Stasis SS COs: how can I adjust height before installing ???

[gtimart]

Hi. Just got my Stasis SS today. I'll get them installed in a week, it's gonna be a long wait...
The instructions say I should adjust the height BEFORE installing the kit, but the height adjustment instructions say I should measure the height of the car from the ground and adjust accordingly. They even provide the ratio 1" from ground = 0.7" shock travel. This is good, but I absolutely have to install the kit BEFORE adjusting in order to do this. What I really need is an absolute measure on the threads that would give me an absolute ride height if I am to set it before installation. I also thought there was a recommended height that would come "pre-configured" but it's not the case.

Since I'm getting them installed, I'm paying by the hour. It seems i'll have to get them installed, measure, get it jacked again, try to adjust, go down again etc. until I'm satisfied. I don't even have an adjustment tool in the kit. It'll cost me an arm just to get them to the correct height or what ?

Thanks for any help.

[pondside36]

Very interested in this as well since I'm getting my set soon...

[jojoampt]

http://www.audizine.com/forum/showthread.php?t=201552

[gtimart]

Damn I feel silly... I normally search, and I read quite a few threads when I see them. This one's real recent, and I didn't see it, sorry.

In any case, I'll be running the kit higher than that, I looked at the "alignment specs" thread and for a street setup they were tralking about these values:
Ride height at 25.500” front and 25.625” rear for an "aggressive street setup".
Seeing how little adjustment there is in the rear, and seeing that everyone's running under 25", I'm not sure I'll be able to acheive this.

The look I'd like is to have a bit of space between the tire and the fender, maybe a finger or a little more. I just want good handling and a reasonably nice look. We have so much snow here, I don't want to go low. I'll measure where I'm at currently tomorrow and I'll decide what I need from there.
If anyone is running at that height and know the position of their adjustments, shoot the info

[topcat]

I'm at 24.75 front 25.25 rear. I'll measure mine this weekend for you. I'll give you the dimension from bottom of threads to the lock ring. PM me to remind me though. I got about that "one finger" gap. The rear is a different story since the perch is hard to get to, I'll try to get good reading somehow though.

[gtimart]

Just measured my current stock non-sport setup: I'm at 27 1/4", damn I'm riding high. From what I saw, I'll want to be at around 25 1/2".

I seem to be at the same height front AND back. In fact, the back left is slightly lower. Why is it that everyone is running higher in the back ? I know that Stasis is suggesting a slightly higher back so I'll follow their advice, but I'm wondering why.

topcat, your setup looks very nice. I'll be on the OEM 17" wheels so mine won't look as good. Also, I'm aiming for an equal spacing all around the wheel. Looking at your picture, I guess 25 1/2" is what I should be aiming.

[0330QA4]

Just measured my current stock non-sport setup: I'm at 27 1/4", damn I'm riding high. From what I saw, I'll want to be at around 25 1/2".

I seem to be at the same height front AND back. In fact, the back left is slightly lower. Why is it that everyone is running higher in the back ? I know that Stasis is suggesting a slightly higher back so I'll follow their advice, but I'm wondering why.

topcat, your setup looks very nice. I'll be on the OEM 17" wheels so mine won't look as good. Also, I'm aiming for an equal spacing all around the wheel. Looking at your picture, I guess 25 1/2" is what I should be aiming.

People run higher in the back because the front fender wells are larger creating the looks of reverse rake if you run them evenly. By lowering the front a bit more you can get rid of that appearance.

[topcat]

The tires that were on the usp wheels in the picture had incorrect size. 225/35/18, so the lower profile caused me to drop it down a little more than normal. I think if you go with the measurements I give you, the 25.5 all around should be pretty close the first time. I had to adust the driver's front on mine after initial install to match the other side. But at least the measurements will give you a good starting point.

[gtimart]

Update: The coilovers got installed today. They had trouble with the nut on top of the shock, the shock was loose on the first test drive. After fixing that, MAN what a difference! This is how the car should drive stock.

I have kept the Stasis preset ride height for installation. It turns out it's a bit too low for me. Shitty Quebec streets + tons of snow = I want the height between 1/4" and 1/2" higher than what it is.
How do you guys adjust your height ? I cannot move these things with my hands even when the car is jacked up. I did not get the adjustment keys in my box. Should I have gotten them ? Someone know where I could buy a set that would fit my coilovers ?

Thanks!

[Zorfunk]

Harbor Freight tools has Spanner Wrenches. That's what you need to adjust them.

[Zorfunk]

What is your ride height now?

[Matt Devo]

How do you guys adjust your height ? I cannot move these things with my hands even when the car is jacked up.
Thanks!

Honestly, you can try to adjust the height with them installed on the car, but you will hate yourself afterward. The only way it's doable is if your have a spring compressor that will fit such that you can compress the spring slightly and then adjust the perch height. This goes for the front and the rear. If you try to adjust the perches using spanner wrenches with the springs uncompressed, you're working against 450 inch-pounds of force. Can you get some movement? Yes, but if the wrench slips off the perch you will be seriously hurting...

[Murf]

I just adjusted my rears today. I put the passenger side at about 2" from the very top of the perch to the very bottom and the driver side at 1 3/8". I have no idea why they need to be set so different but this got me at 25 3/4". It's a little higher than i would like but i was rubbing when i had 3 people back seat.

[Groove1797]

the conversion rate according to stasis' site is .7 inches on the perch translates to 1 inch on height change.

[gtimart]

Murf, that's about where I want to get, somewhere around 25 1/2" - 25 3/4". I think I'm around 25" now, I'll measure tomorrow. It's a bit too low for my tastes. I don't want to wreak the adjustment rings so I'm looking for the real adjustment tool.

[buko]

the conversion rate according to stasis' site is .7 inches on the perch translates to 1 inch on height change.

that is for the front pair of coilovers i believe.

[gtimart]

Yeah, I read that ratio in the installation sheet. They don't provide the back ratio though. Anyway, my problem is that I need the keys to adjust. I don't have a spring compressor tool...
I'm still looking for a place where I could buy these locally, or better: obtain the keys that should have come in my box.

[Groove1797]

autozone rents spring compressors

[Murf]

When adjusting the rears i would suggest dropping the subframe all over again. I tried adjusting them without dropping the subframe and ended up stripping one of my perches. If you can find the correct spring compressor then you could do it without going through the whole mess of dropping the subframe but i wasn't able to find any place that would rent the specific type you need. Also, this way you don't need to buy the keys.
The fronts on the other hand aren't really that hard to adjust because you have much more space.

[Sleepy 1]

Yeah, I read that ratio in the installation sheet. They don't provide the back ratio though. Anyway, my problem is that I need the keys to adjust. I don't have a spring compressor tool...
I'm still looking for a place where I could buy these locally, or better: obtain the keys that should have come in my box.

If you don't want to order one, motorcycle shops are your best bet. Since most bikes and atv's have similar coilover style adjustment. I found a small shop that just gave me a spanner wrench since they had several. I had to cut it down so there is just enough handle to grab it in order to turn it more than an inch or so. Also, after jacking the car up and spraying a little WD40 on the threads, I've been able to turn them with minimal resistance.

Kind of funny I've raised my car from 24 and a half to 25 twice, and it has now settled to 24 and 3/4