Notices
Brakes & Suspension 350Z stoppers, coils, shocks/dampers

BC True Coilovers Rant

Old 05-09-2012, 06:30 PM
  #1  
TeegsMR
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
TeegsMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default BC True Coilovers Rant

Yesterday I installed my BC True Style coilovers on my 07 Z. The fronts can go as low as putting the bumper on the ground but the rears are set as low as they go and there is still an 1 1/4" gap between the top of my tire and the fender. I have 19" Cen's and the tires in the rear are 19 35 275's. I'm not quite sure why the fronts have crazy adjustability and the rears don't? I had these on my Exo X MR and the fronts and rears seemed to be pretty equal as far as adjustability. I am just going on a disappointing rant until BC gets back to me tomorrow, and they will probably tell me I have to purchase shorter springs....... still not understanding why they don't come standard, or at least offer the short ones up for an upgrade so I wouldn't have to wait another week for these springs to show up, since the rear springs that do come with them don't lower the rear much lower than springs would, 3/4" to be exact! Below are some pics of the rears on my car and the gap they still have. I wasn't looking to hellaflush my car or tuck tire, just wanted there to be zero gap! Thanks for listening

PS please excuse my dirty car in advance....

<a href="http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx157/TeegsMR/?action=view&amp;current=photo1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx157/TeegsMR/photo1.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx157/TeegsMR/?action=view&amp;current=photo2.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx157/TeegsMR/photo2.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx157/TeegsMR/?action=view&amp;current=photo4.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx157/TeegsMR/photo4.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
<a href="http://s751.photobucket.com/albums/xx157/TeegsMR/?action=view&amp;current=photo5.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i751.photobucket.com/albums/xx157/TeegsMR/photo5.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Old 05-09-2012, 06:52 PM
  #2  
terrasmak
Super Moderator
MY350Z.COM
iTrader: (8)
 
terrasmak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sin City
Posts: 28,635
Received 2,283 Likes on 1,645 Posts
Default

Looks like plenty of adjustment left
Old 05-09-2012, 07:04 PM
  #3  
AngelsVQ
Registered User
iTrader: (4)
 
AngelsVQ's Avatar
 
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Gilroy, ca
Posts: 641
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

welcome to 350z
Old 05-09-2012, 07:14 PM
  #4  
davidv
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
davidv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 42,754
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

What you got is what you got. Looking at the photos are you certain you cannot lower the seat for the rear springs?
Old 05-09-2012, 07:14 PM
  #5  
TeegsMR
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
TeegsMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Wink

Originally Posted by terrasmak
Looks like plenty of adjustment left
one would think considering how much thread is showing between the spring and the lower lock.....but my friend, it is threaded all the way down into the lower portion of the shock body...for lack of better terms
Old 05-09-2012, 07:19 PM
  #6  
TeegsMR
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
TeegsMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by davidv
What you got is what you got. Looking at the photos are you certain you cannot lower the seat for the rear springs?
From what i understand that would mess with spring pre-load.... correct me if i'm wrong but for height adjustability you just thread the shock body into the lower portion of of the coilover?
Old 05-09-2012, 07:19 PM
  #7  
ronn1
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
ronn1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Burbank, Ca
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Tell us why you can't go lower...looks like you do have more to go in the pics?
Old 05-09-2012, 07:21 PM
  #8  
ronn1
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
ronn1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Burbank, Ca
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by TeegsMR
From what i understand that would mess with spring pre-load.... correct me if i'm wrong but for height adjustability you just thread the shock body into the lower portion of of the coilover?
You don't TOUCH the spring tension..just lower the tube down into the strut body.
Old 05-09-2012, 07:25 PM
  #9  
TeegsMR
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
TeegsMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by ronn1
You don't TOUCH the spring tension..just lower the tube down into the strut body.
Yep thats what I did and its threaded down into the shock body until it hit bottom.....I was confused why there looks to be so much more adjustment when I have already lowered it all the way in to the strut body....
Old 05-09-2012, 07:33 PM
  #10  
ronn1
Registered User
iTrader: (1)
 
ronn1's Avatar
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Burbank, Ca
Posts: 1,374
Likes: 0
Received 2 Likes on 2 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by TeegsMR
Yep thats what I did and its threaded down into the shock body until it hit bottom.....I was confused why there looks to be so much more adjustment when I have already lowered it all the way in to the strut body....
Have a machine shop cut off a 1" section of the threaded tube. I would first talk to BC as to why the tube only sinks in that amount..leaving you *up* in the air.
Old 05-09-2012, 07:46 PM
  #11  
TeegsMR
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
TeegsMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by ronn1
Have a machine shop cut off a 1" section of the threaded tube. I would first talk to BC as to why the tube only sinks in that amount..leaving you *up* in the air.
Ya i'll have to wait and see what BC says....not sure why they didn't make these shock body's shorter either?
Old 05-09-2012, 09:51 PM
  #12  
stevehl
New Member
iTrader: (29)
 
stevehl's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: la
Posts: 3,329
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like on 1 Post
Default

so did you already order the shorter rear springs?? I talked to pedro from bc and he said they offer an adapter(goes on the bottom of the spring), he said that would slam your ride. Pm me if you want more info, or just contact pedro from bc.
Old 05-09-2012, 10:37 PM
  #13  
davidv
Registered User
iTrader: (2)
 
davidv's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Tucson, AZ
Posts: 42,754
Likes: 0
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by TeegsMR
From what i understand that would mess with spring pre-load.... correct me if i'm wrong but for height adjustability you just thread the shock body into the lower portion of of the coilover?
You ask about ride height now you inject pre-load. Hey if you want to lower the car do it.
Old 05-10-2012, 03:09 AM
  #14  
Cux350z
hatersgonnahate
iTrader: (162)
 
Cux350z's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 14,337
Received 956 Likes on 721 Posts
Default

Looks like you have BC BR type coilovers.

The spring should be in the spring bucket, not on the shock.

If that is a 062 200 008 spring, it is way too stiff to be on the shock if the front is a 10kg.

Did you have any extra parts in the box? Did you set the springs onto the shock and set the preload yourself or did they ship that way?
Old 05-10-2012, 03:18 AM
  #15  
TeegsMR
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
TeegsMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by stevehl
so did you already order the shorter rear springs?? I talked to pedro from bc and he said they offer an adapter(goes on the bottom of the spring), he said that would slam your ride. Pm me if you want more info, or just contact pedro from bc.
Pm'd ya
Old 05-10-2012, 03:22 AM
  #16  
AdvanZ33
Senior Super Moderator
MY350Z.COM
iTrader: (105)
 
AdvanZ33's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Eastern NC
Posts: 7,287
Received 189 Likes on 102 Posts
Default

BR Type true coilover? When did this happen?
Old 05-10-2012, 03:26 AM
  #17  
TeegsMR
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
TeegsMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by davidv
You ask about ride height now you inject pre-load. Hey if you want to lower the car do it.
I only mentioned preload because you asked if I was sure I couldn't lower the spring preach anymore which is the incorrect way to lower them as it effects the spring preload. As I stated earlier I have lowered it as much as it allows me to. The shock body is threaded down as far as it can go into the lower portion of the coilover. So please let me know how I can properly lower it more ?!?!
Old 05-10-2012, 03:34 AM
  #18  
AllstarE4
Sleeps in 350Z
iTrader: (5)
 
AllstarE4's Avatar
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Fort Worth, TX
Posts: 3,244
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Default

Can you not lower the spring perch? I've never owned coilovers so I don't know, but that's what it looks like. I would imagine that would shorten shock travel, but I'm just throwing out an idea.

edit: this is exactly what davidv suggested. Seems to make sense to me as well.

Last edited by AllstarE4; 05-10-2012 at 03:36 AM.
Old 05-10-2012, 03:41 AM
  #19  
terrasmak
Super Moderator
MY350Z.COM
iTrader: (8)
 
terrasmak's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Sin City
Posts: 28,635
Received 2,283 Likes on 1,645 Posts
Default

Shorter springs in that location will do nothing for you. If your already at Zero preload there is only 2 ways to go lower. First and maybe desirable is spring rate. The lower the spring rate , the more the spring will compress. Second and proper way is to install tender springs .
Old 05-10-2012, 03:46 AM
  #20  
TeegsMR
Registered User
Thread Starter
iTrader: (4)
 
TeegsMR's Avatar
 
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Washington
Posts: 178
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Default

Originally Posted by Cux350z
Looks like you have BC BR type coilovers.

The spring should be in the spring bucket, not on the shock.

If that is a 062 200 008 spring, it is way too stiff to be on the shock if the front is a 10kg.

Did you have any extra parts in the box? Did you set the springs onto the shock and set the preload yourself or did they ship that way?
BC also makes these into true style coilovers. I went this route mainly so I was able to maintain toe specs as you can replace the OEM spring bucket with toe arms and add lockout washers to OEM adjustment slots, as the factory toe adjustments tend to slip. No extra parts.... They come from BC just like this preload set and all. Yes it's the 8k spring , but it is liner not progressive like there OEM style comes with, can't remember how that effects spring rate but I believe with it being moved to the shock body from the OEM spot effects it's overal spring rate. I believe an 8k spring when moved to the shock body is equal to a 4k spring in the OEM position. Its early so brain isn't working properly as I may have it backwards..... I will confirm this with BC and let you know for sure.

Thread Tools
Search this Thread
Quick Reply: BC True Coilovers Rant



All times are GMT -8. The time now is 04:42 AM.