[vtsng]

So it's been almost 2 weeks since installing these coils (longer than I initially thought) and I haven't noticed much settling on the coils at all.

I put the rears on max drop and it's still quite a bit higher than many other ST v1s I've seen.

I messaged around and found that some members were able to achieve an even lower stance than mine yet still not maxed out on the exact same car with the exact same coils.

Here are some pics:




The ground is as close to perfectly level as possible, the perch is sitting on the top as it should be, the spring is seated properly on the bottom, the code on the spring reads 2012...



I've heard some people tightened the lower bolt on the shock to resolve this problem, but I don't want to over tighten and strip it and I've had no luck with an exact ft/lbs reference to follow.

Also, is it absolutely necessary to keep the stock upper shock mount (not sure what it's called) on the new coils? The new coils didn't come with a new upper mount. Would it affect the height at all if I had removed it?:



Now i'm scratching my head...

Any input would be greatly appreciated!

Ideally this is the drop I was hoping for (edited with photoshop):

[kkashanchi]

You posted a thread 4 days ago saying you installed a new set of coilovers, give it time it'll settle.
My coilovers just settled and I'm getting an alignment tomorrow. I waited 3 and a half weeks for them to settle.

[vtsng]

Originally Posted by kkashanchi

You posted a thread 4 days ago saying you installed a new set of coilovers, give it time it'll settle.
My coilovers just settled and I'm getting an alignment tomorrow. I waited 3 and a half weeks for them to settle.

"So it's been almost 2 weeks since installing these coils (longer than I initially thought) and I haven't noticed much settling on the coils at all.

To be exact, 10 days.

It actually has not budged since installment. Ive been using a set of digital calipers to track any movement and nothing has changed..

[kkashanchi]

Originally Posted by vtsng

"So it's been almost 2 weeks since installing these coils (longer than I initially thought) and I haven't noticed much settling on the coils at all.

To be exact, 10 days.

It actually has not budged since installment. Ive been using a set of digital calipers to track any movement and nothing has changed..

have you been driving around to let them settle?
that's odd that they aren't settling... mine and many of my friends' coilovers settled a lot in the first 2 weeks

[vtsng]

Originally Posted by kkashanchi

have you been driving around to let them settle?
that's odd that they aren't settling... mine and many of my friends' coilovers settled a lot in the first 2 weeks

Maybe not hard but I have been driving about 30km every day since the install. 2 weeks settling is generally what I've been hearing. I'm going to torque the lower shock bolt to 73.76 lbs/ft based on some torque values I've found on this forum (http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=914514) although I'm a little concerned that the values may be different for e90s. I really hope I don't end up stripping anything!

[kkashanchi]

Originally Posted by vtsng

Maybe not hard but I have been driving about 30km every day since the install. 2 weeks settling is generally what I've been hearing. I'm going to torque the lower shock bolt to 73.76 lbs/ft based on some torque values I've found on this forum (http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=914514) although I'm a little concerned that the values may be different for e90s. I really hope I don't end up stripping anything!

I wouldn't worry about stripping anything because I tightened the shock bolt with air tools lol.
It may not look as low because your alignment may off but it depends on how bad your alignment is (mine is horrible after the install)!
Hope they drop, keep the thread posted.

[vtsng]

Originally Posted by kkashanchi

I wouldn't worry about stripping anything because I tightened the shock bolt with air tools lol.
It may not look as low because your alignment may off but it depends on how bad your alignment is (mine is horrible after the install)!
Hope they drop, keep the thread posted.

My alignment did get pretty bad after the install. I'm holding the steering wheel to the left to stay straight. I'll try tightening the bolt some more tomorrow and I'll give an update on how things turn out. Thanks for your help!

[Mr Singh]

Were all the bolts loose before putting the car down on the ground? just thinking of preload on suspension parts..

I had similar issue with mine and turned out I had wrong poundage springs!!

[vtsng]

Originally Posted by Mr Singh

Were all the bolts loose before putting the car down on the ground? just thinking of preload on suspension parts..

I had similar issue with mine and turned out I had wrong poundage springs!!

The bolts were all tightened before setting it down.

I'm also just trying to find the torque specs on the suspension but no luck...

[vtsng]

Just edited the thread to include a roughly photoshopped pic of the drop I'd want.

Could it settle in with this much of a difference?

[vtsng]

I just thought of something,

Could it be that I used the stock shock mount (not sure what it's called) that goes over the top of the strut on the new coils? I don't believe it should make a difference though and If i recall correctly, the manual did suggest using the stock piece on the new coils and the box didn't come with any new ones. Just a thought...

[THE TECH]

Looks good.

[lemmegetatthat]

I've had the same issue with my ST coils as well. installed in April and rear is still not very low...

[vtsng]

Originally Posted by lemmegetatthat

I've had the same issue with my ST coils as well. installed in April and rear is still not very low...

Wow, youd think 3 months is more than enough time to settle...something is definitely wrong here...

[beskone]

When I had my ST's installed LTBMW set the rear with a 2 finger gap in the rear, and after 2 weeks it had settled to about a half finger gap. It settled so much that I need to drop the front a bit more as the fronts hardly settle at all.

I have an e92 though...

[lemmegetatthat]

I used to have HR sports on stock shocks and it looked perfect, I wanted to get that same look with these coils but its higher. I'll post pics for comparison later, but its pretty much the same as the OPs pics

[Mr Singh]

Remove the perches on the rear, it'll be tucking

[AWD Addict]

Why would you want it any lower? It looks fantastic.

If you want the cut springs look, just cut the springs.

[joec500]

Originally Posted by beskone

When I had my ST's installed LTBMW set the rear with a 2 finger gap in the rear, and after 2 weeks it had settled to about a half finger gap. It settled so much that I need to drop the front a bit more as the fronts hardly settle at all.

I have an e92 though...

Same here, over the course of 4 years I have had to lift my rears quite a bit to keep up with Spring Sag and needing more clearance for meatier tires and aggressive wheel offsets.

[vtsng]

Originally Posted by AWD Addict

Why would you want it any lower? It looks fantastic.

If you want the cut springs look, just cut the springs.

Although I do want it lower, what bothers me most is the fact that I'm completely maxed out on the perch while others have achieved a lower drop without maxing it out. It makes me wonder of there was a problem with the installation.

[vtsng]

Originally Posted by lemmegetatthat

I used to have HR sports on stock shocks and it looked perfect, I wanted to get that same look with these coils but its higher. I'll post pics for comparison later, but its pretty much the same as the OPs pics

Some pics would be great. Thanks!

[E9TOU]

Be thankful you're at least tucked. I'm maxed out on my KW V3's and the ride height is not nearly as low as I'd like. I'm prob gonna take the perches off when I get the chance. I'm barely halfway on the fronts.