Coilover Install / Installation on s14 with Megan Racing C/O's *PICS*

[Slidin240Wayz]

Hey everyone,
I just thought I would post up something for those that want to install coilovers in there car, specifically the s14 model.

Stock Suspension:




The Install:

19mm for the nut
17mm for the bolt



14mm for the camber plate bolts



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:



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. I am not sure if all coilovers have the same dampening adjustment method.



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 in no way responsible for anything you do to your car.

Wishing you all the best,
Carlos Doria

[sw20>>s14]

Originally Posted by Slidin240Wayz

My mother bolting up the top bolts in the rear:



What a trooper!

hahahaha! thats hella funny! my mom helps sometimes too! but after, she doesnt even notice a difference when im done...

Originally Posted by Slidin240Wayz

Dampening
You know those lines in a cross walk, well on full stiff, I felt the car go up and then down

haha...congrats on your new EXVs, i mean MRs . hope you enjoy them

[kandyflip445]

You think the pressure would be because of the swaybar?

Nice writeup though.

[S14DB]

Originally Posted by kandyflip445

You think the pressure would be because of the swaybar?

Nice writeup though.

You Need to have both sides in the air when you do a shock install because of the Sway Bar. You can damage the swaybar or mounts doing it your way.

[Slidin240Wayz]

My mom rarely gets into my car, don't know why. The "joyment" (joyful moments) will be approaching very soon.

Thanks for that input. Post has been updated.

Wishing you all the best,
Carlos Doria

[Grumly2000]

Originally Posted by Slidin240Wayz

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. I am not sure if all coilovers have the same dampening adjustment method.



IT WILL BREAK:




Carlos Doria

I don't understand!
You say "DO NOT TIGHTEN THIS BOLT"
But you do it; isn't it?

I tighten it; do you think that I must to "de-tighten it" ?

[ALTRNTV]

Originally Posted by Grumly2000

I don't understand!
You say "DO NOT TIGHTEN THIS BOLT"
But you do it; isn't it?

He said he thought that he read somewhere that you HAD to tighten the bolt. So he went ahead and tightened it. Now he knows NOT to tighten it. I think that's what he means.

[BigBoizSilvia]

also for those of u who live in bumpy roads id suggest put the dampening at 25 feels a lot mroe comfortable, these coilovers are great though handles very very well.

[ALTRNTV]

I love these coilovers. Props to Megan Racing.

[vinhisbored]

Yeah good write-up. Would be useful if I didn't have mine installed already.

[infinitexsound]

man wish my moms would help, usually i get yelled at... cool good deal

[kenshinS14sks]

bump for mom

[Monooxide]

Im going to be ordering some Megan Racing Coilovers just like these for the S13 will the S13 SE wheels clear these? I probably expecting Spacers... but seeing if i will or not.

[Inland180]

nice write up man!

[PITCH]

Yo this really helped me out today. Thanks bro.

[Slidin240Wayz]

You are very welcome. Enjoy the upgrade!

Carlos

[g6civcx]

Good pictures. I recommend using new nuts and bolts since the ones on there are probably rusted to hell. This is especially true for S13s.

[developer]

I just gotta ask you S14 owners with MR coils, did you have a hard time adjusting the height via the shock body?

I'm trying to turn the upper lock nut with the spanner wrench while trying to turn the shock with my hand but it doesn't seem to want to move (yes i did loosen the lower lock nut too..i've followed the manual step by step). I hear that the MR coils can lower the car up to 4" but i can't get it down anywhere near that height. Others don't seem to have a problem but i do. O_o

[rotation3x]

Hey nice write up i must say with the pictures and detail!! I just ordered my coilovers today from redshiftdc cant wait to install them. For everyone else that has these are they ok for drifing b/c i talked to redshift and they said the track series was way to stiff unless i had a fully built chassis. so i got the streets i do want something stiff though what i have sucks haha blown stock struts on eibach sportlines. anyways i also got 25mm rear spacers for back and 8mm for front and rucas and new tires. I was only going to get the spacers for the rear but i thought i read somewhere i would need a 8mm spacer to clear the coilover with z32 tt wheels. I am definalty using this when i put mine on though i have been through 2 sets of springs.

[g6civcx]

I got mine from there as well. They told me the same thing. I was hesitant at first, but eventually went with their suggestion. Now I'm glad I did. At anything stiffer than 15 it really jars the chassis.

Good coilovers though. Very good feel. Great value.

[rotation3x]

cool makes me feel better mine are in the mail. thanks g6civx

[g6civcx]

Just looking out.

[rotation3x]

I have a quick question for anyone with coilovers.

How do you get a number setteing as in if someone say set dampening at 25 does it click 25 times b/c thats alot. anyways i have never messed with coilovers before other than the sleeve kind haha. and how would i want it set I drift the car and drive it on weekends

[g6civcx]

Settings are usually specified as a number of clicks from full stiff. You put it on the stiffest setting possible. From there, you have 32 clicks (or however many you have) to full soft.

After you've installed your coilovers, set it on full height and 32. This will allow the springs to settle. After a week or about 1,000 miles, check ride height again.

I recommend you start from full height and full soft. For street, full height should be enough because the Megan is somewhat low. Then you can start adjusting stiffness. Make adjustment in pairs. FR/FL stiffness should match each other. RR/RL stiffness should match each other. Front and rear can be different.

Adjust one click at a time and see how you like the feel. Generally suspension settings vary greatly from driver to driver because each person has a very distinct driving style and taste.

[rotation3x]

thanks civcx for the response seems to be easy enough. Like i said though I have never had a set of coilovers to adjust I will take your advice on letting the springs break in sounds like the right thing to do. Anyways thanks.

[rotation3x]

i got my coils on just need to adjust them a little and i am running 300zx tt wheels and they rubbed the coilover with a 8mm spacer so i took the 25mm spacers and put them in the front. looks pretty good actually. Not sure on the steering and all I am gonna mess with them tomorrow. thanks

[rotation3x]

on the rear coilovers for s14 there is a little hole you can see the threads through it is no bigger than a pencil just wondering if they face in or out i have mine facing out seems ok but not 100% or if it matters. If anyone knows let me know.

[zero.counter]

Very nice write up!
As far as over tightening the bolt on the dampening adjuster, very true. My brother started to do that, when I threw a wet shop rag at his head to stop. When in doubt, ask around.

When jacking the control arms, whenever possible, use a garage jack for obvious safety reasons.

On the older or more neglected cars (with alot of rust), use caution when removing the bolts/nuts on the old shock/spring combos. I have seen a couple of bolts snap from cars that came from the gulf coast, moreso than the ones that were native to San Antonio.

Running clicked at 25 with no problems for the last year.

And lastly, at least your mom helps you...

[Gumballf355]

<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sP52K8O2MSg"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sP52K8O2MSg" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

[GreenMNTDDc5]

Great write up!!

Sorry to revive an old thread, but I have a question.

Once you have the ride height where you want it, by adjusting the lower hat that bolts into the spindle, how do you know where to adjust the springs above with the spanner wrenches. Are there specific distances based on where you have the ride height? or do you just adjust based on preference?

i.e. How far from the bottom perch should the preload springs be set?

Thanks