Help with deciding on JOM coilover ride height

[Dr. Anthony]

Hi guys. I have a 91 318is. I needed to replace my shocks and struts and figured I'd just buy a new cheapo "coilover" kit.

Looking for guidance on what ride height would be best. It's just a weekend car. No track, just normal sunny day driving. I read where someone had suggested setting the front adjuster to 1.5" from the bottom.

Just looking for your input. Even if you had a pic with what yours is set to would be great.

Thanks

[ak-]

It's up to you really so long as you're not bottoming out the shocks up front under suspension travel which is really easy to do when lowering the car.

Bottoming out the shocks will reduce the life pronto.

Are you doing cutting off the spring perch as well, or just throwing the sleeve on there with spring?

[Dr. Anthony]

It's up to you really so long as you're not bottoming out the shocks up front under suspension travel which is really easy to do when lowering the car.

Bottoming out the shocks will reduce the life pronto.

Are you doing cutting off the spring perch as well, or just throwing the sleeve on there with spring?

Thanks for the reply. I didn't modify the strut housing. Im putting the spring on the top where retaining nut used to be

[Dr. Anthony]

This is how I have that setup right now

[ak-]

I have a strong feeling that your whole unit is installed upside down.
Did your kit come with a wrench that has two little prongs on it? IIRC that is for tightening down the unit into your threaded shock housing.

Edit: I see the silver wrench in your pic actually



Refer to this link and you can see the little holes on top that the pronged wrench will spin

https://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showpost.php?p=3243590&postcount=50

[Dr. Anthony]

Hmm, this is how i currently have it.
The inside of the blue part is threaded in holding the strut inside the housing.

Did I do it wrong? My box didn't come with any instructions/pictures. I searched online to look for some instructions, but couldn't find anything.

I bought my kit 1.5-2 years ago and never installed it until now.

Its still out, so if its wrong.. I'll definitely fix it now :D

[Dr. Anthony]

This is how i have them. Just trying to figure out a different combination where it will thread into the strut housing.

*edit* Looks like the small piece actually sits INSIDE the housing, not out of the housing. right? I'll disassemble it tomorrow and see if that works.

I really appreciate your help! I would have tried installing it this way :P

[ak-]

Think you got it now!

UP is the correct orientation.

The little green star is material so that when the spring is seated, it won't bang on the threads of the collar and wear them flat, preventing you from adjusting the collar.






The little piece does thread into the housing, then the collar threads on top of that after being slipped over I believe.

So, pink circle is going to thread into pink circle when it's all installed correctly.

[Dr. Anthony]

Think you got it now!

UP is the correct orientation.

The little green star is material so that when the spring is seated, it won't bang on the threads of the collar and wear them flat, preventing you from adjusting the collar.






The little piece does thread into the housing, then the collar threads on top of that after being slipped over I believe.

So, pink circle is going to thread into pink circle when it's all installed correctly.

Woops! Sorry, I had responded but i didnt hit submit.

I got it all figured out. I'm just trying to figure out how low to set it so it still looks good.

Saw this setup, but the guy hasn't been online for 4 years.

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_max3btdNY01qhhpe6o1_1280.jpg