Coilover/alignment/Wheel spacer question Anyone use them? I just put on my coilovers (K-Sport) and my wheels/tires (235/40 on 17x8 Rota Torques) barely fit with all the positive camber I can manage from the lower strut body (1/2" to 1/4" clearance). Could I use a 3mm spacer to give a little more/safer clearance? Any opinions on these or where to get them? I have an alignment scheduled for tomorrow.
Hmmmm.... that's quite weird.. i had no problems with 245/45 which is a much taller tire... K-Sport have some weird geometry? i don't know of anywhere locally that would carry good spacers, but you might be able to find some cheap generic ones at an autoparts store.
yea...that seems wierd as well...235 should be fine...I'm running 18x8.5 245/40 and I'm rubbing in the rear, not the front...
I bought the coilovers used from a guy with a 2004 RS. I wonder if that's the problem. I was supposed to get an alignment today, but I've been to 3 places and none of them will touch my car because it's too low and they can't get it on the lift. Firestone at least tried. So I'm weighing my options. Do I take it to Rochester Toyota which just built their lift into the ground so you can drive over it? Do I drive as is until the weekend and try to raise the height a 1/2"-1" or so? Or do I take these off and sell them and get some BC coilovers from importimage.com? Maybe I'm just SOL.
take it Toyota. If you raise it up so they can align it, when you drop it back down, your alignment will be out slightly. So why not just get it done at Toyota where they can do it at your ride height. Prepare for the raping though when you get the bill. Need to recoup their expenditure on the machine
i have some wheel spacers if you want them for the time being, they are at most 5 mm 5 bucks and they are yours
Here are some pictures. Maybe I just need to raise it up an inch or so. IMO it's pretty darn low as it is, maybe too low.
I can get the tips of my fingers between. So it's about 1/2" or less. If I raise the ride height by adjusting the lower part of the mount, i might have enough clearance then...
Hmmmm, doesn't look to unusual to me.... Coilovers can be tricky due to the different ways they are designed (spring length, height adjustability, etc). It appears as though the spring perch is the culprit, same as me on the RS. There are a few options: 1) Raise the car so that the perch is no longer next to the sidewall. 2) Buy new springs (longer or shorter) so that the perch is no longer next to the sidewall 3) Spacer. I am currently hoping a 3mm spacer works for me. Unfortunately, it will be a bit before I know as the entire rear suspension is ripped out right now, trying to get bushings in (note the use of 'trying'). I don't think any reputable companies make a 3mm spacer, I have cheap ones I got for free from a VW guy that had no use for them. However, I may have to go to 5mm to get the necessary clearance. If you go 3mm, I think buying off Ebay or whatever would be fine, you do not need to replace the studs. If you go to 5mm, I suggest you change the studs (even though most places say you are ok with 5mm). I look at the studs with 3mm and I cringe at the possibility of going to 5mm. Be sure to check the center bore if you go for a 3mm, it needs to be big enough. If you go to 5mm, H&R makes them hubcentric, with replacement studs for ~$65. One thing to note... I am running V710 tires so there is nearly no sidewall flex so I am comfortable with a few mm of clearance. For street tires, I would allow more but I don't have experience with how much that should be...
Yeah... from the pictures, it doesn't look like your rubbing against anything. if it's not rubbing against anything at this point, just go out and wail on it a little bit, then come back and check the tires... add a few PSI, wail again, if it still rubs, you need spacers no rub, your a-ok. but if you can get a finger in there, and your not hitting the perches, you should be fine.
hate to bust your cherry my fellow skippy but ALL alignments are done at RIDE height.. they sit on a lift with bearing plates for the adjustments... the difference he is talking about is the height of the lift and angle of entry... (which is wierd that an Aussie doesnt know much about ENTRY angle.. ha ha)
Sorry to upset you skippy mate but I knew that! The reason I said don't raise the vehicle was because I got the distinct impression he was going to lift the vehicle for the purpose of making it get onto the alignment rack, get the wheels aligned at the new ride height and then drop it back down after the alignment throwing his new alignment settings out of kilter. Does that make sense?
Is it my fault she is that gullible? *snickers* I think I need a newe ute....F350 dually should work. LOL
Alright, back on subject - my thread! I am going to lengthen the coilovers to raise the ride height. It's too low for a mac-strut suspension to work as effectively as it should anyway. the previous owner must have been after the slammed look rather than performance gains. Also, if i brought along some 2x8s (lumber) along to the shop, do you think they would use them to get my car on the lift?
yep.... they should be able too.. problem is like on my lift it can damage teh ramps as it bends them up.... just ask!!!
