Anybody NOT happy with their BC Coilovers?

[BlackCat81]

So I bought a set of BC coilovers for my M several months ago. I installed the fronts shortly after getting the kit, and held off on the rear since my lower shock bolts were seized inside the bushings and I didn't feel like tackling that drama. Well, I had to work today and figured it'd be a good day to do it since I knew we'd be slow. I'll save you from the cursing that was involved with cutting the bolts and pressing new bushings into the knuckles, but I got it done. I installed the springs and shocks, and set the car down. It's SO flipping low, I feel like I'm 18 years old driving a Honda. I pulled it all back apart, adjusted the spring setting to as high as I felt it could safely be adjusted to, and it's still really low. In addition to that, the left shock made all sorts of racket, I thought the car was going to fall apart while I was driving. So I pulled it back in, pulled it all back apart again, but didn't find anything. I had one of the porters bounce the rear end up and down, and found the noise coming from the the lower portion, or base if you will, of the left shock. I thought it may be making noise because I had it threaded nearly all the way out to match the preload needed for the spring height. Wrong, no matter how much of the shock tube I have threaded in, it makes all sorts of racket. I ended up throwing my factory shock back in for the time being. I'm really not happy. I have a set of 19" Q50 sport wheels I picked up as take offs from a car at work for super cheap, but now I'm worried it'll look worse once I throw a bigger rim on it. Maybe it's me, but does it look super low? My after measurements show it to be about 1.5" lower than it was stock. Maybe I'm just getting old.

[Ilya]

Nah, that looks about right with the stock wheels and decent setting.

As for the noises, are these brand new BC's? Or used? Definitely shouldn't do that. Obviously it's not a user issue as you're a certified tech and know what you're doing...something else is amiss here.

Just in case, here is the howto I made when I installed my BC's in my garage: howto-install-a-suspension-t572911.html

Before/After (with 19" wheels though): post6563689.html?hilit=m35x%20bc%20befo ... r#p6563689

Believe it or not, my engineering/technical (I work in IT) mind does not understand the concept of how to adjust coilovers so I installed them basically how they were shipped to me, drove to my mechanic (who I have do stuff like mount tires etc since I don't do that) and he adjusted them for me to their proper setting. Ran them for probably 60kmi without any major issue. Only issue I developed towards the end of having that car was having my end links go bad every 5kmi like clockwork the last 15-20kmi I owned the car.

[BlackCat81]

Nah, that looks about right with the stock wheels and decent setting.

As for the noises, are these brand new BC's? Or used? Definitely shouldn't do that. Obviously it's not a user issue as you're a certified tech and know what you're doing...something else is amiss here.

Just in case, here is the howto I made when I installed my BC's in my garage: howto-install-a-suspension-t572911.html

Before/After (with 19" wheels though): post6563689.html?hilit=m35x%20bc%20befo ... r#p6563689

Believe it or not, my engineering/technical (I work in IT) mind does not understand the concept of how to adjust coilovers so I installed them basically how they were shipped to me, drove to my mechanic (who I have do stuff like mount tires etc since I don't do that) and he adjusted them for me to their proper setting. Ran them for probably 60kmi without any major issue. Only issue I developed towards the end of having that car was having my end links go bad every 5kmi like clockwork the last 15-20kmi I owned the car.

That's for the most part how I installed mine. And the pass side was set up identically to the left, but it doesn't make noise. I guess I'm just frustrated because I seriously had to pull everything back apart like 4 times. The coilovers were brand new, ordered on Amazon on Black Friday. Maybe I just need some time for the height to grow on me, I dunno. I think I'll leave the lowering springs in but I'm going to get different shocks. I don't like ride, even all the way soft. I have no issues/complaints with the fronts. And even though I work on them everyday, I still manage to screw something up every now and then, I'm only human. All the other threads I checked have installs similar to yours and mine.

[cruzad3r]

you have your own garage? Man must be nice

[BlackCat81]

you have your own garage? Man must be nice

Nah, I work at an Infiniti dealer.

[Ilya]

you have your own garage? Man must be nice

Nah, I work at an Infiniti dealer.

I think he was referring to me hah. Yes, my father got tired of laying on the ground to change the oil in January and decided to build a garage with a lift, air tools, etc.

BlackCat81's shop is better though...has much nicer tools :P.

[BlackCat81]

It's funny, I have 2 luxury cars, an Infiniti and a Lexus. I have more money in tools and a tool box than I do in both cars put together. Kinda makes me sick to think about it, lol.

[TreyhunnaM37x]

What's a coil cover?

[BlackCat81]

What's a coil cover?

A coilover is basically a fully adjustable strut.

[szh]

What's a coil cover?

A coilover is basically a fully adjustable strut.

Yeah ... basically a "one-sie" design. Where the spring (or coil) and shock absorber (or strut) are assembled into one "product" for sale and installation.

The "over" refers to the fact that the spring surrounds the strut - the spring is mounted "over" the strut, so to speak!

Generally, this also means the the spring and shock combination can be optimized to work very well together for a given car, since the manufacturer has both components right there in the single design.

Example images:



Plus, the design can allow the spring to be shorter, since it is attached to the strut (at manufacture) rather than to some physical mount point in the car (like springs need to be).

Be prepared to spend much more money for coilovers though.

Z

[BlackCat81]

Well, I finally ordered a set of tires for the Q50 sport wheels I have, so maybe it'll look better with a bigger rim on it. Tires should be here Monday. I'll post pics when it's done.

[BlackCat81]

I got my Q50 sport wheels on today. I like it a lot better. Since the rear is as high as it'll go, I have to bring the front down about another half inch to match the rear, but its much better.

[Ilya]

Looks good!

[BlackCat81]

Looks good!

Thanks, I like it a lot better without the old beat up wheels on it.