My interesting coil over install

[suaveflooder]

Well, interesting day. Everything starting out beautifully, and then quickly got tricky. I posted in this forum because I'm curious if anyone else has had this experience. Gonna get aligned tomorrow (or try to) so we'll see how things go tomorrow.

Tear down

Install

And then I noticed a problem.....

The coil over was hitting and pushing on both sides :/

Thankfully a friend in town (laruei) was cool enough to let me steal the 1/4" spacers off the back of his car while he was at work

Got them on and everything cleared. Barely and my car sits like an M3

After a long day, i finally got to take her for a drive. Car drives VERY nicely! Very noticeable difference. Checked the tires after some hard turns and they look fine

And finally the new stance. About 3/4" lower in front but nothing crazy

Overall I'm happy. Anyone else have the tire issue? I know BFG's run a little wide, so I'm hoping a swap to NITTO's will help. We shall see....


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[98 Saleen Cobra]

That is strange.. My coil-overs don't sit that close to the tire at all.. Maybe after the alignment it'll change..

 

[DirtyDan10]

looks great

 

[Blkkbgt]

Tilt the spindle out instead of in at the strut attachment point. You may have to max your cc plates after to get your camber in spec but the collar will be off the tire.

 

[Blkkbgt]

I would also consider swapping a shorter spring in asap.

 

[Fast99Snake]

Do those Eibachs utilize a 2.5 inch spring or are they bigger? for some reason they look bigger?
Also going to a shorter spring of the same rate willl allow you to move that collar further up and keep the same ride height but give you some clearance.

 

[Krwy]

What length springs? Go with a shorter coil so the collar sits higher.

 

[suaveflooder]

Tilt the spindle out instead of in at the strut attachment point. You may have to max your cc plates after to get your camber in spec but the collar will be off the tire.

lol, sadly CC plates had to be maxed just to get them to sit like that. Gonna try the spindle idea, though. Hopefully that will help. Thanks! :beer:

I would also consider swapping a shorter spring in asap.

Do those Eibachs utilize a 2.5 inch spring or are they bigger? for some reason they look bigger?
Also going to a shorter spring of the same rate willl allow you to move that collar further up and keep the same ride height but give you some clearance.

What length springs? Go with a shorter coil so the collar sits higher.

I'm guessing its a 14" spring. Unfortunately, school semester starts Monday, so the time to play is over. Just gonna get it aligned as good as it'll align and call it a day for now.

I plan on installing MM rear coilovers (650) and upping the rate on these at the same time (400), so I'll try the shorter spring when I do that.

 

[David Hester]

Um. Did you set corner weights? Coilovers can be tricky. You may like look, but handling gets all screwed up, if not balanced RF to RR and LF to LR. Should be 50-50ish or within a few lbs. I agree, set clearance at spindle and then SET chamber with chamber plates.

 

[suaveflooder]

Um. Did you set corner weights? Coilovers can be tricky. You may like look, but handling gets all screwed up, if not balanced RF to RR and LF to LR. Should be 50-50ish or within a few lbs. I agree, set clearance at spindle and then SET chamber with chamber plates.

I have done nothing like that yet. The 200lb springs are slightly lighter at the wheel than the H&R's were. I wanna say it was something like 186 wheel rate for the H&R's and 180, with these 200lb springs. I want to focus on the handling of the car when i get the rear coilovers installed. Gonna keep reading about different set-up's until then.

Keep the info coming. I am still very new to this, but I am more than willing to learn. :beer:


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Viking42]

I had the same issue when I installed coilovers on my S197. The camber plates I had sat in under the shock tower, which combined with the longer spring brought the bottom of the spring in line with the widest part of the tire. I had to correct it with a small spacer as well until I switched to a lower offset wheel.

 

[gcassidy]

Can't you also slot the lower strut mounting holes and move them inboard a touch? I've seen guys do that and as far as I know get away with it. Never had to try it myself.

 

[suaveflooder]

Can't you also slot the lower strut mounting holes and move them inboard a touch? I've seen guys do that and as far as I know get away with it. Never had to try it myself.

did a little moving today. I clear on both sides, but looking at the perch itself, I think if I raise the car a touch, I might be in the clear. Alignment will still have a lot of camber, but at least there is no chance of rubbing. I dropped it about 3/4 inch in the front. Gonna put it back up and see what happens.

 

[ac427cobra]

Like David said, corner balance and adjust ride height before your alignment.

Is your rear on coilovers?

:thumbsup::coolman::beer:

PS You should also have a hub centric spacer so your wheel is not relying solely on the lugs for sheer strength.

 

[suaveflooder]

Like David said, corner balance and adjust ride height before your alignment.

Is your rear on coilovers?

:thumbsup::coolman::beer:

PS You should also have a hub centric spacer so your wheel is not relying solely on the lugs for sheer strength.

not on full coil overs yet....gonna try and get the rear set done during summer break after the semester. Didn't know about the spacer. I'll fix that ASAP. Right now, I get to wait for the tool to lift the car up a little. I'm hoping that will help with clearance.

Pic from below. I literally have about an 1/8" clearance. Thankfully no rubbing and I've messed with it a little trying to get it to rub. Gonna move the perch up 1" . According to Eibach, that should raise the car around 1/2"-3/4" which will put it right back where it was before and hopefully get the coilovers away from my tires!

 

[ac427cobra]

As previously stated a shorter spring is going to get you out of that current clearance issue.

 

[suaveflooder]

As previously stated a shorter spring is going to get you out of that current clearance issue.

Yeah. I fully plan on doing it when i can. I'm working full time, and going to school full time until may :/. No time to fix sadly. I cut this one too close on time. Totally my fault


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Blkkbgt]

did a little moving today. I clear on both sides, but looking at the perch itself, I think if I raise the car a touch, I might be in the clear. Alignment will still have a lot of camber, but at least there is no chance of rubbing. I dropped it about 3/4 inch in the front. Gonna put it back up and see what happens.

This right here tells me that your spindle is tilted all the way in (max negitive camber). If you tilt them out to a more neutral or even a positive position you should be able to gain some additional clearance.

 

[suaveflooder]

This right here tells me that your spindle is tilted all the way in (max negitive camber). If you tilt them out to a more neutral or even a positive position you should be able to gain some additional clearance.

Tilted it all the way out....or as far as it would go. Shorter springs really are the solution here :/. Me raising the car up a bit will help, shorter springs and i will be golden


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Blkkbgt]

Tilted it all the way out....or as far as it would go. Shorter springs really are the solution here :/. Me raising the car up a bit will help, shorter springs and i will be golden


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I hate it when you buy parts, get all excited to install them and then they don't work/fit.

I was really hoping I had the answer for you. Shop around and you should be able to find springs on the cheap. If you use a spring compressor you should be able to swap the springs without pulling the brakes off.

What kind of spring rates can those struts handle anyway?