How To: Coilovers and strut tube modification (with pictures!)

[rs4pro3]

Just start browsing some of the circle track shops, AFCO makes some sleeves that work as well as the adjusters. I'd heard that before so I just starting searching for coilover hardware and found 3 or 4 companies that sold stuff that would work. None have the sleeves in the right length so I just purchased a 7" long one and cut it in half and it fit perfectly.

[mspiegle]

Ya, I believe Ireland dosn't make them either as the stuff looks identical to the ones I purchased from another company, ya my set screws have little nylon tips on them, pretty nice if I might add :) The supplier has the adjusters for both size springs I believe, I know for the 2.5 they had both the gold, and black adjuster nuts. A lot of the circle track places and what not make everything that will work on these cars also. I paid around $50 not including springs for my front stuff

Man... so much markup. TCK said to run the adjusters upside down since my springs are too small for them. Any way you'd be interested in sharing where I can get the adjusters? :D

[rs4pro3]

Ya, I believe Ireland dosn't make them either as the stuff looks identical to the ones I purchased from another company, ya my set screws have little nylon tips on them, pretty nice if I might add :) The supplier has the adjusters for both size springs I believe, I know for the 2.5 they had both the gold, and black adjuster nuts. A lot of the circle track places and what not make everything that will work on these cars also. I paid around $50 not including springs for my front stuff

[E30_pilot]

GOOD Stuff!!! I'll end up doing this later

MIG is easy. Trust me. As my welding teacher once told me " a monkey can mig weld."
Took me like 5mins to master it. Haha
Now TIG took some time to getting used to. I shock myself a couple of times.

BTW Sean TIG isn't for steel welding.;)

[mspiegle]

It's pretty tight but not super tight, but I'm ussing 2.5" springs. Ireland and Tc-Kline don't actualy make those parts, I believe they just buy them from the same supplier I did and cut the adjusters to length. (they use 3 holes for the spanner wrench and a little nylon tipped setscrew correct?)

Oh, and just as an FYI - TCK openly admits that they don't make the camber plates/coilover sleeves. They tell you that they get them from IE because it wouldn't be feasible to have their own custom ones mades. Would cost lots more $$$. The only thing I got from TCK (which doesn't actually come from them) are the shocks/springs. They might make their RSMs, but i'm not sure... might be an IE part too.

[mspiegle]

It's pretty tight but not super tight, but I'm ussing 2.5" springs. Ireland and Tc-Kline don't actualy make those parts, I believe they just buy them from the same supplier I did and cut the adjusters to length. (they use 3 holes for the spanner wrench and a little nylon tipped setscrew correct?)

Interesting... i'm using 60mm springs which are smaller than 2.5". Yes, my adjuster is as you described. Maybe that's why i'm having so much trouble making it fit? I'll ask TCK and make sure.

I also didn't know that set screw was nylon tipped... I was worried about it gouging the threading on the sleeve, but I guess they got that covered :)

[rs4pro3]

It's pretty tight but not super tight, but I'm ussing 2.5" springs. Ireland and Tc-Kline don't actualy make those parts, I believe they just buy them from the same supplier I did and cut the adjusters to length. (they use 3 holes for the spanner wrench and a little nylon tipped setscrew correct?)

[mspiegle]

Nice but I think you have the adjuster nut on upside down:)
Here is my setup

Same stuff as the ireland and TcKline setup, just a different color adjuster nut.(ignore the scuffed paint, I had to cut the sleeves down to fit, and used the nut as a guide for the hack saw)

DAMNIT! I knew it. I was going to call TCK and ask them about that, but I guess no need :D

Does your spring have a really tight fit on that little nub on the adjuster nut? That's the only reason I put it on backwards... it was a really tight fit.

[mspiegle]

Good looking write with great pictures! Damnit.. I need to learn how to weld.

Its SOOO not hard. I was all ready to take the welding class at my local college, but their schedule for upcomming semester didn't work for me. I decided to just get the welder and learn on my own. I got the Lincoln Electric SP-175 (MIG Welder). Its a VERY good unit and i've only been welding for a couple weeks. I have someone who's been giving me advice on welding and i'm coming along pretty well. The weld is so strong that I could put that strut tube in a hydraulic press, bend it at a 90 degree angle, and it won't even crack/break!

[mspiegle]

TIG Welder?

If it's TIG, it's not that difficult. Little practice, and it'll be straight forward. It's steel too, so it's not a bitch to weld.

I MIG'd that. Thanks for the compliment :D

[Dave]

Ely is right - your adjuster is upside down.

[rs4pro3]

Nice but I think you have the adjuster nut on upside down:)
Here is my setup

Same stuff as the ireland and TcKline setup, just a different color adjuster nut.(ignore the scuffed paint, I had to cut the sleeves down to fit, and used the nut as a guide for the hack saw)

[Sean]

TIG Welder?

If it's TIG, it's not that difficult. Little practice, and it'll be straight forward. It's steel too, so it's not a bitch to weld.

[RobertK]

Good looking write with great pictures! Damnit.. I need to learn how to weld.

[Erick]

Great writeup!