help me understand this, because I'm having a difficult time picking out the correct combination of spacer and spring rate.

I'm 300lbs, 290 to 305 usually, but am working on losing a little weight over the next year. I'm thinking that a 10mm spacer along with a 600lb rate spring from Eibach ought to do the job just right in the interim/future state vs the stock spring on the bike right now.

I believe this is the correct model number for the rear spring https://www.summitracing.com/parts/eib-06002500600
 

elricfate

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Sorry, forgot to mention, bumot hard bags are usually half loaded down for most rides, so about 30lbs additional weight for that. I still think that the above spring and riser combo is just right, but if I'm wrong I will gladly take any guidance from you guys who know more than me.
 

WJBertrand

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That spring rate sounds like a good start. I weigh about 225 and used an Eibach 550lb/in spring and this has worked well. Now the ES settings on the menu actually work for the represented conditions. You will need at least an 8" long spring to go with that 10mm spacer. Looking at the spring you referenced however it seems to be a 6" spring? ID should be 2.5" Consider this one instead:

 

elricfate

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That spring rate sounds like a good start. I weigh about 225 and used an Eibach 550lb/in spring and this has worked well. Now the ES settings on the menu actually work for the represented conditions. You will need at least an 8" long spring to go with that 10mm spacer. Looking at the spring you referenced however it seems to be a 6" spring? ID should be 2.5" Consider this one instead:

Oh, good call. Somehow I moved from the 8" spring section to the 6" spring section. Thanks for the appropriate link.
 

Don in Lodi

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I've got a 900# and 10mm spacer on a '12. 300# plus Jesse boxes. Raised the bike about an inch, works great, extended the side stand 7/8".
 
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elricfate

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Another question then, I sent off for a quote to make the spacer by a local fab shop. They wanted $436 to make it. I feel like that's about 3x the cost it should be. Am I wrong here?
 

WJBertrand

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The problem is that most of the charge is setting up the tooling. Dan Mulkiewicz (on this list) had 3 or 4 of them made. maybe ping him to see if he has anything left? I was lucky as the in house machine shop at work whipped it out for me in about 30 minutes. Dan has a friend with a machine shop. If he doesn't have any spacers left he might be able to have some more made (you supply the material).
 

Don in Lodi

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I thought had read somewhere that there was a spring company out there that was actually doing the right length without going with the shorter one with spacer.
 

elricfate

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Oh well there you go. I ordered a Race-Tech SRSP 6022090 just now since it's 500lbs/in and doesn't require a spacer. :)
 

elricfate

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I did it for two reasons, one being that it's a step up from the OEM, bringing it more in line with my weight just not all the way there and the second because I've listened to cooler heads about overloading the shock with an extended rate spring.

This is a quick update that cost me $157 shipped - I'll replace the entire assembly later in life, including an aftermarket shock to go along with the more aggressive spring.
 
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Madscrapper85

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I did it for two reasons, one being that it's a step up from the OEM, bringing it more in line with my weight just not all the way there and the second because I've listened to cooler heads about overloading the shock with an extended rate spring.

This is a quick update that cost me $157 shipped - I'll replace the entire assembly later in life, including an aftermarket shock to go along with the more aggressive spring.
Is that for an ES bike? Is there an upgraded shock available for the es
 
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ballisticexchris

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Oh well there you go. I ordered a Race-Tech SRSP 6022090 just now since it's 500lbs/in and doesn't require a spacer. :)
Im surprised they had that spring in stock. It was supposedly discontinued right after I purchased and returned mine. I gave back the spring before even leaving the warehouse (mine was on will call). After doing the math, both me and the service manager agreed the preload required to just mount the spring in softest position was too much. We were afraid the excessive preload would affect the stock compression/rebound valving. The 6022 series spring requires over 25mm of preload just to install in the softest position.

There are a few members here that have done it and had good luck. I personally found that by just adding raising links I can fine tune the suspension for all my riding conditions. I was almost tempted to get a spacer made and stiffen the rate like a few members here have done. But after comparing pros vs cons I decided it's not a good idea.

Is that for an ES bike? Is there an upgraded shock available for the es
There might be by the time I'm ready to drop that kind of money on one
There is no upgraded shock available for the ES. However, the OEM shock and forks are fully rebuildable and can be re-valved for new spring rates.
 

elricfate

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Im surprised they had that spring in stock. It was supposedly discontinued right after I purchased and returned mine. I gave back the spring before even leaving the warehouse (mine was on will call). After doing the math, both me and the service manager agreed the preload required to just mount the spring in softest position was too much. We were afraid the excessive preload would affect the stock compression/rebound valving. The 6022 series spring requires over 25mm of preload just to install in the softest position.
Honestly this just seemed like the path of least resistance for me, since I was having a hard time finding someone with a lathe and time. Plus it's only marginally more than if I went the Eibach + Spacer route I was planning on going down. I also had her confirm the shock was a 6022 and 9kg, so... I am marginally certain she sent me the correct one.

You might be right about the preload, here's hoping it doesn't cause an issue. If it dies on me, there's always replacement ES shocks, I suppose. I just did an install of new springs on my Tacoma for the front struts, so I'm at least familiar with the process of spring swaps. I imagine the bike shock is much the same and I can use the compressors I got at autozone last time.
 
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