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Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 9:51 am
by Laps
Hey guys,

I have to wind up my coilovers as I have been defected for a faulty brake light and need to go over the pits... My question is (if anyone has done this), how hard is it, how do I ensure I get the left and right side even, and will a need a wheel alignment???

Thanks!

PS. I have pedders coilovers and the tools to do the job

Re: Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:25 am
by imania
If there's a little grub screw on the adjustment you may have to undo that, then you simply wind up the coilovers using the coilover spanner. To maintain even height you can A, measure the amount of thread showing. Or B, measure centre of the hub to wheels arch gaps.
Don't forget to tighten the grub screw after :)

Re: Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:27 am
by Laps
cool, so no wheel allignment would be needed???

Re: Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 10:29 am
by imania
You will get a reduction in camber, and it'll throw everything else a little out just through the changes in dynamics and angles, but should be ok if it's only a temporary thing. I'd wait til you get the defect cleared, drop it back down then get your alignment checked again :)

Re: Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:28 am
by Laps
well i changed my wheels back to stock and had a look at the coilovers... looked pretty confusing, had no idea what i was doing, and it didnt look too low so i just left it.

took it over the pits and they said it was too low. pedders want to charge me $260 just to change the height (doesnt even include a wheel allignment) even though I already spent $2100 on the fkn things.

furious

apparently this is what i failed "Lowering and raising suspensions (by not more than one third of the original suspension travel provided the original vehicle height is not increased or decreased by more than 50mm);"

Yet I have no idea what the original suspension travel or original vehicle height is??? How can I find this out...

Re: Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:51 am
by hamish_023
Your car looks dumped. It doesn't even look like you could fit a finger between your wheel and wheel arch!

Re: Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 2:57 pm
by Laps
hamish_023 wrote:Your car looks dumped. It doesn't even look like you could fit a finger between your wheel and wheel arch!


looks okay with stockys, i thought they would just check the defect (my tail light) then let me go so i put my stock wheelson, not comb over the whol fkn car,,,

Re: Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 3:13 pm
by drndrn
If you've got Pedders coilovers, adjusting them is as simple as loosening the locking ring (smaller one I believe) then using the supplied spanner just turn the larger bottom ring to adjust height. I'm sure if you Google it, you'll find a better explination on how to do it.

Re: Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 7:35 pm
by smythie
easier done with the car jacked up though :wink:

For $260 you could buy yourself a set of stands (e.g. 2 sets from supercheaparse for $40 each) a trolley jack and some lengths of wood (to lift the car a bit to get the jack under it in the first place) and do it yourself. you'd then have the gear to lower it again when you've passed the pits. Remember to mark your current position on the coilovers before adjusting anything so that you can come straight back and you could well get away without having to pay for two wheel alignments. :wink:

Re: Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 8:18 pm
by sheppo9
If you still need this done, you can bring it round home (Southside, in Gordon) and I'll do it for you - you can watch and learn how to do it for next time*.

* There will be a next time.

Re: Changing Coilover Height

PostPosted: Wed Sep 28, 2011 10:01 am
by Laps
Hey guys, thanks all for your help...

Ended up going to my mates garage at qbn caltex last night and we did it there... was such a fkn pain but we got it...!

thanks for all your offers/help/suggestions though!!! hopefully it will pass this time!