Setting Ride Height On Coilovers

[JamJay]

Hi all, I am looking for some advice from those who know.

How do you set the ride height on these MK1 Leon's so that the front and rear are level without jacking the car up and setting it down a hundred times?

I found this easy on previous cars with independant rear suspension but this is the first time that I have played with adjustable spring cups.

 

[Ronin225]

Measure X amount down and adjust both sides the same, fronts will be further down than rears
Let settle for a few days with driving then measure and adjust to suit
It is very trial and error but not too difficult

 

[skiddusmarkus]

Getting the fronts and rears a similar height isn't too bad but getting your front n/s and o/s is harder as you have a gerbox on one side upsetting the balance.I got mine(pulsar but the theory is the same) within a few mm on the second go but it totally messes up any settings you may already have.I just wanted mine something like and its now booked in for corner weighting and geo setup.

 

[m0rk]

its now booked in for corner weighting and geo setup.

And that's the correct answer

 

[rsmith]

I must get off my hole and get my car properly corner weighted, while you will get away with visually adjuesting them handling will suffer.

Just youtube corner wieghting and you will see the process involved.

 

[skiddusmarkus]

Well for me I wanted to see if the ridiculously hard suspension got any softer if I raised the car an inch.If it didn't I was going to send the dampers off for revalving and possibly different springs.As it did make it just about bearable I can now get it done properly without risking wasting my money.

 

[JamJay]

So do I need to pay someone to do this and cornerweight them?

 

[rsmith]

If you want it done correctly, yes. Unless you have weighing scales for your car.There is nothing stopping you getting the coilover fitted and running the car on them untill you find your desired ride height, then you can get the corner weighing done.

 

[J@mes W]

I was under the impression that corner weighting was over kill on a FWD car, more noticable on RWD cars. Why is this the case i have no idea, this just what i heard. Please feel free to correct me!

I have a set of Weitec GT coilovers which need to be raised as its a little too low, i'd like them set up properly so im open to peoples suggestions.

 

[JamJay]

This is all new to me but I think I'll have a play with the ride height and see what I like, then when it's settled I'll look into the corner weighting business.

 

[skiddusmarkus]

If you adjust the ride height you will also be changing the camber.Since I messed with mine it feels like I am riding on pram wheels.
Gonzo, I am far from an expert on them but even with a fwd car you can get better balance.The gearbox is usually the thing that will be upsetting the balance due to a big lump of weight to one side which is pretty much unavoidable in a fwd car.

 

[JamJay]

I won't be getting laser alignment done until the car is settled at a ride height that I am happy with.

A question about the adjustable rear spring cup...do you have to remove the spring each time you adjust the height?

 

[J@mes W]

No i think they can be adjusted in place.

 

[JamJay]

Thanks Doc,

So to be a complete 'noob', the spring cup (pictured below on the far left under the spring) needs to be turned upwards to lower the car, essentially compressing the spring?

 

[J@mes W]

I haven't adjusted mine yet, but i'm pretty sure that would raise the car. You're not compressing the spring you're adjustment the mounting point.

 

[JamJay]

Ah ok, so the lower the adjuster ring is on the thread, the lower the car will sit? Looks like I was about to set the car up like a hot rod, eh

 

[paul26982]

doing mine end of the week, first time had coilovers too, should be fun