Issue with Adjustable Coil-Overs. :-(

https://midwestscc.com/topics/Issue-with-Adjustable-Coil-Overs

Midwest Sports Car Club > Projects / Technical Support

#1 Apr 27, 2008, 4:34 pm Hide

Raza76

I have Bilstein adjustable Coil overs all around and have been very pleased with them up to this point.

Here's what's going on:

The perch for the spring is the "collar-type" that you twist along the threaded outer edge of the shock to set the height. For some reason the one on my passenger side rear wants to loosen itself and twist down about 3 or 4 threads. This drops that corner by about 3/4 of an inch.

What I have done to correct it:

I've removed the wheel and got my handy-dandy coil perch twister hook tool out and twisted it back to the correct height. Then I tightened the Allen bolt that goes throuh the perch that's supposed to tighten it against the theaded section thus locking it into place.

The problem:

It still doing it, I went out driving hard today and voila! About an inch low again in that corner. ARRRGH!

Anybody have a clue what to do here or what I'm doing wrong? Track guys feel free to speak up.
#2 Apr 27, 2008, 5:55 pm Hide

LotusUSA

Mark, did you use the Bilstein key to adjust it? I'll give you a call tomorrow.
#3 Apr 28, 2008, 3:34 am Hide

coco-bun

i dunno how BIlsteins are but on my HKS, I have a second collar that prevents that from happening...did you tighten that second one assuming you have two collars?
#4 Apr 28, 2008, 3:35 am Hide

Raza76

Is the Bilstein key the hook-wrench thing that you turn the perch with? If it is, then yes.
#5 Apr 28, 2008, 3:37 am Hide

Raza76

coco-bun wrote
i dunno how BIlsteins are but on my HKS, I have a second collar that prevents that from happening...did you tighten that second one assuming you have two collars?

It looked to me like it was just one collar that had an allen bolt running through it to cinch it to the threads. I'll have to look again so see if it's 2 collars.
#6 Apr 28, 2008, 3:45 am Hide

coco-bun

maybe the bolt just finally gave up? What kind do you have? The PSS?
#7 Apr 28, 2008, 9:01 am Hide

Raza76

cszink wrote
How are your knuckles?

I HATE scisssor Jacks.
#8 Apr 28, 2008, 9:32 am Hide

coco-bun

thats why I bought ramps .
was it you that ghetto ramped it and put a 2x4 so the jack would fit? Or was that dan?

anywho, did you get the find out what was wrong?
#9 Apr 28, 2008, 10:00 am Hide

DC33

coco-bun wrote
thats why I bought ramps .
was it you that ghetto ramped it and put a 2x4 so the jack would fit? Or was that dan?

anywho, did you get the find out what was wrong?


who do you think?
#10 Apr 28, 2008, 4:41 pm Hide

Raza76

coco-bun wrote
thats why I bought ramps .
was it you that ghetto ramped it and put a 2x4 so the jack would fit? Or was that dan?

anywho, did you get the find out what was wrong?

I haven't had a chance yet because I don't feel like screwing with it while it's raining. I'm going to Email Dali Racing tomarrow. They were the vender for the kit.

That coil over is like a steering wheel attached to my belt buckle.

ITS DRIVIN' ME NUTS!
#11 Apr 29, 2008, 8:24 am Hide

coco-bun

just weld the collar to the shock
#12 Apr 29, 2008, 3:40 pm Hide

chaffeer

As previously stated, you should have a second collar to tighten against the 1st collar to keep them in place. If your coilovers use a set screw to keep the collar in place, the set screw probably needs replaced. Set screws will be notched or rough on one end to increase friction and keep them from backing loose. I would suggest replacing the set screw.
#13 Apr 29, 2008, 4:53 pm Hide

Raza76

I'm probably going to take it all apart after work Thursday. I'll take some pictures.
#14 Apr 29, 2008, 4:58 pm Hide

DC33

coco-bun wrote
just weld the collar to the shock


dont give him ideas!!!

hes already welded valve covers to an egine block so it would stop blowing gaskets.....it did
IT BLEW THE F'N ENGINE BLOCK APART!!!

#15 Apr 29, 2008, 6:09 pm Hide

coco-bun

DC33 wrote
dont give him ideas!!!

hes already welded valve covers to an egine block so it would stop blowing gaskets.....it did
IT BLEW THE F'N ENGINE BLOCK APART!!!


wasn't that on a Fiero? Those blew up on it's own anyways.
he has a Honda now, they don't break
#16 Apr 29, 2008, 6:22 pm Hide

DC33

coco-bun wrote
wasn't that on a Fiero? Those blew up on it's own anyways.
he has a Honda now, they don't break

(s)Pupra
#17 Apr 30, 2008, 6:09 am Hide

coco-bun



#18 May 2, 2008, 5:53 pm Hide

Raza76

OK so here's the weirdness...

I got my Level out of the garage and checked to make sure that my driveway was level horizantallly. It was.

I then pull the NSX into the spot I had just measured.

Then I opened the trunk and placed the level on the frame beam that is above the tail lights.

It checked out level. Dead on Level.

So, then I decided to get a solid measure and measure the hight from the inside edge of the rear wheel well directly over the hub on both sides.

Now, the passenger side is 3/10's of 1" lower than the driver side.

I can deal with 3/10's of an inch for now. I'm not sure what's going on with the car.

When you lift the car up and then set it back down, does the shock/spring need to settle for a while before I can get an accurate measurement?

See you guys @ C&C 5/3.
#19 May 2, 2008, 6:24 pm Hide

DC33

Raza76 wrote
OK so here's the weirdness...

I got my Level out of the garage and checked to make sure that my driveway was level horizantallly. It was.

I then pull the NSX into the spot I had just measured.

Then I opened the trunk and placed the level on the frame beam that is above the tail lights.

It checked out level. Dead on Level.

So, then I decided to get a solid measure and measure the hight from the inside edge of the rear wheel well directly over the hub on both sides.

Now, the passenger side is 3/10's of 1" lower than the driver side.

I can deal with 3/10's of an inch for now. I'm not sure what's going on with the car.

When you lift the car up and then set it back down, does the shock/spring need to settle for a while before I can get an accurate measurement?

See you guys @ C&C 5/3.


blown/weak strut??
#20 May 3, 2008, 2:10 am Hide

ZUL8TR

Raza76 wrote
When you lift the car up and then set it back down, does the shock/spring need to settle for a while before I can get an accurate measurement?

Don't know about the NSX, but mine does. I'll take it for a quick spin around the block to let everything reseat.

Did you get it back on scales to verify the cornering weight is still correct?
#21 May 3, 2008, 2:47 am Hide

Raza76

DC33 wrote
blown/weak strut??

The strut seems and taut and strong as the rest. I'm positive this is something to do with the locking bolt on the coil over collar. I'm going to get it squared away so that it's dead-on even with the other side in terms of height and then I'm going to go in for another alignment and then get it corner weighted.

On a side note, the handling still feels dead-on awesome.
#22 May 15, 2008, 6:26 pm Hide

coco-bun

update?