Stock height and coilover adjustment question

[mtcheral]

Ok, I've searched and read a bunch of posts about adjusting coilovers, but nothing that clears it up for me. I haven't dealt with these things before and just got my new SAW's in. Not sure what the adjusting collar is or any of the other important pieces mentioned in posts for the adjustment. What the hell do you do with the spanner wrench too (specifically)? The instructions that come with these things really suck for a beginner. Also, i have spacers in right now so I don't have the stock ride height to compare when adjusting, can anybody give me the measurement from center of hub to bottom of fender flare on a DC 4x4 TRD? Thanks, Mark

BTW, they are supposed to already be set at 2" lift so I really only want to go up .5". Mine are the new 13" coils.

[Imdone]

The spaner wrench is that silver stick with the "C" on the end with the pin sticking into the end.

Go grab the coilover while you read this and it will make sense. Waiting...


Now that you are back from getting one of the coilovers , hahaha, just kidding but really get one of them.


Anyway, the adjusting collar is the ring between the top plate and the spring. The top plate is the "top" part of the coilover.

The spaner wrench is used to adjust the height of the lift. You use the spaner wrench to adjust the height.

You will see that there are holes in the adjusting collar, if you have the wrench with you, you will find that the pin on the end of the wrench fits in the holes on the collar beautifully.

Using a tape measure measure from the top of the shock body which is the top part of the threads, you will see that there are threads going around the shock, this is what the adjusting collar twists around on. This is the same thing as a nut and a bolt.

Measuring the viewable threads from the top of the shock body to the top of the adjusting collar will give you a really good idea of the amount of lift.

I put a set on my wife's 4runner and when I got them they were not set at 2" one was set at 1" and one was a 1.75" so check the measurements.

You can't adjust these until you put them on though, also put some silicone spray or some sort of lubricant on the threads before you start adjusting, this will make it easier to turn.

Also if you lift the truck off the ground and have the suspension drooped out, this is when the tires are off the ground and the control arms are flexed downward, this will also make it easier to adjust the collar.

Good luck, it's pretty easy, if you can find a friend it will make it easier, and if you put the spacers in then this will be a piece of cake.

[mtcheral]

Aha! (lightbulb clicks on in my head) It makes perfect sense now. I am mechanically inclined but just have never dealt with anything like this before. Here in Louisiana, not too many folks use coilovers, mostly spacers or jacked up high with cradle lifts. Anyway, I got it, and I will have a friend that has his own 4x4 toyota truck jacked up helping. One more question though, why does it need to be on the truck to make the adjustment, or is it just easier that way? I have seen posts that say you should have it set about where you want it before you put it on.

Anybody have the stock ride height for me to compare? Thanks.

[Imdone]

You can crank it up before you put them on but you'll have to push the controlarms down farther to get them in place. Adjusting them on the truck is easy and you don't have to force them in.

[mtcheral]

Thanks, that helps a lot.

[awr68]

He is right, jacking the truck off the ground will make this much easier...actually it's the only way I could do it as you are literaly lifting the truck by turning the spanner wrench if it's not off the ground.

[mtcheral]

Thanks, install is tentatively set up for tues. or wed. after work.

[mtcheral]

Install done- now to adjust

[scottl]

I didn't see this mentioned, but a 10" pipe about 1" in diameter used as a cheater works great, especially after they have been on a while and you want to adjust the COs.

Scott