Hello, all.
I'm install lowering springs on my Konis this weekend.
When I preload the bushings, is it okay to rest the vehicle on jack stands supporting the lower arms only?
I couldn't find a better way to preload the bushings before torqueing everything.
(Although I did see someone put weight on the brake discs)

I'm trying to do this;
1) jack up the vehicle, remove wheels
2) install shock/springs
3) lower the vehicle on a jackstand(supporting the lower arms instead of the jack point)

Is the lower arm strong enough to support the weight of the vehicle?

Thanks for your help guys.

Dan

 

Why don't you just preload one corner with a jack at a time? Put your car on 4 jack stands and jack up one corner at a time. You can tell it's preloaded when the corner of the car lifts slightly higher than the other 3 corners.

 

Thanks for the reply but with the car on 4 jack stands, when you start to jack up one side only, I won't know when the weight on that side goes over what it's supposed to have.
The one I jack up will have more weight to it than it does when it's sitting on tires.

Dan

 

I keep it on the jackstands as well. Leave all four corners supported with the stands and slide the jack under the lower control arm that you are working with. Raise it slightly until the control arm is parallel with the ground. Tighten everything up and lower the jack back down. Do the same for each corner and your good to go.

I would not recommend supporting the corner solely on the control arm. Too risky.


-Hockey

 

Thanks for the replys.
I was checking to see if that's possible cuz I want the suspension to sit dead even.
I've noticed that preloading procedure affects the ride height.

Dan

 

You can do your method.

I sometimes use the method where I jack up the LCA and leave the jackstands under the car.

You can also do this: Figure out what your suspension height is going to be via math or the koni manual. As in what the distance from your fender well to your hub center will be when the suspension is in.

For example. If your fender well bottom to hub distance as it sits now is 14'', and you want to lower the car by 2'', the new distance will be 12''.

In that case, before you even put your shock/spring assembly on, just jack up the suspension with no resistance on it. Get some measuring tape and measure 12'' from fender well bottom to hub center. Preload there. THEN put the suspension in.

I'm always thinking.

 

 

^ Thanks for the info.
Good idea. I was thinking about something like that too.

Thanks,

Dan