so i have a noise from the rear of my car and i think its a clunking due from wrong preload.

i have been looking for a diy on setting the preload but all the coilovers setups i have been dont have a helper spring.

so does anyone know how to set it with a helper?

coilovers are ARK ST-P.

thanks.

-Nick.

 

You don't really set preload per say on a coilover with linear rate springs. What you set is the amount of droop you want the car to have.

I am not familiar with those coilovers, do the have spherical bearings on top and solid aluminum top hats? If that's the case the noise you are hearing might be normal. Coilovers with solid top mounts tend to be really noisy, sort of like if the center top bolt that holds the hats in place would be loose.

J

 

hmm yeah thats possible.
im here at work now with the car on the lift.

i had the helper spring really tight and compressed onto the main spring. i also found a loose end link.

i pulled the rears out and took the springs out, i then snugged the helper up to the main spring, i hope this fixes the issue. i really have it isnt the top mounts.

 

Remove the wheel and loosen everything and set the rotor on some wood then tighten torque to spec.

 

you mean the bolts up top?

 

Should be the upper and lower control arms and anything else that was loosened during the install. I install my coil-overs a couple of years ago and cannot remember all the items I loosened up.

 

ok so i set the preload correct and the noise is gone.

today i went to raise the rear and when i spun the two rings that are locked against each other (to spin the shock body up) it started to compress the helper spring.

i was under the impression that would not happen as long as i held the spring..