coilover install problem, one side sits higher than the other??

andrew84tran said:

Hi guys,

I just recently got my Ohlins PCV coilovers installed in my car (Australian DC5R). I made sure all the pre-measurements on the coilover were consistent and measured correctly before putting them on. However the rear left of my car sits about 1 finger gap higher than the right rear. Is there a problem I should be concerned with, or should I wait for it to settle and get it corner balanced/aligned. Any suggestions/opinions will be much appreciated!

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premeasuring does nothing. You haven't taken into accout the weight distribution of the car which is generally heavier one side. Just adjust the coils until you think they look even. DO NOT USE THREAD COUNT! If you want accurate measurements, change the height, drive to a completely flat surface like a parking garage and measure from multiple points (wheel well, jack points, etc).

And get it corner weighted before the alignment. Corner weighting will just throw off the height anyway, so my suggestion is to get them relatively even (just eyeball it), then get it cornerweighted, then aligned.

So you're saying I should adjust and eyeball the height on each side until I am satisfied they are even, then go get it corner balanced then aligned?

andrew84tran said:

So you're saying I should adjust and eyeball the height on each side until I am satisfied they are even, then go get it corner balanced then aligned?

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yes, if you cornerbalance the heights will not be equal. I wouldn't worry about them being perfectly equal because they never will be.

but what to see what some other people say like dc503, bluej, mentalmidget, or zzyzx

I was always under the impression that corner weighting the car requires adjusting the height to an optimal level and finding the right balance/force on the ground for each corner with respect to weight distribution. If thats the case, then it wouldnt matter what height I set the car to initially before the weighting. Sorry, I am just confused as to why you would need to choose your "desired" height before taking it in to get weighted.

andrew84tran said:

I was always under the impression that corner weighting the car requires adjusting the height to an optimal level and finding the right balance/force on the ground for each corner with respect to weight distribution. If thats the case, then it wouldnt matter what height I set the car to initially before the weighting. Sorry, I am just confused as to why you would need to choose your "desired" height before taking it in to get weighted.

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Yes and no. cornerweighting does adjust the height but minimally. If you have your car dropped about 1/2" with coils the techs will use the weight off that 1/2" drop. If you have your car dropped 1.5" then they will use the weight off that drop. They won't be making huge changes, but probably less than .5" changes at max. Therefore, you need to find an approximate height you are comfortable with and they will go from there.

http://www.nsxprime.com/FAQ/Performance/cornerbalance.htm
http://www.elephantracing.com/techtopic/cornerbalance.htm

i have buddy club n+ and y one rear is 2 fibger gap and the other is like a yhalf of a finger gap difference.. not realy too noticable too the naed eye.. but it still bothers me

my car is the same way with rear driver side sits anywhere from .25" to .50" lower, i suspect it's because of the gas tank location. I just lowered the other side to compensate, seems fine now

Which side is the gas tank on? Because my left is higher than my right in the rear.

andrew84tran said:

Which side is the gas tank on? Because my left is higher than my right in the rear.

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can we get driver's vs. passenger's side? I am not sure whether left is sitting in the car or looking at the car from the front/back...

Sorry. My car is a RHD car. The left rear of the car (looking from the back) is slightly higher than the right rear (about 1 finger gap higher).

andrew84tran said:

Sorry. My car is a RHD car. The left rear of the car (looking from the back) is slightly higher than the right rear (about 1 finger gap higher).

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Do you fill your car up on the drivers side (RHD) or the passenger side? On our cars, the gas tank is on our driver's side your passenger side.

I fill up on the (my) passenger side which is the left of my car.

andrew84tran said:

I fill up on the (my) passenger side which is the left of my car.

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Then your passenger side would be lower because there is more weight.

haha thats my problem exactly. its the other way around. so im just kind of dumbfounded

andrew84tran said:

haha thats my problem exactly. its the other way around. so im just kind of dumbfounded

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i dunno...just lower it and stop complaining haha

the location of the fill neck for the gas tank has nothing to do with weight distribution L/R. F/R yes.

ok update. i got my car corner weighted and aligned. now its perfect however one side (the rear left) still sits about half a finger to one finger gap higher than the right rear. I don't think it makes a difference and I don't mind, just thought you guys would like to know.

Your camber can also affect the finger gap measurement. Cuz the more neg camber you have the more fingers you can fit in the gap. I don't know if that makes sense its hard to explain.

andrew84tran said:

Hi guys,

I just recently got my Ohlins PCV coilovers installed in my car (Australian DC5R). I made sure all the pre-measurements on the coilover were consistent and measured correctly before putting them on. However the rear left of my car sits about 1 finger gap higher than the right rear. Is there a problem I should be concerned with, or should I wait for it to settle and get it corner balanced/aligned. Any suggestions/opinions will be much appreciated!

Click to expand...

Since you're planning on taking your car to get corner balanced, i wouldn't worry about it. If the race shop you take it to is a competent one then they'll ask you questions like what height you want, what type or racing you'll be doing etc, and they'll adjust everything for you. When they're done with the car it should be perfect all around.

Thats what i did when i lowered my car and it's perfectly dropped all around. (I have zeal function Xs)