i got a used tanabe coilover with no instruction. i just installed this tanabe sustec pro coilover over the weekend. the rear side comes with the aluminum upper seat... upon research, a lot of aftermarket coilover systems use the oem rubber upper seat and they are designed so that the upper seat will inserted into the aluminum upper seat with the coilover system..

now the problem is that my oem rubber upper seat will not be inserted into the aluminum upper seat that is with the coilover system.. i decided to simply remove the oem upper seat and use the aluminum seat.. car drives fine but occasionally i hear some grunting sounds from the back. so i am wondering if it is safe to remove the oem rubber upper seat?

 

It's perfectly safe, providing that you have enough preload on the spring to keep things tight no matter where the suspension might travel. But your going to give yourself a noticeable about of impact noise and harshness. Energy Suspension does make some parts you can use to sub for the oem upper seat. IMO, I would install them at the very least.

I do wish you would have posted pics of the Tanabe rear seats and the oem upper seats showing the problem. IIRC, you are supposted to be able to reuse the oem parts as part of the install.

 

yeah the oem seat plain don't fit into the hole that is cut out in the aftermarket one. :P oh well i'm not going to worry about it haha, i just came across a pic of diff coil system where they incorporate the oem upper seat.

thanks for the input.

 

which model coilover do you have? Pro s-oc or Pro 5? maybe you should call them and see if you can get a set of instructions.

 

EDIT:double post

 

here you go