Thread: Coil over Installation

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Can anyone tell me what they use to compress the spring enough to install them on the shocks?

Thanks

Shouldn't need to, just extend the shock to it's full extension and put the springs on.... Do you have the correct length springs for the shocks?

They are QA-1s that I ordered from SpeedWay and the spring length that was recommended.

How far would the spring need to be compressed to get the lower retainer started?

I agree with Dave. I just re-assembled one of mine (not a QA-1), and the spring length was just short of the exposed thread length. The spring retainer had two or three threads engagement before touching the spring. Call Speedway's Tech's. They know their product line and have been very helpful to me in the past.

A little over an inch, the problem seems to be that the retainer is dome shaped and once installed I think the spring will sit at a fuller height.

Originally Posted by itsmeb

A little over an inch, the problem seems to be that the retainer is dome shaped and once installed I think the spring will sit at a fuller height.

Maybe if you post a picture or two? Or someone else may be a QA-1 guy, too.

your talking about the upper retainer?????????????/it goes on first and then the spring and then adjusting nuts from the bottom

I just installed a pair this week. 12" spring. The shock extended all the way. About 1/16" clearance on the spring. It was a QA-1

Hank

Well I was give some coilovers that were apart,all the race car one I worked on would extend enough to change springs,the ones I got were no way going on so I called the tech line,I believe carrera and he said it is normal to have to compress them to get them on which I thought was stupid so i had a plate with the right sized hole to fit the upper collar,I put them in the press upside down and compressed the spring and inserted the upper collar. You supposed to get the shock in the middle of travel so when you install them on the car if it doesn't compress them enough I suppose you have the wrong rate spring.Do any of these companies have springs for you to try so you can swap them out for the correct ones?Most of the spring were calculated off of weight,but some of that weight is sprung and some is sprung weight,so most of the time the spring is too stiff.

When I did mine last year, AFCO said as long as I didn't scratch them up I could return and exchange for different ones. I also used Speedway originally, they sold me QA1 gear and they were awful! Shocks were to short, springs way to stiff.. so I later got a catalog from AFCO (who is owned by Speedway!) and did the research from that catalog and then called them, I asked to speak to only a shock tech who knew the AFCO line. With his help I got the right shocks and springs and now the car acts / reacts just like you'd expect and rides like a dream.

As a footnote, the shocks I wanted, were not yet in production. Even tho' they were in the catalog, AFCO asked if I would wait a few days and they would get a set together special. I said sure as I knew they would be perfect for me. They ran a set off over the weekend and shipped them to me and I've never regretted that decision!