Chuck Z

Changed the name of this thread b/c the spring issue has been worked out....

Title was: New Bilsteins/springs and the front looks like a 4-wheeler.... thoughts?

Hi guys,

Installed the Bilstein coilovers with Porsche sport springs on the front and Bilsteins with stock springs on the rear. I initially guessed at where to put the adjusters and after a short drive it was obvious both the front and the rear needed to be lowered. So......, I turned the adjusters all the way down (lowest possible ride height) on both the front and the rears. Afterwards I took the car on a 25 mile ride to settle everything out and the pics below are after that drive. The rear looks fine but the front looks like a frickin 4-wheeler...... Is it possible I could have put something in wrong? I think both the springs and shocks are identical and interchangeable left to right? Your thoughts would be appreciated. Hope I'm not going to have to live with this until it settles out in a few years........ That ain't gonna get it!

robot808

Well, that's kinda what car looks like at the stock ride height, but I have 16" wheels.
Did you measure the ride height yet. You did a couple of hard stops to help settle the front?
I suppose you can always cut the spring a bit.

Chuck Z

It does kinda look like Kermit...... I shouldn't have to set it in the lowest possible position just to get it that low? Intuatively, you'd think the stock height could be achieved somewhere in the lower third of the threads on the shock - not the very bottom.

I didn't measure the height b/c I've got 19" wheels and they are a bit taller than the stock 17s.

I did do a couple hard stops to help settling......

I shouldn't have to cut the springs to get some adjustibility out of them......

mark kibort

get out the hack saw and cut off a coil of the spring! (or try and lower it by the adjusters)
realize,by cutting the spring, you will be a little stiffer too.

mk

Chuck Z

Thanks Mark. Adjusters already all the way down. Really don't want to cut a coil off......

rluvsporsche

Are these your Bilstein part #Front F4-B46-0966-H1? The adjustment range
Front 36 MM if the adjuster nut installed correctly. These adjuster nut can be mounted either way. You might have the mounted the wrong way. I found this out using a different springs (non Porsche).

Chuck Z

Not sure on the part number but the adjuster nut is installed like this (From Tony's site - http://members.rennlist.com/v1uhoh/checkingRH.htm):



I thought about installing it the other way but it would be really hard to adjust the height b/c so much of the nut would be covered by the spring perch.

Ispeed

I think your nuts are upside down...

khalloudy

Chuck,

how's the ride quality with the CS springs? I bought a Bilstein Eibach set from Mark, but not installed yet as they are part of my full on project.

Chuck Z

Guys, I think you're onto something here..... I just went out and looked at it again and the collar on top of the adjuster (or bottom if you have it installed the right way) has a neck that is about 3/4-1" long and which if it were flipped would probably translate to 2-2.5" drop?

Tomorrow, I'm going to take the front coilovers out (AGAIN!!!!), take them apart and flip the adjuster nut over....... So much for "what did you do on your summer vacation".

Thanks guys, I appreciate your thoughts/input.

Chuck Z

Hey Khaled! Hope you're well. The ride was actually really great! It was not harsh and not as stiff as my CLK63 Black Series. I thought the ride quality was very good. I think DRs sway bars will help the ride even more.....

svp928

Chuck,I had the sameproblem when I put Bilsteins on my car- I had them on and off about three times before I got it right. Yes, I think you have the adjuster upside-down. As you can see, my car is pretty low, and it can go lower still...
I was popping the upper ball joint out of the spindle and I got to where I could have the shock assy out in about 15 min- I used a small piece of steel between the ball joint nut and the spindle and turned the nut backwards against the steel, and it popped right out.
Hope that helps!

Steve

Chuck Z

Thanks Steve!! I think you're dead on!

I'm able to get them out by removing the lower control arm and dropping them through the upper control arm. I finally figured out how high to jack the hub assembly to where I can get the coilover out w/o hitting anything.....! I bet I'll have them out and reinstalled in 2-3 hours.... It's just the thought of doing it AGAIN!!!! Thankfully I have a lift and I bought a portable air conditioner for the garage so at least I can work in relative comfort.... It was 90 degrees plus here today....

Thanks again. C

[edit] BTW Steve, I love the stance of your car. I probably won't go that low in the rear (oh yeah, I can't..... but the height in the front is what I'm looking for.

Bill Ball

Chuck:

Here's my fronts with the adjuster just like yours is currently. No problem getting the ride height down. WSM shows the adjuster same way as well. Sure those springs are the right ones (length)? BUT, as others seem to have encountered the same problem and it looks like flipping the adjuster will lower things, worth a try. Your rear height looks OK; front is on the high end - my guess 180. I shoot for 165. What does yours measure after the front is settled?

Dean_Fuller

It could be worse....this is what happened to me today. Took ALL day to epoxy Primer my son's car under a metal cover and then a rain storm with high winds. Guess who gets to start over?

It looked sooo nice right before it was ruined.