Setting the perfect ride height

[Live2Ski]

I got my coilovers installed yesterday and want to fine tune the FTG height. How long did it take you to adjust all 4 coilovers? Can I do this in 2 hours?

[cfritos]

After a few times it gets quicker. But I think you can adjust all 4 within 2 hours. It all depends how efficient you are at getting the wheels off and then mounted again. Once you take the wheels off, you can get right to adjusting the height. You will likley have to use a hammer and a small point head to adjust them. I find that there isnt really enough room to use the spanner wrenches they give you.

[SteveYem]

Which coilovers do you have? If you have H&R Street Performance, the rears can be adjusted from the bottom without removing your wheels, but you will need to have the wheel up in the air to unload the suspension.

[Live2Ski]

So I might have to use a hammer and flat head screw driver to turn the "collars"? Any other tips/tricks like this that I should be aware of?

[Live2Ski]

BC Racing Type BR coilovers.

[SpltsecondS4]

dont forget to do some corner balancing once you are complete.

[cfritos]

So I might have to use a hammer and flat head screw driver to turn the "collars"? Any other tips/tricks like this that I should be aware of?

i had to. just try to do it neatly so you dont mangle up the holes on the collars. I have done that way several times and my holes are still in good condition. also, make sure you measure the height your collars are from a good set location so you can make sure you have the exact same hieght on each side.

[Live2Ski]

dont forget to do some corner balancing once you are complete.

Care to elaborate? Not sure what this is.

[ZERO FRAME GRAB]

I have raceland coilovers and the wrench they give you works just fine. Also didnt have to do much adjusting luckily they came set close to the height I wanted.

[SpltsecondS4]

in simple terms...changing the suspension changes, from factory, how much weight each corner of your car is supporting. after adding coilovers you should re-corner balance your car so that the handling is even. you can even take this oppurtunity to re-balance your corners to account for the weight of the driver.

example. your left front may be supporting x prior to change....after it supports x+5. thats more weight carried across that portion of the vehicle...likewise across all corners. its really not that time consuming given the right equipment.

[SpltsecondS4]

one more thing....most people skip this step and are fine for driving around town and all that. i only mention it because you ask about setting the perfect right height....and this really is a crucial step to getting your overall suspension perfect. the way your suspension carries the weight across the car, in my mind, is part of setting that system up.

if you dont...you will probably be fine. unless you are into autocross or anything like that...you will probably notice some changes in handlings characteristics and potentially balance issues.

hope that helped.

[Live2Ski]

in simple terms...changing the suspension changes, from factory, how much weight each corner of your car is supporting. after adding coilovers you should re-corner balance your car so that the handling is even. you can even take this oppurtunity to re-balance your corners to account for the weight of the driver.

example. your left front may be supporting x prior to change....after it supports x+5. thats more weight carried across that portion of the vehicle...likewise across all corners. its really not that time consuming given the right equipment.

Okay, I understand, but how do you correct any unbalanced corners?

[kobrian85]

I had Koni's on a previous vehicle. I could adjust all four corners without removing the wheel, although adjusting the rears with the wheel off was significantly easier. I also was able to made adjustments with the provided spanner wrench.

That said though, if you're anything like me, you'll be going back and making minor adjustments until it looks perfect. Then you'll discover rubbing or some shit, and you'll raise it up and mess around with it for another extended period of time. It was a good learning experience for me, in that I'll go with a static setup next go-around.

[SpltsecondS4]

Okay, I understand, but how do you correct any unbalanced corners?

you need a corner balancing scale...there are a variety, but it is basically a system of 4 small scales that connet to a control box. weigh the car before...you will get the weight and a ratio. after install weigh again and adjust each corner until you get about the same ratio.

[DGVR6]

Corner balance only applies to track cars.. No need for it if you just want your car to look "good".

It'll throw off your ftg measurements as none of them would truly be equal in height on all corners.

[Live2Ski]

you need a corner balancing scale...there are a variety, but it is basically a system of 4 small scales that connet to a control box. weigh the car before...you will get the weight and a ratio. after install weigh again and adjust each corner until you get about the same ratio.

Thanks for the info. I have a friend who races cars and in sure he has those scales if I want to go that far with it.

[Acejam]

Corner balance only applies to track cars.. No need for it if you just want your car to look "good".

Um, no. Have you ever driven a car that has been corner balanced with a proper suspension?

[DGVR6]

Um, no. Have you ever driven a car that has been corner balanced with a proper suspension?

No. I don't auto cross.

From my understanding the only way to shift weight (from side to side, front to back) would be to adjust the height.
So in other words if you're looking for the perfect stance.. You're not going to get it. If you weight 200+ pd, I imagine the driver side would be raised a few mm.
Unless you drive in the street like you stoled it, no real need for it.

[Acejam]

No. I don't auto cross.

From my understanding the only way to shift weight (from side to side, front to back) would be to adjust the height.
So in other words if you're looking for the perfect stance.. You're not going to get it. If you weight 200+ pd, I imagine the driver side would be raised a few mm.
Unless you drive in the street like you stoled it, no real need for it.

You don't have to autocross. Ever taken a corner with some speed on the street? Perhaps an on or off ramp? A properly balanced car makes a world of difference.

One of the primary selling points of buying coilovers in the first place is to gain corner-independent adjustability. If you're not taking advantage of that (and you have coilovers), then you're missing out.

[DGVR6]

Lol I agree I'm not using the pss10s to its full potential, I just can't justify going the extra mile for city driving. To me, it already feels like I ride on rails plus I just did it for looks without sacrificing too much comfort.
Probably over reacted when I said it's track oriented. I just know it's not where you want to go if you're going for stance assuming that's what OP is going for.

[Live2Ski]

Okay got it down close to where I want it. Spanner wrenches worked and fit fine. Going to give it a few days and see if it settles a little more. One question though, when I jack a rear corner up, there is no weight at all on the springs. I mean, I can move the spring up and down about a 1/4" with my hands. Is this common?

[Acejam]

Okay got it down close to where I want it. Spanner wrenches worked and fit fine. Going to give it a few days and see if it settles a little more. One question though, when I jack a rear corner up, there is no weight at all on the springs. I mean, I can move the spring up and down about a 1/4" with my hands. Is this common?

That means you have no preload. This is what happens when you run a coilover system in a position that it's not optimally designed for. A common "band-aid" to often help fix this condition would be helper or tender springs. You likely want helper springs.

[Live2Ski]

This is where I'm currently at, probably won't go much lower. Sorry the front wheels are probably turned a bit too hard.