Ford Sierra/Sapphire/RS500 Cosworth This forum is for discussion of all things pertaining to the Ford Sierra Cosworth.

Coilover question?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 08:31 AM
  #1  
Sticky.'s Avatar
Sticky.
Thread Starter
20K+ Super Poster.
20 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 23,349
Likes: 0
From: Liverpool
Default Coilover question?

Whats the correct way to set coilovers up. Just had the car 4 wheel aligned after fitting new track rod ends & the adj TCA's. The guy told me that he front Coilovers need setting up. (left one up 2 turns & right down)

When checking last night, i noticed that they were not equal length threads on each side, so set them to equal & now the left side is higher. Ive checked this on flat ground. Shall i just set them back to how they were?

Any advice please guys...Tab or Mike maybe?
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 08:51 AM
  #2  
WongRS's Avatar
WongRS
PassionFord Post Whore!!
iTrader: (11)
 
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 4,058
Likes: 0
From: Oswestry, Shropshire
Default

i'm not hugely (read remotely) knowledgable on it, but i noticed this with the back of mine, i set them at the same height off the car and it sat about an inch higher one side, so i just set them so it sat at equal distances on a flat surface!
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 09:00 AM
  #3  
Ridgey's Avatar
Ridgey
PassionFord Post Whore!!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 140
From: Warrington
Default

Paul
Unless your getting the car corner weighted, where they set them for weight distribution and less concerned about heights.
I'd (did on my own car) have the car on flat ground and set the so the front of the car is level and the back of the car is level. Think i measured from the floor to the top of the arches for convenience and made sure they were the same.

Also good to check that (unless you have helper springs) that the srings on the rear are sat properly on the platforms.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 09:04 AM
  #4  
Sticky.'s Avatar
Sticky.
Thread Starter
20K+ Super Poster.
20 Year Member
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 23,349
Likes: 0
From: Liverpool
Default

I was told to measure from the floor to the wing mirrors Dave (on level ground) It's about 2mm out if im being pickie, but there is a good inch difference from the tyre to arch.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 11:22 AM
  #5  
Ridgey's Avatar
Ridgey
PassionFord Post Whore!!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 140
From: Warrington
Default

Maybe you should measure from floor to chassis then if you have a discrepency ?
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 03:36 PM
  #6  
Dan's Avatar
Dan
20K+ Super Poster.
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 22,888
Likes: 0
From: Local, when i'm home...
Default

Fucking wierd that is Paul! PM Mike or Martin or someone mate and see what they have to advise... Either that or i'd drop Gaz or whoever it is yours are made by a line.

Kinda glad i'm not fucking about with coilovers now!
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 03:39 PM
  #7  
Staffi's Avatar
Staffi
20K+ Super Poster.
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 21,194
Likes: 107
From: Don't be nosey
Default

Paul,

Mike R is the man to advise you on these mate, or Sheady...
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 03:57 PM
  #8  
Ridgey's Avatar
Ridgey
PassionFord Post Whore!!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 140
From: Warrington
Default

Sounds like the wings or mirrors are not true and straight.

Wing mirrors can droop i guess to some degree, and the wings can easily be bent out of shape over time, for example by using them to lift the car slightly to get a jack under etc etc.
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 04:00 PM
  #9  
Dan's Avatar
Dan
20K+ Super Poster.
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 22,888
Likes: 0
From: Local, when i'm home...
Default

Originally Posted by Dave Ridge
Sounds like the wings or mirrors are not true and straight.

Wing mirrors can droop i guess to some degree, and the wings can easily be bent out of shape over time, for example by using them to lift the car slightly to get a jack under etc etc.
Saph's shouldn't be that low in the first place!
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 04:44 PM
  #10  
Paul_RS's Avatar
Paul_RS
PassionFord Post Whore!!
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 7,886
Likes: 35
From: Bangor, Northern Ireland
Default

Best way to measure is from ground to sills, unless you've bent your entire chassis at some point lol
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 04:51 PM
  #11  
tabetha's Avatar
tabetha
20K+ Super Poster.
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 24,596
Likes: 4
From: uk
Default

All I do is measure from the lip of the bottom collar to the adjuster knob, by putting the end of the tape measure on the knob so it holds it while then stretching out tape.
I wouldn't measure from mirrors as these are further away from the ends of the dampers so any discrepancy will be magnified, even more so when the mirrors are different heights each side due to droop mentioned.
It is best to get the car corner weighted, as this will produce the best handling grip for the car, which is why you have modded suspension.
If you get the ride height "correct" it goes out as soon as you get in anyway!!
Get it corner weighted with you sat in the seat.
tabetha
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 04:52 PM
  #12  
JamesH's Avatar
JamesH
10K+ Poster!!
iTrader: (21)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 10,807
Likes: 8
From: .
Default

Paul

Measure all 4 corners from the ground to centre of wheel
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 06:20 PM
  #13  
Ridgey's Avatar
Ridgey
PassionFord Post Whore!!
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 4,392
Likes: 140
From: Warrington
Default

What will measuring from the ground to the centre of the wheel do apart from tell you the radius of your wheel and tyre combo ??????????????????
Reply
Old Jun 11, 2008 | 07:47 PM
  #14  
JTECH James's Avatar
JTECH James
Passion for Fords!
iTrader: (13)
 
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 10,754
Likes: 2
From: Devon/Blackpool
Default

Reply
Old Jun 12, 2008 | 04:51 AM
  #15  
tabetha's Avatar
tabetha
20K+ Super Poster.
 
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 24,596
Likes: 4
From: uk
Default

I assume he meant wheel ARCH ?
tabetha
ps was funny though
Reply
Old Jun 12, 2008 | 09:36 PM
  #16  
Staffi's Avatar
Staffi
20K+ Super Poster.
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 21,194
Likes: 107
From: Don't be nosey
Default

Paul,

You keeping the saff now then??
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2008 | 03:31 AM
  #17  
Gav Diamond's Avatar
Gav Diamond
PassionFord Post Whore!!
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 4,382
Likes: 9
From: West Midlands
Default

Paul,
Your not the only one, had this with the 3dr aswell dude.
Reply
Old Jun 13, 2008 | 08:20 AM
  #18  
Micky The Finn's Avatar
Micky The Finn
Former Sponsor
 
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 5,730
Likes: 0
From: in the nite garden
Default

paul,you measure from the floor,to the chassis around the jacking points,not on panels,mirrors,tyres or magic trees,to the arch is bolocks,who says the arches are the same?
look in the group A build manual from ford,that will tell you how to do it,and for stability and handling i always like some down rake.
Reply
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
M7 COS
Wheels and Tyres
3
Oct 1, 2015 04:46 PM
locum8
Technical help Q & A
5
Oct 1, 2015 01:50 PM
Iain Mac
General Car Related Discussion.
7
Sep 30, 2015 09:39 PM
stevecfrst1
Cars for Sale
1
Sep 30, 2015 05:18 AM




All times are GMT. The time now is 07:07 PM.