How to get my coilovers lower

[mills_88]

Well i have run out of ride height adjustment on my coilovers and its just not low enough. Which brings me to my question, should i remove my helper springs to gain some more low or should i get some custom springs made up to get it sitting lower.

Reason i ask is it seems that removing helper springs destroys ride quality and is rattly although im not sure how true this is. Can anyone help.

 

[steveP]

removing the helper spring or any adjustment to the spring pre load will screw up ride quality. the shock is built to work with that spring rate, if the spring rate changes, the shock and spring no longer work together.

unfortunately with our struts, theres no tricks to get it lower. with a macpherson strut u can removed the bottom bit which bolts to the hub and flip it, gaining another 20mm. however cant do that with our coilovers.

get new coilovers is the unfortunate answer

 

[mills_88]

Someone i know suggested to get new lower springs for the coilovers. Would this work or would it be a waste of time.

 

[Scottie]

No, don't modify coilovers.

What model are they, even better, can you sent a pic or a image from a website?

 

[mills_88]

They are tanabe sustec pro something or others. Heres the only pic i have of them.

 

[Scottie]

Some model coilovers can be adjusted from the bottom. This is good as it doesn't affect spring pre-load. I am not sure about those because i cannot see the base but i haven't seen any coilovers for EC5A/W that are.

Usually look more like this..

They will need to have thread at the bottom which it looks like yours do not.

 

[mills_88]

Ive seen the same ones on yahoo japan advertised as normal feeling suspension kit so i dont think they're that great and they feel just like stock suspension.

 

[mills_88]

This pic shows the setup better. Adjusting it would affect the pre load. Problem i have is its just run out of travel

 

[unclepaulie]

my ksports arrive next week, and they are spring and base adjustable

 

[mills_88]

Looking at that pic above if i wanted to go lower what is stopping me compressing that spring more. Wouldnt that just result in a firmer ride or would it completely destroy the balance of the coilover.

 

[Scottie]

There is no point, you will only get a few mm lower. Get new coilovers.

 

[unclepaulie]

pic of your car for reference height?

 

[steveP]

Looking at that pic above if i wanted to go lower what is stopping me compressing that spring more. Wouldnt that just result in a firmer ride or would it completely destroy the balance of the coilover.

re-read my post, any adjustment to the spring pre load will result in a shithouse ride coz the shocks arnt designed to work with the adjusted spring rate.

this goes for getting a shorter spring too.

so what ur saying is that the base height adjustment is maxed out?

 

[mills_88]

Yeah pretty much, few more mm maybe. Dont particularly want to buy new coilovers though. Im going to just keep current ride height as it isnt that bad. Just thought it would look better a bit lower, plus would help with new wheels adding camber and all.

Pic of car:

 

[steveP]

yeah some coilovers just dont go that low. bar getting new coilovers there isnt anything else u can do than runing a smaller tyre.

 

[naughtika]

Matt, can you show us a pic of how low your car is at the moment? cause I have these coiloevers too and have managed to install them pretty low, as in the wheel arch almost covering the half an inch of my tires at the back..

 

[jet150]

Dude your car looks low enough, but if you want lower just get a new set of coilovers.

 

[unclepaulie]

what about selling off the tanabe's for 800ish, then bc's or ksport are only another $400. if you wanna fit your 18x9+22's then your gonna need the new coilovers

 

[mills_88]

what about selling off the tanabe's for 800ish, then bc's or ksport are only another $400. if you wanna fit your 18x9+22's then your gonna need the new coilovers

Yeah thats looking like the only option

Also at Naughtika if yours are lower i would be very grateful to know how you've achieved that. Ie, is it possible to get a picture of your coilover on the car .

Going to take the car into pedders to see if he has any ideas as last time i went there for a wheel alignment he asked me if i wanted to lower them more, cos he said it was possible and would look "awesome" lower??

 

[naughtika]

Matt, I'll try to take photos.. but im gonna take mine off cause they've crapped themselves..

rear is very bouncy and is scary around corners..

I suggest you get new set of coilovers and lower it to the height that you've wanted cause if you lower your current one.. it might die on your sooner..

have you done any camber mods and replaced your suspension bushes?