Will be getting my Tein S-Techs by next week. I know for progressive springs, atleast the Eibach pro-kit, you're supposed to put the vehicle's wieght on the suspension THEN tighten all the bolts down. Is it different for the Teins? Can I just tighten everything up then drop the car?

Thanks for any help!!

- Pete

 

It is not so much for the springs, it is for all the bushings, it is called preloading you suspension, and yes you should do it.

On all the suspensions I have done I use a jack to preload the suspension.

Before raising the car on a jack I make a horizontal reference point from the center of the wheel to the fender. Then I raise the car I and install the coilovers/springs/struts, etc. Once they are in, I anti-seize the bolts and put everything back together but I don't tighten them. I then take my extra jack and put a few rags on it. I place it under the rotor and raise it until the center of the rotor is horizontal with my reference point. I will always go a little past depending on how much I am adjusting the ride height. If you are lowering the car 1.5" then go 1.5" past you reference mark. Once you have preloaded the suspension you can now torque your bolts to spec. Once the bolts are torqued, lower the jack and put on your wheel, then lower you car.

I am not saying this is the best or proper way of doing things, but I have never had any problems doing it this way. If you chose to do it this way, I assume no responsibility. Good luck and I hope you get you springs in soon..

 

Thanks for the write-up. Only thing is, I'm doing this install on a frame lift, so the whole car is going to be in the air. Is it possible to put everything in, let the car down(not all the way, just to get some wieght on the wheels), then tighten all the bolts down? If I do not preload anything with a non-progressive spring, what's going to happen?

Thanks again!!

 

Let it down and then tighten the suspension bolts. This will assure the bushings are loaded properly. If you tighten when the car is on the lift the bushings will be preloaded and will not perform optimally.

Utah

 

Well, do you guys think it's possible to let the car down with the wheels on and somehow tighten the bolts down? I know the rears should be easy considering I just have to tighten the bottom bolt to preload. As for the fronts, I'm sure that can be nearly impossible with the wheels on, car down and still be able to get to the bottom bolt and the A-arm bolts.

 

It's possible, when doing the front you have to turn the wheel to get access. It is some times hard to get a proper torque on the bolt when the car is on the ground with the wheels on. This is one of the reasons I prefer my method, it allows good access to achieve a good torque.

 

Ok. I guess I can keep the wheels off of it while it's still on the lift and just use the jack method. Thanks guys for the help.

 

i wanted to know this as well. thanks for the thread and replies

 

Well said, I was about to give the same advice from all the suspensions I've put in. You saved me alot of typing. Sweet!!!

One thing I do differently is the placement of the jack. I place it under the lower ball joint and the control arm. That way I don't stress the rotor or risk damaging it. Just my $.02.


-Hockey

 

instead of lowering it all the way down and using a jack
you can leave it up in the air and use a screw jack well i call them screw jacks

http://www.sjdiscounttools.com/mtn5175.html