Please help, possible coilover install problem

[FolkertSX]

alright guys i just got my coilovers and im putting them on now. I went to put the first one on and noticed they are much shorter than the original struts. Is this normal? So i jacked the whole brake assembly and everything up so I could put the 2 bolts in that hold the coilovers at the bottom. This is in the front. Anyway so I used the lowest holes I could and lowered the car down. Then I tried putting weight on that side to see if the car would go up and down and it doesnt. It's just stuck. Is something wrong? or is all this normal. i appreciate all your help.heres some picsthe holes i usedheight

[FolkertSX]

i decided id take it for a drive and with every little bump it would make a bump noise. somethings wrong...

[StandardProspect]

The only thing that doesent seem right to me is all of the holes on the bottom mount.

[Dazzla]

WTF. Why do you have so many holes on the bottom mount?

[Chris28]

What brand coilovers are they?

Coilovers are generally shorter than stock struts, you have to somehow jack up the spindle assembly in order for the bracket to be able to be bolted on, if you bolted the top hat on first.

I've never seen a brand with more than one set of holes on the bracket, perhaps someone ghetto modified it to go lower. By raising the mounting point of the bracket, you effectively lessen the distance between bracket and strut tower, making the car sit lower.

What does the bump noise sound like? It could be possible that your springs are of a larger diameter than the shock tube. I actually think that's why mine rattle/make noise, the front spring is too large for the perch. When the spring is sitting on the perch/collar, can you move it around? It should be a fairly tight fit. If you're unsure, take a micrometer and measure the OD of the top part of the spring perch, then the ID of your spring. They should be extremely close to eachother. If it's off by like 5mm, then you have the wrong diameter spring.

Hopefully this answers some questions, report back with the spring diameter findings.

[poshatch]

yeah, thats alot of holes, never seen that before? universal coilovers anybody?

jp

well it looks in the pics like the top one and the middle bottom hole were used ,so try using those?

ive never heard of a strut seizing before so idono, if the botom is secure and the top is secure then it should be alright, maybe...

also it looks like your missing one of those things to lock the bottom mount, that would cause a clunk if its not locked in place

[EnjoiNismo]

Looks like the coilovers were previously used on another car besides a 240sx. That explains the multiple holes drilled in the coilover.

[FolkertSX]

well so far i figured it clunks when im turning. about in the the center of rotation it clunks. so basically when the wheels are straight. whenever i go from side to side the middle always clunks. even if the car isnt moving.

[Chris28]

Did you make sure you installed the top hats correctly? They have to point a certain direction as to not bind while being turned. Uninstall, check for free 360* rotation of top hats, re-install same way as stock ones were installed.

I don't remember it off the top of my head, but if you look at the top hats the center of rotation isn't exactly in the middle of the 3 bolts. Bolt just the top hats in and check to see if it spins freely. If not, unbolt it, rotate it 120*, and bolt it back in. Do this until it spins freely.

[FolkertSX]

ok its doing it just going straight. it makes a decently loud clunk and the wheel doesnt stay stable. the whole time its very wobbly. im so confused. ill try what you said chris. thanks for helping

[ashibah83]

have you checked the alignment, its probably WAY out wich would explain the driveability problems, how do the rest of your suspension parts look, are they in good condition, your tension rod bushings may be shot, your ball joints may be bad, putting more stress on your suspension( which is basically what your doing by installing stiffer springs, and dampers) will exacerbate any previous conditions you had

[Beems240sx]

make sure there is no tension on the spring itself, you will be able to spin the spring. this is the preload. also check out that tophat for spinnage like the other guy said. i dont have work on friday if you need help with it

[FolkertSX]

alright so i think i found the f***ing problem. its this damn thing i believe. the silder middle part that stops the top of the spring. i believe its broken because it goes up and down while the one on the other side is secure where it is. on the bad side i got it to hold but then after i starting driving it just popped up again. heres some pictureswhere it should be, and should stay therein this picture you can see how it goes downand the really bad, it pops all the way up right against the camber platesanyone know any easy solutions? i think i might have my uncle try to weld the piece in place unless anyone else has any suggestions. thanks matt for the offer, but friday is just way too far away.

[Chris28]

Take off the camber plate on the good one as well as this one and compare how they look. You're right, I don't think that should be able to move like that.

Be careful welding it, this joint needs to be able to move freely.

[poshatch]

that would most definately cause popping, thats some B.S. seems like you got kinda ripped off

i agree with chris though, compair them and see what you gotta work with and go from there

you could always run enough preload to seat it but even still it probably will move around and pop