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#1 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 15951
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Vehicle:2002 WRX Aspen White |
![]() This is my first coilover i don't know anything about coilover.... can anyone tell me how low is too low.... right now I just installed Tein HA and i set it to the middle (8 click from the soft side or the hardest side)....
will it cost any problem? will i damage my coilover? here's the picture thank you
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#2 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 1392
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Oakland, CA
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![]() It always surprises me that people have $1000+ to throw around at parts and don't even bother to research the stuff they buy...
That said: Each coilover has a specific height range in which it operates optimally. Setting the strut outside of that range will most likely cause premature wear (think: blow your strut in a matter of weeks). I suggest you check the documentation you got with your Teins and with the vendor you got them from... They should be able to tell what height adjustments are within spec. This is completely independent from the stiffness settings, as far as I know. Judging from your picture, I'd venture to say that you have lowered your car too much, and are outside of spec range. |
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#3 |
Scooby Guru
Member#: 2184
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Highland Park, Ill., USA
Vehicle:2005 Legacy GT wagon Platinum Silver Metallic |
![]() Your car is too low. What happens when you drop the car too much, is that the rest of the suspension (links, arms, etc) droop, and the car sits lower, but the handling sucks. People seem to be finding that Subarus don't like much more than a 1-1.25" drop, outside of a track car like Gary Sheehan's, with a purpose-built suspension.
Coilovers can provide madness, because there are almost an infinite number of settings that you can settle upon. When I had my DMS Golds, I started at full hard, and began playing with different settings, until I arrived at an optimal ride height/damping configuration. It will take a while. Kevin |
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#4 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 6780
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: South Florida
Vehicle:1993 Nissan |
![]() The car is too low for the HA's that's for sure. You may hit a bump stop w/ that setup.
I don't know about the handling sucking b/c of a suspension being too low though (to an extent of course). I have the RA's, and although I don't have it as low as you, it is lower than 1.25"...I started higher (about a 1.5" drop) and tried many different setups...right now I'm at about a 2.25" drop w/ 10 clicks in the front and 12 in the rear (rest of the suspension is stock except for STi control arms) and the car handles, to me, great. If all goes well, I'll be doing a track event and driving school, both in october, and I'll give a full impression then. I will be on different swaybars and droplinks by then though... One must remember that not every coilover setup is the same, so what's great on one coilover may not be too great on another. I couldn't see a 'rally inspired', low spring rate coilover like the DMS handling that great if dropped very low though...but then again, I can't really say b/c I don't own them. BTW, just so you know, you're ride quility will suffer the lower you go on Tein HA's. If your finding the ride to be a bit rough, raise her up a bit. ![]() |
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#5 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 19956
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Gainesville, GA
Vehicle:2003 Tundra Dark Grey |
![]() Tein seems to be slightly off on their ride height settings. I just installed some FLEX controls and my car sits identical to yours. I am going to raise the car 5 mm at the strut base and leave the same preload, but am questioning the amount of travel before you get to the bump stops. With the spring rates of the HA I would think that a 1.75 drop is not too low, if it were on softer springs then maybe 1.25 would be the max. Just my .02
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#6 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 6780
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: South Florida
Vehicle:1993 Nissan |
![]() The HA's will hit their bump stops before the flex's will due to the nature of the struts.
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#7 |
Scooby Newbie
Member#: 15951
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Toronto, Canada
Vehicle:2002 WRX Aspen White |
![]() thx for the advices guys...
sorry for asking what is bump stop (my guess is not a good thing right?) what will it do to my coilover? will it hit bump stop for sure with this ride height? and if i do raise it back up how much should i do to prevent hitting bump stop? or set it back to manufacture Suggested Ride Height 66mm 25mm? where would this measure from? the floor to the bottom of the car? or the side pannel to the tire? or maybe adjust my damping harder? thank you |
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#8 |
Scooby Specialist
Member#: 6780
Join Date: May 2001
Chapter/Region:
South East
Location: South Florida
Vehicle:1993 Nissan |
![]() Raise your car up about 1/2" - 3/4" and you should be fine.
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