Captain_Slow

I've read some of Dr. Bob's responses in other threads about adjusting collars turned so far down they run off the short adjuster sleeve. Seems the PO lowered the car as far as he could, not realizing the collars came off the sleeves. I can see lots of threads on the collar from beneath. Can this be corrected with the springs/shocks on the car? What is the best practice in this situation? Ride height is 150-151 up front. Rears adjusted fine from 153 up to 165.
thanks

danglerb

Is the sleeve turning with the adjuster collar?

GlenL

More likely, the nuts are frozen to the sleeves and the sleeves are turning around the shock.

You'll need to pull the shock assemblies to get them apart and fixed.

Captain_Slow

I don't see a way to observe if the nuts are turning with the sleeves. Rear sleeves are in plain sight and are not turning with the nuts. Very easy to adjust. I expected the fronts to be the same.

StratfordShark

It does sound as if the adjuster is off the threaded sleeve - within spec heights the sleeve is covered by the adjuster and you don't see any threads (some owners have worried the sleeve was missing entirely!). Yes you will have to disassemble the front shocks to correct situation. Maybe good opportunity to fit new adjuster parts (nut and sleeve) to make adjustment as easy as you found on the rears?

Adk46

The inside ring is on the load path from the chassis to the wheels. From shock tower to spring to lower spring plate to adjuster collar to inside ring to lower half of shock to lower control arm to wheel.

I'm not sure what would happen if the threads were disengaged, but I would guess a big kaboom. At the least, if the spring plate came to rest on the inside ring, the adjuster would fall loose. I think.

Captain_Slow

Thanks guys. At least I know what's up. Not excited about using spring compressors....the one task that makes hair stand up on my neck. I am replacing upper control arm boots, so might as well make a party and remove the shocks. I'll check to see if a local shop will take them apart and put in the new adjuster parts. Install shocks and roughly align, get the ride height set and then take it in for an alignment.

Captain_Slow

Curt,
Thanks for chiming in. You description of force transfer makes sense.

I know you've been dealing with similar situation. I see our cars have the same low-rider look.

Adk46

You've described well the can that I'm kicking down the road. Next winter.

Whitesands

This is something I tackled last week, but like you my sleeves are turning on the shocks, my ride height is 153 front, 175 rear.

Captain_Slow

Ivan,
I find it odd that your car, Curt's, and mine are all experiencing the same symptom (adjuster collars apparently seized on the threaded sleeves) -- and all are set very low (150-ish) in front.

GlenL

Frozen adjusters are common. The odd thing is that you want to all raise the car. Perhaps it's a pendulum swinging back. A common complaint has been that the front sits too high. Did your POs all drop it down?

I should dig around in the garage before saying this but the garage is far away: I don't think the adjuster is threaded completely. Perhaps the adjusters are all the way down, tight, and that's contributing to your problems.

Adk46

My inside ring is about an inch above the bottom of the adjuster - I can see it. It is about half the length of the adjuster. I believe their full lengths are threaded. In any case, if the adjustors are at the end of their travel, it's in the opposite direction from where we're trying to go - up.

Perhaps our cars were all lowered. Perhaps our springs have sagged. (As a card-carrying metallurgist, I must deny that the springs themselves can change shape or elastic modulus over time, other than by corrosion or cracking - I have to point the finger elsewhere.)

I'm not unhappy about the stance of my car (even in tall grass). It's a violation of procedure for alignment, but I don't feel any ill effects (no bump steer, anyway). My local roads and driveways are not a problem. I'm careful, and will be even more careful when I've repaired my lower plastic bits. Taking a ferry at low tide is a rare occurrence here in the mountains, but I've installed bash plates. This is my rationalization for doing nothing for now.

Captain_Slow

Glen,
I don't want to raise it up to 170. I think 160 would look less slammed yet still have a nice low stance. When I bought the S4 I noticed the tires were worn badly on the inside. I think the suspension geometry suffers when set low, adversely affecting handling and tire wear. My 86.5 cars, at stock height, handled better on undulating or bumpy curves better than the S4. I think the ride height is the reason. Or, the S4 springs are softer, making it more floaty (shocks are recently replaced Boge black...same as OEM). One of my 86.5s had the sport package with Bilsteins (wish I still had it)...it was a different animal. I like the firmer ride of the sport package...until the road gets rough (then it feels like being shaken in a garbage can).

Last night I checked the adjusters more carefully. Using a small mirror and flashlight I looked up between the threaded collar and shock body. LOTS of threads visible on the collar. I could see the sleeve far up. I think this would indicate a PO set the suspension low. But I do wonder how much lowering is due to old springs sagging. The S4 has the comfort stock springs. I think I read in the forum that the soft springs do sag. EDIT: Just read Curt's response re the sciency stuff about springs...maybe it's the rubber bits above the springs that are compressing. Also, see about an inch of threads on the adjusting collar beneath the sleeve (inside ring).

Is it possible the stock comfort springs are just worn out? Or can the adjusters simply be turned up to compensate?

andy-gts

do you have access to a lift, put it up take the wheels off, soak with pb blaster and next day try turning up the nuts . Search will find number of threads per mm ride height adjustment…..