KW Coilover owners get in here!

[DatUtahGuy]

So I took the E30 to my dad's shop tonight with the intention of raising the front end just a bit as my IS lip is taking a beating.

Removed the front drivers and turned the adjusting screw no problem, go to do the same to the passenger side and holy sh*t, it won't budge. Now all 4 corners are usually soft enough that I can turn the screw by hand no problem once I lift the vehicle.

So after about an hour of trying different methods and realizing that there is something wrong, what it might be I don't know, I gave up. I am kind of ashamed of the lenghts that I went to and how mangled it ended up. I was not able to move it at all.

Anyone had this problem before? I bought them a little over a year ago and never had any problems until tonight.

Help?

[ak-]

Your car is off the ground right?

edit: didn't read that right. Tap with a hammer and screw driver? PB blaster?

[DatUtahGuy]

Yes sir, off the ground, wheel off, the allen screw that tightens the adjusting piece all the way off, I can turn the spring with my hand, but still no go

[ak-]

BFH and a screwdriver

[DatUtahGuy]

Your car is off the ground right?

edit: didn't read that right. Tap with a hammer and screw driver? PB blaster?

I was using a vice grip and sprayed lubricant on the threads and nada, the plastic started to break off with how much pressure I was giving it. It would barely move, almost like it jumped a thread somehow

[ak-]

Maybe the allen that locks it in place created some sort of groove in the thread.
Have you tried spinning them upwards?

See, if you're using vice grips, you are also squishing the collar too, making it hug the sleeve more; since it's only plastic you said.
Try the hammer and screwdriver.

[DatUtahGuy]

I started using the provided tool, then I ramped it up from there, vice grips were last resort, I tried going up and down, it would not spin either way.

I may need to contact a KW retailer and get this looked at

[CHIF8008]

yea that looks bad.-possible dirt bindup? idk but they may say tough luck because you tore them up

edit: did you say the collars are plastic!?

[DatUtahGuy]

plastic with a metal core

[Massimo]

Don't know if it is the photo or not but that collar looks slightly bent?

[Ant_e30]

i've had mild success in the past with hitting the spring pretty bloody hard with a hammer, pref like a mini sledgey. Just bash away on it and it causes the whole assembly to vibrate like hell. This may cause the threads to unbind somewhat.

and i trust you are using a correct C Spanner?? i've also had luck with putting the C spanner nicely around the collar (like encompassing the whole half of the collar) then sliding a long pole over it (like 1m long lol) and turning..

dont hit the collars with anything much, as you have discovered they're soft alloy :/

edit- the C spanner is better to use than screwdriver seriously. screwdrivers just fuck the collars up, like eat into the metal. The C spanner transfers the force evenly around the collar..

[DatUtahGuy]

i've had mild success in the past with hitting the spring pretty bloody hard with a hammer, pref like a mini sledgey. Just bash away on it and it causes the whole assembly to vibrate like hell. This may cause the threads to unbind somewhat.

and i trust you are using a correct C Spanner?? i've also had luck with putting the C spanner nicely around the collar (like encompassing the whole half of the collar) then sliding a long pole over it (like 1m long lol) and turning..

dont hit the collars with anything much, as you have discovered they're soft alloy :/

edit- the C spanner is better to use than screwdriver seriously. screwdrivers just fuck the collars up, like eat into the metal. The C spanner transfers the force evenly around the collar..

I was using a c-spanner on it barely moved it. The thing thats got me scratching my head is what would have done this? I honestly dont believe dirty could have clogged it that bad. Either way for now I will still roll low and slow, lol

[FSUJBP]

You should always use anti seize on coil over adjusters. You probably have some corrosion between the adjuster and the thread.

[DatUtahGuy]

[QUOTE=FSUJBP;2976468]You should always use anti seize on coil over adjusters. You probably have some corrosion between the adjuster and the thread.

I never thought about that, thanks for the tip