Hey everyone,
I promised Chris I would post up pics of the coilovers. I also took the liberty of taking pics of the install. I hope this helps those who have to do the mod and anyone else just wanting to install coilovers in their S14.
The package opening ceremony:
The bottom part can be twisted off.
For the rear- 78 revolutions from the bottom
For the front- 53 revolutions from the bottom
This was about where they were in the box. I just wanted them to be more precise so I took it apart and matched them both up.
Stock Suspension:
The Install:
19mm for the nut
17mm for the bolt
14mm for the camber plate bolts
Where the problem lies with the defective MR's:
After dremeling one hole:
After dremeling both holes:
The only thing stopping these things from going through is paint.
Attach the camber plates section first:
I did not tighten them all the way just for a adjustability purposes for the bottom bolts. (Temporary)
When you need to jack up the control arm:
Control arm jacked:
Better:
Problem 2:
Even after dremeling the holes for the bolt to go through, there is
still not enough room for the bolts to go through.
I broke the dremel bit and had to run to home depot for 2 more. You have to dremel upwards for the top one and downwards for the bottom bolts.
Both through:
Caution:
When installing your front coilovers, do not leave one side with the stock one and the other with with the coilover completely bolted. For some reason, the control arm on the other side (stock) was putting pressure up and was not letting the stock one come down far enough for the bolts to come out, the strut was pinned to the hub. I took the bolts out of the c/o side and the stock came right out after that.
*Note- the reason for this is beacause the sway bar was still on. I suggest doing both at the same time to save you time in the removal of the sway bar.
What to do:
Removal:
Remove the stock bolts first at the hub
then remove the bolts up top
Repeat process for other side.
Remember both sides off before c/o's. NOT ONE AT A TIME.
Installation:
Bolt up top plates
Jack up control arm
place bolts through hub
torque everything down (specs at bottom)
tighten with spanner wrenches
repeat for other side
ANOTHER CAUTION!!! DO NOT TIGHTEN THIS BOLT
I thought I read somewhere that you had to tighten this bolt down in order for the dampening adjuster to work. No need to tighten it.
IT WILL BREAK:
The rear is alot easier. Make sure the top bolts are in first and then jack up the rear arms (name???) Someone to help you would be great.
My mother bolting up the top bolts in the rear:
What a trooper!
The rear also needs raising.
17mm bolt for the bottom:
100ft/pounds torque
Plate bolts for the rear:
16-19ft/pounds torque
Aftermath:
Remember to tighten all the parts necessary with the spanner wrenches before you put the tire on.
Torque specs (ft/pounds)
Front camber plates= 45
front bolts= 130
Rear bolt= 100
Rear plates= 16-19
Dampening
I highly suggest getting them away from hard as quick as possible. You know those lines in a cross walk, well on full stiff, I felt the car go up and then down. I think it just sucks on roads. I put them all at 20 and they ride alot more comfortable for the road. For drifting, well, no answer yet. I am going to break them in for about 1000 miles before any hard driving.
For any further questions:
email- cdoria (at) comcast.net
Patience, you can do it!
I am not responsible for anything you do to your car.
Chris,
Can you find out if I will be able to get just the dampening nut (its just one piece with the black part attatched)?
Wishing you all the best,
Carlos Doria