Well today i got my zx2 struts and coilovers installed, and when it is lowered all the way it sits at stock height! Does any one know why, or how i can fix this? I was told i can cut a coil off of each spring and it should be okay. Maybe the spring rate is wrong?
The height IS adjustable 0-4 inches, only it goes 4 inches UP and not down. Any help would be appreciated. Monday i'm gonna call the guys that i bought the coilovers from and find out whats going on. I should have just got the Ground Controls, instead of going the cheap route ( the coilovers are made by Chassis Tech. ever heard of 'em?) oh well i'm gonna go.

 

Did you install them upside down? That would be funny....

 

How long are the springs and what rate? Ground control uses 8" springs front and rear, and with the adjusters all the way up, the car is basically stock height (or a little above). And you can go down about 2.5" without touching the spring perches.

Do you have any pictures?

 

I have no clue what the spring rate is and the springs are 7.5 inches i think, i'll double check in the morning. And i'll try to post some pics tomorrow also, it's to dark right now. I know for a fact i didn't turn them upside down, and i don't really think it would change anything anyways. Maybe a 1/2 an inch, 'cus thats how big the lip is on the adjusters. What im thinking about doing is just taking out the sleeve and letting the coilover spring sit on the spring perch, don't think it'll hurt anything, right?? What i was going to do was grind off the spring perches and let the sleeve sit on the bottom of the strut (where the strut is connected to the axle, i guess? theres two bolts) but that wouldn't work 'cus the springs would rub on my tires. I'm really out of ideas, i talked with someone and they said that the spring rate is wrong that the springs are to strong for my car. That there wasn't enough weight to full compress the springs so it would drop.

 

The spring wouldn't seat properly, as the lower perch isn't quite level or round towards the bottom of the strut. Not recommended.

With the front springs, there is clearance do have the springs sit all the way down, but I have 12" springs (250lb rate), and I don't think you could use shorter springs and get away with it. With the rear, you shouldn't have enough tire clearance to do that.

The spring rates might be TOO STIFF. You should have about 750lbs on each front wheel. You can sort of determine spring rate by measuring the difference in height between the spring when it just starts to come into contact with the spring seats to when the weight of the car is on it. If you take the second measurement with the car on the ground (as opposed to using a jack under the ball-joint), make sure and roll the car around to let the springs fully compress to the load. Approximate spring rate is 750lbs/inches of compression. If you had 250lb/in springs, they would compress about 3 inches (750/3=250).

 

OK the springs are 8 inches (decompressed), and 6 when the car is sitting on them. So that is a 375lb rate correct? Is a 375 spring rate really stiff, 'cus it rides really stiff.So what spring rate would i want to make the car actually drop (i only want to drop it 2"-2.5")? Springs with an approx. 150lb spring lb rate?

 

OK the springs are 8 inches (decompressed), and 6 when the car is sitting on them. So that is a 375lb rate correct? Is a 375 spring rate really stiff, 'cus it rides really stiff.So what spring rate would i want to make the car actually drop (i only want to drop it 2"-2.5")? Springs with an approx. 150lb spring lb rate? Sorry no pics i really haven't had time, but i looked at a coilover how to in the how-to's and looks identical to the pics he had.

 

375lbs is very stiff, too stiff for street, and too stiff for any normal performance strut too, let alone OEM or equivalents. Not that it's the most accurate measure of spring rate....but i'd say it's still far too stiff.

David is using 250lb springs for racing.....

 

375lbs is VERY stiff. I have 250lbs front springs, and no one would confuse my car with a Cadillac. The stock springs are probably around 100-120lbs in front and 80-90 in back. Most aftermarket springs are in the range of 150-220 front and 100-180 rear.

I wouldn't drop more than 1.5", as you start to run out of suspension travel. With softer springs, then you are on the bumpstops (which are even stiffer than those springs of yours ). For that drop, you'd want the springs to compress 3.5", which would be between 200-225lbs. 200lbs would be allow you to go lower, but would also allow you to bring the perch up a little if need be (and allow about 1.7" of spring travel). 150lbs would drop 5", but using the Eibach chart for 2.5" ID springs, 8" 150 lbs spring will only compress 5.41", which would leave you with a whopping 0.41" of upward suspension travel before you bottom the spring (completely compress it).

For example, I went from H&Rs (which are about 200lbs in front) to my 250lbs coil-overs, and gained about 1/2" of travel (through the use of camber plates), and it rode much better. For handling, I just raised it another 1/2", and the ride is now fairly acceptable for my nearly 40 year old backside. By staying off the bumpstops, the springs don't seem that stiff anymore.

About the handling comment...when you go too low in the front, you get the front roll center below ground, which affects turn-in and steady state cornering. Not that important on the street, but very important when autocrossing.

Confused yet?

 

Allright a little confused but i catch what you're saying allright i'm gonna call these guys back and see what they're gonna' do. Thanks guys.

 

I don't think these guys are gonna try and help me, so do any of you know where i can get the eibach coilover springs from, can they be ordered seperately? Thanks

 

A wee bit.

 

your best bet would probably be to contact ground control. their website is: Ground Control

 

You can also try TrueChoice http://www.truechoice.com/menu.asp

Ground Control doesn't usually sell springs if you don't buy their kits.