Adjusting Tein Super Streets - How?

[Birds]

I want to adjust the height of my Tein Super Streets...

I attempted to do this with the C spanners while the coilovers were off the car and all this seemed to do was compress the spring on the strut, not actually change the height of the whole unit. So I left them in the factory position they came in and installed the coilovers in my car. Unfortunately the car sits a bit low now, so height adjustment has become a necessity and I want to know how to do it. Do I need to loosen the nut on top of the strut mount before the spring will start moving up instead of just compressing?

So confused...

Edited July 1, 2009 by Birds

[tridentt150v]

You can't change the length of the unit itself. If you shorten the coil, then it sits a bit higher because preload is greater ie the car's weight doesn't affect the spring as much it also gives a stiffer ride. If you lengthen the distance for the coil then the preload is softer so the car sits lower.

If you need more length you will have use a different shaft length ie a different shock absorber with a greater overall length.

[Dos]

TEIN SS coilovers using the 2x C spanners

Decrease Height (lower car) = lower the collars

Increase Height (raise car) = Raise the collars

Dont touch the nut only the collars

Note

a) adjust the collars while the suspension is on the car

b) Once your finished the car wont really appear to have changed, you need to drive it in order for the suspension and shocks to re-adjust might take 20 mins. Going over speedhumps and swaying from side to side helps the shock adjust quicker

Simple.

Edited July 1, 2009 by Dos

[Birds]

Thank you so much guys. Very good explanations. I don't need more length, I just thought that was the only way to get the car to sit higher. But I understand the concept of preload and the effect it has on car height now. It is because there was no vehicle weight compressing the spring in the first place that it couldn't be "raised" so to speak...correct?