Now shocks, how to adjust on car?
Discussion
Dear all,
I know there have been many threads about new shocks but I would need some advice on setting them up. Sorry for the kind of “newbee” questions.
My car is a 1990 S3C and she is running on 18”’s with 225x40x18 tyres. Front suspension will get Poly bushes when I change the shocks.
To the question;
I have ordered new Gaz Gold Pro’s from Absolutely Shocks (excellent service) and will get them next week. I ordered 450’s in front and 375’s for the rear which seems to be in line with many recommendations here and also from Derek.
May prove a bit hard but someone on the forum who did the same choice said they soften a bit after a while
Ride height should be in the 165 to 180 interval, according to most in the Wiki. I will just have to see what I need to clear the larger 18” wheels. I will probably aim for just above 170 all around, if the wheels don’t rub…
Currently it is low….and the wheels do rub. The Konis were lower many years ago.
Anyway, I would welcome some information on how to practically adjust the ride height with the new shocks mounted. I have read most posts and I understand about parking on a level surface and how to measure under the out riggers in each corner. But;
Is there a description on the process? Can’ find one.
How much ride height change is one turn on the shocks/springs on the GGP’s?
Where do you start when you mount them? Derek said just turn them so the springs are “fixed” at maximum extension. Maybe that is the way the will be delivered.
Is the same start position used for front and back?
How do you physically adjust the shocks/springs without removing the wheels?
And if you do remove the wheels the car will have to be moved to regain the right position every time an adjust met is done, right? This will make the exercise pretty time consuming I guess.
When you measure ride height, do you place a weight in the driver’s seat to compensate?
Do you also put some weight in the passenger seat to compromise for potential passenger?
Is a wheel alignment always needed after changing the chocks and potential ride height?
Kind regards
//Rob
I know there have been many threads about new shocks but I would need some advice on setting them up. Sorry for the kind of “newbee” questions.
My car is a 1990 S3C and she is running on 18”’s with 225x40x18 tyres. Front suspension will get Poly bushes when I change the shocks.
To the question;
I have ordered new Gaz Gold Pro’s from Absolutely Shocks (excellent service) and will get them next week. I ordered 450’s in front and 375’s for the rear which seems to be in line with many recommendations here and also from Derek.
May prove a bit hard but someone on the forum who did the same choice said they soften a bit after a while
Ride height should be in the 165 to 180 interval, according to most in the Wiki. I will just have to see what I need to clear the larger 18” wheels. I will probably aim for just above 170 all around, if the wheels don’t rub…
Currently it is low….and the wheels do rub. The Konis were lower many years ago.
Anyway, I would welcome some information on how to practically adjust the ride height with the new shocks mounted. I have read most posts and I understand about parking on a level surface and how to measure under the out riggers in each corner. But;
Is there a description on the process? Can’ find one.
How much ride height change is one turn on the shocks/springs on the GGP’s?
Where do you start when you mount them? Derek said just turn them so the springs are “fixed” at maximum extension. Maybe that is the way the will be delivered.
Is the same start position used for front and back?
How do you physically adjust the shocks/springs without removing the wheels?
And if you do remove the wheels the car will have to be moved to regain the right position every time an adjust met is done, right? This will make the exercise pretty time consuming I guess.
When you measure ride height, do you place a weight in the driver’s seat to compensate?
Do you also put some weight in the passenger seat to compromise for potential passenger?
Is a wheel alignment always needed after changing the chocks and potential ride height?
Kind regards
//Rob
Hi,
Thank you for the information. Much appreciated.
The car came with 18's when I bought it back and is does look cooler with them in my opinion. And after driving on them a while I can say that they work better than your worries give reason to believe.
I did stiffen up and shorten the Konis many years ago and that has worked fine since then, also on the track. I've owned this particular car several times, but that is for a different thread.
I do have the original 15" wheels so that is covered. I understand that they can be part of the suspension and I will just have to see how big the difference is after some laps.
The wheels do touch at extrem steering angles but just barely. I'm not too worried about that.
I got the GGPro's today so next week I will mount them.
I will set ride hight as advised on an even surface and with driver/passenger weight compensation.
Upgraded brakes and a complete wheel angle setup will. be next step.
And remount the blower and intercooler. :-)
Thank you.
//Rob
Thank you for the information. Much appreciated.
The car came with 18's when I bought it back and is does look cooler with them in my opinion. And after driving on them a while I can say that they work better than your worries give reason to believe.
I did stiffen up and shorten the Konis many years ago and that has worked fine since then, also on the track. I've owned this particular car several times, but that is for a different thread.
I do have the original 15" wheels so that is covered. I understand that they can be part of the suspension and I will just have to see how big the difference is after some laps.
The wheels do touch at extrem steering angles but just barely. I'm not too worried about that.
I got the GGPro's today so next week I will mount them.
I will set ride hight as advised on an even surface and with driver/passenger weight compensation.
Upgraded brakes and a complete wheel angle setup will. be next step.
And remount the blower and intercooler. :-)
Thank you.
//Rob
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