DW coilovers height-setup issue - Drifting forum

Vova · 21-06-2008, 00:21

Hi all!
So I got my new

-coilovers for my S13 and went to work. First I measured heights of the car at certain points:

Rear: From lower wheel-lip to a certain point on the rear arch, marked, which is factory welded on for the rears.

Front: lower rim-lip - thru center cap- to chassis-beam above wheel at the fronts. (I had my panels off for painting anyway).

Setup pre-load on the fronts first by undoing spring seat so spring was loose. Than rotated the seat until it made contact with the spring, so the spring had no up or down movement, so basicly handtight. Than did 3x360 degrees on both. Measured from top spring seat to ring between lower-springseat and locking collar was exactly 19mm on both.

Than just screwed in the coilover bodies into the bracket, measured distance from bracket lowest point, to sticking out thread on the body, to on both sides, also got that exact. Than measured from lower locking collar to upper to see if those were identical and they were. So summed up, both front coilovers were symetrical. Took the car and drove around the block on coilovers at the front only. Came back and measured. It looked like the drivers side was 3mm higher. Well it'll do for now I thought, now to mount the rears.

So I set the pre-load first on both sides as on the fronts and set the height to the exact amount on both sides measureing from locking collar to collar distance.

Put it all on and drove a little around the block. First thing to notice is that they were quite hard, much hareder than I expected but more about that later. Anyway, I cambe back and remeasured. It looked like I lowered the rear by 80mm! So I thought I'd up both sides 30mm. So there I went again. Increased distance from collar to collar 30mm and drove around..measured and it seemed that (here comes the problem) the passenger side (LHD) was now lowered 60mm (

) and the drivers 55mm. Thats 15mm difference and also not corresponding to how much I raised them! Bear in mind, passenger side was 3mm higher to begin with on standards. So I measured camber (digital gauge) and got -2.4 and -2.8. So figured it'll have to go up as thats too much tire wear! So I thought I'd raise both sides another 15mm and maybe the hight difference will go away. So did it, measured threads on top, pre-load, check, double check , everything symetrical. Went to drive, parked on my drive, checked and it seemed it was cleared, both sides were identical. Measured camber and got 2.1 on both which was acceptable for -45mm. Than drove the car into the garage, remeasured and found the height was again at a difference. Passenger side 13-15mm lower than drivers..however car looked straight, camber was the same, I didn't get it (and still don't).

So I thought maybe they need to settle in. I also thought, maybe the dampening is on hard or something. So I referred to the manual and guess what...one side was set on full hard and one on full soft (from factory)...so I thought there was my problem. Put everything on full soft and went to drive 30 miles to get them settled in. Now just came back in the garage, measured and got a dissapointing 13mm height difference at the back and 6mm at the front while both sides coilovers are perfectly identical to eachother, at least hell no 13mm! What the hell is going on? Havn't measured camber yet if that changed, and my compressor house is rattling

, so will have a go tomorrow again.

However I'm beginning to get out of ideas. How can the height difference be 13 mm as stock height difference was only 3mm and the coilovers are set on the same height on both sides?

Than screwed in the bodies both the exact same amount so the coilovers, assuming being identical as they are quality items, had the same height. Than drove around the block to settle the suspension, took some bumps etc.
Measured and passenger side was 13mm lower than the drivers. However the car looked straight. It was lowered about 65mm and having measured the camber at -2.7 (passenger) and 2.4 (driver), I thouight to raise it up 20. So did the same, extending the coilovers the exact same amount, remeasuring the preload again.
So raised both sides 20mm, drove a bit and parked in the garage. Measured camber and both were -2.1 and car looked straight so I thought it was good. Measured and still the passenger side was 13 mm higher. So I went over all measurement again, even the treads sticking out from the arch etc and all seemed symetrical..I couldn't find anything.
Than it strtuck me, the whole ride was quit hard for a commonly known as a quality damped suspension, so I checked the setting and it turned out, that one side was at full hard and the other on full soft. So I thought I might have found the problem and put both on full soft, went to drive for 30 miles to get all settled in and all and just cambe back....measured, and still, passenger side is 13mm hgiher!
Car still looks straight, havn't re-measured camber what the hell may be wrong?!

Vova · 21-06-2008, 00:32

However one thing springs to mind. Yesterday, when I adjusted the rear up by 15mm, measuring both sides, they were nice and level on the rear. So the rears where both lowered 55mm like it should. Than I went and filled up the tank and today, with a full tank, I have the 10mm difference, could it be the fuel indeed? The rear of the car is stripped so no spare wheel, jack, crap etc.

**Phil** · 21-06-2008, 00:36

That's alot of info..

Don't measure against the arches, measure the exact distance between top plate and spring perch and top plate and lower shock body. Make sure everything is locked off super tight, either with a bar on the C spanners or hit the C spanner with a hammer.. Drive it, then re-measure after a while.

I can't imagine that there would be any way that it could change hieght if everything is tight, as the only thing that determines ride hight is a consitant measurement from the top plate through a stiff spring into the bottom shock body. This will only settle a small amount, and shouldn't really be different left to right.

boo_kong · 21-06-2008, 01:05

Sorry bro i didn't read all your thread but i can't see gas lowering your car by 10mm 'not on coilovers'
unless of curse you got them set to like a sponge which i can't see some how, i may well be wrong tho.
I had the same kind of problem with my gto, in the end i just took a tape measure and measured from the arch to the ground on a flat surface.
If your body/chassis is strate the gap between the top of your tyre to the bottom of arch should be the same all round after doing this.
Remember when you adjust the coilover its and put the car back on the ground its always a good idea to sit on the car and let what give you have spring back up' this should be the final height that the car should sit at, do this every time you adjust a coilover.
Im no expert' but i hope this has been some help.
Good luck with it.

boo_kong · 21-06-2008, 01:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by Phil

That's alot of info..

Don't measure against the arches, measure the exact distance between top plate and spring perch and top plate and lower shock body. Make sure everything is locked off super tight, either with a bar on the C spanners or hit the C spanner with a hammer.. Drive it, then re-measure after a while.

I can't imagine that there would be any way that it could change hieght if everything is tight, as the only thing that determines ride hight is a consitant measurement from the top plate through a stiff spring into the bottom shock body. This will only settle a small amount, and shouldn't really be different left to right.

The last time hit the C spanner with a hammer on my gto i broke the locking nut lol'
There only made of aluminum
'Sorry i forget the prppa name for them
and by damm was it hard to get a replacement.
Im just on lowering spring on my s13 at the mo:
It don't sit prfect' but what the hell lol

**SteveC200** · 21-06-2008, 06:32

Forget about measuring from wheel arches, they arent always exactly the same side to side (well, mine isnt). Measure from the chassis rail to the floor. In fact if you want it perfect get it corner weighted.

Vova · 21-06-2008, 06:49

Thanks dudes, I agree wheel arches arent the best poin however my poin was, if I measured the standard height at X and X+0.4 , so should be the new lowered height, both minues 45, however one side is 45 and other is -60

Gonna have a go at it again now, got op extra early!

21-06-2008, 00:21	#1 (permalink)
Vova tail slider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Netherlands, in Maastricht Posts: 83	DW coilovers height-setup issue Hi all! So I got my new -coilovers for my S13 and went to work. First I measured heights of the car at certain points: Rear: From lower wheel-lip to a certain point on the rear arch, marked, which is factory welded on for the rears. Front: lower rim-lip - thru center cap- to chassis-beam above wheel at the fronts. (I had my panels off for painting anyway). Setup pre-load on the fronts first by undoing spring seat so spring was loose. Than rotated the seat until it made contact with the spring, so the spring had no up or down movement, so basicly handtight. Than did 3x360 degrees on both. Measured from top spring seat to ring between lower-springseat and locking collar was exactly 19mm on both. Than just screwed in the coilover bodies into the bracket, measured distance from bracket lowest point, to sticking out thread on the body, to on both sides, also got that exact. Than measured from lower locking collar to upper to see if those were identical and they were. So summed up, both front coilovers were symetrical. Took the car and drove around the block on coilovers at the front only. Came back and measured. It looked like the drivers side was 3mm higher. Well it'll do for now I thought, now to mount the rears. So I set the pre-load first on both sides as on the fronts and set the height to the exact amount on both sides measureing from locking collar to collar distance. Put it all on and drove a little around the block. First thing to notice is that they were quite hard, much hareder than I expected but more about that later. Anyway, I cambe back and remeasured. It looked like I lowered the rear by 80mm! So I thought I'd up both sides 30mm. So there I went again. Increased distance from collar to collar 30mm and drove around..measured and it seemed that (here comes the problem) the passenger side (LHD) was now lowered 60mm () and the drivers 55mm. Thats 15mm difference and also not corresponding to how much I raised them! Bear in mind, passenger side was 3mm higher to begin with on standards. So I measured camber (digital gauge) and got -2.4 and -2.8. So figured it'll have to go up as thats too much tire wear! So I thought I'd raise both sides another 15mm and maybe the hight difference will go away. So did it, measured threads on top, pre-load, check, double check , everything symetrical. Went to drive, parked on my drive, checked and it seemed it was cleared, both sides were identical. Measured camber and got 2.1 on both which was acceptable for -45mm. Than drove the car into the garage, remeasured and found the height was again at a difference. Passenger side 13-15mm lower than drivers..however car looked straight, camber was the same, I didn't get it (and still don't). So I thought maybe they need to settle in. I also thought, maybe the dampening is on hard or something. So I referred to the manual and guess what...one side was set on full hard and one on full soft (from factory)...so I thought there was my problem. Put everything on full soft and went to drive 30 miles to get them settled in. Now just came back in the garage, measured and got a dissapointing 13mm height difference at the back and 6mm at the front while both sides coilovers are perfectly identical to eachother, at least hell no 13mm! What the hell is going on? Havn't measured camber yet if that changed, and my compressor house is rattling , so will have a go tomorrow again. However I'm beginning to get out of ideas. How can the height difference be 13 mm as stock height difference was only 3mm and the coilovers are set on the same height on both sides? Than screwed in the bodies both the exact same amount so the coilovers, assuming being identical as they are quality items, had the same height. Than drove around the block to settle the suspension, took some bumps etc. Measured and passenger side was 13mm lower than the drivers. However the car looked straight. It was lowered about 65mm and having measured the camber at -2.7 (passenger) and 2.4 (driver), I thouight to raise it up 20. So did the same, extending the coilovers the exact same amount, remeasuring the preload again. So raised both sides 20mm, drove a bit and parked in the garage. Measured camber and both were -2.1 and car looked straight so I thought it was good. Measured and still the passenger side was 13 mm higher. So I went over all measurement again, even the treads sticking out from the arch etc and all seemed symetrical..I couldn't find anything. Than it strtuck me, the whole ride was quit hard for a commonly known as a quality damped suspension, so I checked the setting and it turned out, that one side was at full hard and the other on full soft. So I thought I might have found the problem and put both on full soft, went to drive for 30 miles to get all settled in and all and just cambe back....measured, and still, passenger side is 13mm hgiher! Car still looks straight, havn't re-measured camber what the hell may be wrong?!

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

21-06-2008, 00:32	#2 (permalink)
Vova tail slider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Netherlands, in Maastricht Posts: 83	However one thing springs to mind. Yesterday, when I adjusted the rear up by 15mm, measuring both sides, they were nice and level on the rear. So the rears where both lowered 55mm like it should. Than I went and filled up the tank and today, with a full tank, I have the 10mm difference, could it be the fuel indeed? The rear of the car is stripped so no spare wheel, jack, crap etc.

21-06-2008, 00:36	#3 (permalink)
Phil 7JZGTE Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Birmingham Posts: 7,342	That's alot of info.. Don't measure against the arches, measure the exact distance between top plate and spring perch and top plate and lower shock body. Make sure everything is locked off super tight, either with a bar on the C spanners or hit the C spanner with a hammer.. Drive it, then re-measure after a while. I can't imagine that there would be any way that it could change hieght if everything is tight, as the only thing that determines ride hight is a consitant measurement from the top plate through a stiff spring into the bottom shock body. This will only settle a small amount, and shouldn't really be different left to right.

21-06-2008, 01:05	#4 (permalink)
boo_kong dorifto kingu! Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: dartford Posts: 590	Sorry bro i didn't read all your thread but i can't see gas lowering your car by 10mm 'not on coilovers' unless of curse you got them set to like a sponge which i can't see some how, i may well be wrong tho. I had the same kind of problem with my gto, in the end i just took a tape measure and measured from the arch to the ground on a flat surface. If your body/chassis is strate the gap between the top of your tyre to the bottom of arch should be the same all round after doing this. Remember when you adjust the coilover its and put the car back on the ground its always a good idea to sit on the car and let what give you have spring back up' this should be the final height that the car should sit at, do this every time you adjust a coilover. Im no expert' but i hope this has been some help. Good luck with it.

21-06-2008, 06:32	#6 (permalink)
SteveC200 talent bypass Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Essex Posts: 5,954	Forget about measuring from wheel arches, they arent always exactly the same side to side (well, mine isnt). Measure from the chassis rail to the floor. In fact if you want it perfect get it corner weighted.

21-06-2008, 06:49	#7 (permalink)
Vova tail slider Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Netherlands, in Maastricht Posts: 83	Thanks dudes, I agree wheel arches arent the best poin however my poin was, if I measured the standard height at X and X+0.4 , so should be the new lowered height, both minues 45, however one side is 45 and other is -60 Gonna have a go at it again now, got op extra early!