hello everyone, was wanting a bit of advice. i am halfway through the fitting of my coilovers today. i did the front and it looked ok. not as low as i would want it but as low as it would go. then on the rear i had to raise the spring seats up to clear the driveshaft. i only did one side so far as it took ages trying to get the old shocks out (the springs were snapped so couldnt get lot of compression with the spring compressors) the rear looks jacked up and the front just isnt low enough.
my question is… what do you all think about removing the helper springs???
ive looked into it somewhat and i found out the helpers are just to keep the spring from dislocating of the seat.
so offer nothing in the way of spring rate. by removing the helpers i would gain the kind of height adjustment i want. but as ive never ran coilies before i thought i should ask. please help.
thanks in advance
It isnt a problem except at MOT time… my understanding is that if the spring can be wobbled around when the suspension is on full droop then this will be grounds for an MOT failure, if not currently then certainly in the not so distant future (Jan 2012)
On this basis it would seem that flat-wound helper springs will be very essential items when using a coilover set-up…
One of the other new measures being introduced is that any car originally listed as having a catalytic converter must be fitted with a working one at time of test. (regardless of whether the vehicles emissions are within limits)
On same note, also coming soon to an MOT station near you: any car originally listed as being fitted with an airbag steering wheel must also have a functional one fitted for an MOT test.
I apologise in advance if any of the above is in-correct or not word perfect copy and paste word for word verbatim quotations, but as I understand having spoken with a few MOT folk it is all true.
I will be sticking to Bilsteins ta!
Dr. Eunos
it wouldnt wobble, as the spring seats are machined for the spring to sit on them. ive done some research and from what i can tell the helpers are only to assist the main spring from dislocating in the event of the arm fully extending if the the springs were set to a ‘normal’ ride height. but on these coilovers you can move the collar upto the main spring so it wouldn’t wobble and at full extension of the suspension the spring would just sit on the machined collar. the main reason for removing the helper is to get it sitting at the right height.
so in regards to your thoughts of it failing the MOT it would be fine as the coilover itself wouldnt move (either the spring or shock)
but i really appreciate your input and its certainly made me think.
you can see my problem with the rear, thats as low as it will go with the helper springs still attached. and the front wont go any lower either. but its at about the right height
New springs will typically settle over time.
Since your shocks appear to be the Raceland/Rokker types, this might be useful:
http://clubroadster.net/vb_forum/showthread.php?t=23924
There was also a very similar thread here, on Spax coilovers, with the same problem. Double check you have the springs fitted correctly.
http://www.mx5oc.co.uk/forum/forums/p/14284/83777.aspx#83777