Installing coilover questions Options

[whatthe]

Im new to the whole coilover suspension. And wanting to have a few questions answered before i go ahead and install them.
1. Can i measure a drop from a stock strut and spring. Putting them side by side and adjusting the coilover 2" higher from the hub mount. Tho i was thinking spring would compress differently giving off a differnt ride height already than the coilover as its softer.
Whats the easiest way to know how much im dropping without dropping the car on the coilover and looking at it. Then raising it back up. Take off the hub/rotor/mount and adjusting accordingly.

2. Im almost certain im not suppose to play with the spring height andonly the hub/rotor/mount height (where the rotor connects on). Is this right?
Eg. In this pic the person is adjusting the spring height. In the manual it tells me do not, but i see countless pics of people doing so.


And only adjust from where his left hand is?


3. How certain will i know if i have gotten the right settings, in a scenario where i go over a pothole in the road and the
wheel hits the wheel arch and ****s it up?

4. Should i get the right ride height on one side first eg. f&r of left first. And match it up with the right? or just raise the rear, do both lower it and do the front?

5. Anything i miss that i should know about before installing on the weekend please let me know.

This post has been edited by whatthe: Feb 2, 2010 - 9:53 AM

[chode]

im sure someone can answer you better than me, but, here i go
1- where his right hand is, you just want to squeez the spring a little bit (so its not loose)(and you dant want to change the spring load by lowering or raising the suspension)
2- you install the coilover, notice that they are not the same height as the stock one ( for the height, i just guested it and adjust after)

3- make sure that both front are the same height (rear too)

4- put your mags on and put your car on the floor (the more even the floor is the bether it is)
5- mesure how much you want to raise it or lower it
6- when you want to change the ride height, you dont need to desassamble the hub and every thing
you just need to get your wheel off
7- first thing you want to do is loosen the bottom ring (a lot)(raise her a inch or two)

8- if you want to lower it, take the 'key', put it on the top ring and 'unscrew' it
(the tread will 'enter' in the hub and this will lower the car)
(when you work with the top two ring, you always want them to work against the other one, since you dont want to change the load on the spring)
(you will understand this part when you will do it )

9- if you want to raise it, take the 'bottom top ring' and 'screw it'

10- thighten the bottom ring and make sure that both front are the same height (and both rear)
11- put your wheels back and if it sit the height you want.......






....... LOWER IT MORE
12- ANJOY

P.S. i am no professionnal and this is what i learned by my self (im sure the're might have thing i could of do better)

P.S.2 english is not my first langage