Measuring coilover drop

[nathanpotato]

Hi I’m hoping to fit some coilovers to my car later on however I’m not sure where to measure how much I’ve lowered it or where from etc. Also I take it that you can only adjust the coilovers when it’s jacked up with the wheel off? Lastly what’s a good height to sit at I’ve read that 60-40 is a popular choice. I don’t use my car everyday but getting over speed bumps would be nice. My cars a 1.6 cl. Thanks

[MK4D4VE]

Hi I’m hoping to fit some coilovers to my car later on however I’m not sure where to measure how much I’ve lowered it or where from etc. Also I take it that you can only adjust the coilovers when it’s jacked up with the wheel off? Lastly what’s a good height to sit at I’ve read that 60-40 is a popular choice. I don’t use my car everyday but getting over speed bumps would be nice. My cars a 1.6 cl. Thanks

I measure mine from the bottom of the adjuster to the last thread so they are all lowered the same amount, obviously the fronts and rears will differ from each other though. You will likely have to take the wheel off to adjust the coilover as access is difficult, and lastly if you dont use it everyday lower it as much as looks cool, speedhumps are avoidable! 

[nathanpotato]

Hi I’m hoping to fit some coilovers to my car later on however I’m not sure where to measure how much I’ve lowered it or where from etc. Also I take it that you can only adjust the coilovers when it’s jacked up with the wheel off? Lastly what’s a good height to sit at I’ve read that 60-40 is a popular choice. I don’t use my car everyday but getting over speed bumps would be nice. My cars a 1.6 cl. Thanks

I measure mine from the bottom of the adjuster to the last thread so they are all lowered the same amount, obviously the fronts and rears will differ from each other though. You will likely have to take the wheel off to adjust the coilover as access is difficult, and lastly if you dont use it everyday lower it as much as looks cool, speedhumps are avoidable! 

Thanks for your reply sadly speed humps are at the trainstation and although i dont use my car everyday i need it to get to the station for uni so need to have it just abouve the bumps.

[Wayne]

Measure from the bottom of the spring plate to a fixed point on the car.

[nathanpotato]

Measure from the bottom of the spring plate to a fixed point on the car.

cheers ive had these sat around for ages so looking foward to finaly getting them on

[nathanpotato]

Well I gave it a go yesterday however was unable to undo the bolts on top of the front struts used a massive bar and everything. My problem was that unless there was an Alan key in the middle with something holding it the whole thing would turn and it would not undo. We even ended up twisting the Alan key in the end and it still wouldn’t budge. Any help would be great I was thinking my only option is to take it to the local tire shop and see if they can loosen them for me for a tenner or something. Thanks

[Jack3559]

I used a spark plug socket with a set of good molegrips around the top and hammered it onto the nut so it couldn't move, then used a brake pad key with the hollow end of the VW wheel bolt wrench over the handle to keep the alan key hole still.

Real easy in a scissoring manor.



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Slammage.

[Jack3559]

That's only because that's all I had available at the time though!

It's much easier to buy a ring spanner and allen key!

[nathanpotato]

I used a spark plug socket with a set of good molegrips around the top and hammered it onto the nut so it couldn't move, then used a brake pad key with the hollow end of the VW wheel bolt wrench over the handle to keep the alan key hole still.

Real easy in a scissoring manor.



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+



=

Slammage.

Hmm I ended up using mole grips on the spark socket to with a alan key in the middle then a massive bar on the Alan key and just ended twisting the alan key we had 3 of us trying at one point too. 

[Jack3559]

I'd give it a nice soak in some plus gas and return to it in a day or two then.

If it's that seized then an impact wrench or similar will just sheer the thread.