Height Adjustable shock help

warrior · Post by **warrior** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:55 am

I have just bought a set of height adjustable sruts and will be fitting them next weekend, what I would like to know is the easiest way to set them up. Is it all just trial and error or should I set up front first then the back? etc. Any help from someone that has done this would be great.

warrior · Post by **warrior** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 9:12 am

p.s also need somewhere in Manukau area to do compliance on these, will travel for the best (cheapest) price. cheers

Mad Kiwi · Post by **Mad Kiwi** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 10:39 am

I put mine in and just adjusted accordingly, took a couple of go's. jack up the car, whip the wheel off and adjust by instinct. put the wheel back on drop the car, bounce on the gaurd (carefully) stand back and see what it looks like...

The american forums generally suggest 12.5" front and 12.75" rear from centre of wheel to gaurd as the best height for optimum handling, or thereabouts.

They also have suggested wheel alighment settings for this height. Check out 949 racing for details (if you haven't already)...

Did they come with the spanners to make the adjustment with?

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 12:55 pm

Do you mean struts or shocks? Struts would have a hard time being useful in our cars

More seriously, yes it is largely trial and error. I used a set of digital calipers to accurately match up the distance between the locking collars on each shock. I'm running ~11.5" rear and ~11" front. Looks and handles great, and I can still manage it over many speed bumps, even though my chassis rails are only about 70mm off the ground...

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:03 pm

Also allow time for them to settle back down, I pretty much did my by eye, none of this laser trickery for me (only cause I didn't have one around). Whip the wheel off, adjust, do some rough measurements to make sure the sides where kind of even, wheels back on, quick blat around the block, and measure again (I did my measurements from the centre cap).

If you wanted to get tricky, could always have one side higher than the other to allow for the weight of the driver when they are sitting in there?

warrior · Post by **warrior** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 5:13 pm

Any places you guys know for compliance?

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 7:47 pm

do you plan on doing any other modifications that will require certification? brakes?turbo?etc
it will cost the same if you only want to cert your shocks as it would to cert 10 other things

I use John Brett for certification and he is mobile and will come to you as long as you can provide him with a hoist. call him on 0800LOWVOL

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 8:50 pm

I had mine certified with Neil Fraser who was great to deal with, but over on the North Shore so probably not much help if you're looking for someone out South. I believe the LVVTA website has a list of certifiers.

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:34 pm

make sure you set up your car as low as you want it because they record the ride height on the cert plate. you can only have +-5% from that height

Mr. Shine · Post by **Mr. Shine** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 10:03 pm

SLYDIT wrote:make sure you set up your car as low as you want it because they record the ride height on the cert plate. you can only have +-5% from that height

I fully advocate 11" front 11.5" rear for balance between function and form, with a slight lean towards form... some scraping over bumps

Kieran · Post by **Kieran** » Tue May 01, 2012 1:47 pm

SLYDIT wrote:make sure you set up your car as low as you want it because they record the ride height on the cert plate. you can only have +-5% from that height

How low before they won't cert it?
For future reference for myself

punkoutnz · Post by **punkoutnz** » Tue May 01, 2012 2:45 pm

It's up to them really, whatever they deem "too low" for New Zealand roads. Can always raise it if they say no

SLYDIT · Post by **SLYDIT** » Tue May 01, 2012 5:14 pm

i figure set it lower than youd want it...that way if you get audited by the cops and its HIGHER than the plate spec then you can always argue it was too low and you raised it for ahem...safety. ...if its lower, then its pink sticker time

warrior · Post by **warrior** » Sat May 05, 2012 8:26 am

hi, guys. They did not come with c spaners to adjut them. Any idea where I can buy some from?

Donovan · Post by **Donovan** » Mon May 07, 2012 3:47 pm

I bought my ones from Mag and Turbo, for my Tein units, bloody expensive they were as well. Dunno if they will fit yours, but welcome to try at any time if you are over on the shore.

warrior · Post by **warrior** » Mon May 07, 2012 3:58 pm

cheers for that, picked up some new ones off trade me for $30.00....so all good. Fitting them this week

warrior · Post by **warrior** » Wed May 09, 2012 8:49 pm

which way do I adjust the locking nut to lower the car? up or down the thread?

sprsta · Post by **sprsta** » Wed May 09, 2012 10:13 pm

what brand are they?
are there 2 or 3 locking rings?

if 2 just wind the top two down

if there are 3 wind the bottom one up and then wint the shock body into the foot at the bottom

hope that helps

Height Adjustable shock help

Height Adjustable shock help

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