Coilover Id And Preload Setup

[shane344]

Thought I would get some help working out which model of coilover I have in my C34 and future setup.

I assume they are Cuscos as they are blue but every catalogue I have found has every model even the low specs with damper adjust.

Basically they have platform and spring perch adjust, the tops do not have any adjustment knobs and being platform the bodies dont either.

Fronts look like this.

The rears have a helper spring but I dont have a good photo.

I also got blue strut brace brackets in the boot, without the bar across the boot, they make good tie down points without the impracticality when seats are folded down...

Anyone got any idea on a model/series???

They are old and dirty so must've been fitted in J as it was only complied last year.

Next point though is slightly more important.

Anyone got any proper methods to setting up preload seeing as I cant adjust damping.

Problem is my front end feels too stiff.

I have good turn in but mid corner bumps make the car skip to understeer.

Rear seems fine, squats and goes on exit.

Back in my downhill mtb days, the first step was to get spring rate and preload right for 30% sag when you sat on the bike.

Then adjust rebound and compression until it feels good and doesnt bounce you into the scrub,

Is there a similiar method for cars.

I figure if i back the spring perch off 10mm, and then bring the platform down 10mm on the front it should soften preload whilst not lowering my car, but I am only guessing.

Thanks

[import_zone]

looks like there might be two adjuster nuts that the spring sit on, if they are u can release those a little which should help, otherwise could also be the spring rate in them. as for brand i am fair sure there are a few companies that paint there coilovers blue. can u see any other suspension mods? or is the rest stock? ie. sway bars

[shane344]

Thanks importzone.

I get that to adjust spring height I undo the lockring and move the bottom of the spring up & down relative to the shock body.

When I mentioned platform adjust above I meant these also have an threaded bottom mount so I can move the bottom suspension mount relative to the shock body also, so I can adjust ride height without adjusting spring preload/position..

There should be a method though to get the preload on the spring to a rule of thumb point to give the shock the best chance to control the lot.

[import_zone]

Yea Wat might have been done is when installing they loaded the spring too much. So u might need to take some of the load of the spring. Nd then.adjust the height as it will drop on height when u release spring a little. I found this out when I had similar coilover design in my old 180. With no weight o. The coilover u should still have a bit of movement in the spring. Ie turns around a little. (How I was told to set them up) if not I got no idea.