BC Coilover Setup: Compression/Rebound Settings, Ride Height Adjustment, Camber, Etc.

[DaleNixon]

RX8's are +50. I think/hope they'll work.

 

[RichB]

you might be good

 

[Boostin McFly]

How long do the BC coilovers take to install and are they very difficult to do? Could I do them with just 1-2 friends because I just got quoted by a shop they would charge me $200 to install which I would rather just keep in my pocket if it wasn't too difficult. Also, do I need any special tools besides the springs compressors I could borrow from autozone?

 

[Wastegate13]

How long do the BC coilovers take to install and are they very difficult to do? Could I do them with just 1-2 friends because I just got quoted by a shop they would charge me $200 to install which I would rather just keep in my pocket if it wasn't too difficult. Also, do I need any special tools besides the springs compressors I could borrow from autozone?

The BC's don't require you to cannibalize the stock suspension. Unbolt the stock pieces and bolt in the BC stuff. Just be sure to adjust the rear shock length to match the rear spring height and you will be golden. I wrote a short writeup when I installed mine but it's on the other forums and it won't let me link it here.

 

[Ferdball]

Bump. Getting mine soon from the GB. Why aren't there more pictures in here.

Cam, the car looks HOT!

 

[GhostMercury]

The BC's don't require you to cannibalize the stock suspension. Unbolt the stock pieces and bolt in the BC stuff. Just be sure to adjust the rear shock length to match the rear spring height and you will be golden. I wrote a short writeup when I installed mine but it's on the other forums and it won't let me link it here.

What do you mean by this? Like how do you know when they match?

 

[MBOIZ-MS3]

If this isn't low enough for you, you have problems.

That is low enough for me... I love the way it sitz... What u runnin' 4 ur suspension...? (cool)

 

[CnoTataymo]

If you have an air compressor and impact gun, taking everything off will be fast and easy. Everything will swap right now. If you haul ass and figure things out right away, no more then 1.5-2 hours.

 

[RichB]

If this isn't low enough for you, you have problems.

Are those RX-8 rims painted matte black?

 

[Wastegate13]

What do you mean by this? Like how do you know when they match?

That is explained in the instructions. If I can find mine I will post what it says, of course anyone else with the BC's can post it as well.

That is low enough for me... I love the way it sitz... What u runnin' 4 ur suspension...? (cool)

That's not my car, it belongs to Mushdawg from the other forums. He had the BC coilovers with the rear collar removed.

Are those RX-8 rims painted matte black?

Yes they are RX8 wheels painted matte black.

 

[daonly1around]

i'm gonna be running a set of BC coilovers as well in the next week or two. And with wheels i've yet to see on a speed... hehe

I'll be contacting you when they come in wastegate about setting them up!!

 

[STRICK-]

im taking the rear collars out this weekend and lowering the fronts to match before HIN on the 25th. Ill post some pics next week, its gonna be close w/ the +35s on there (boom01)

 

[Wastegate13]

im taking the rear collars out this weekend and lowering the fronts to match before HIN on the 25th. Ill post some pics next week, its gonna be close w/ the +35s on there (boom01)

I'm anxious to see how it turns out. I wanna lower the rear of mine some more but I haven't rolled the fenders yet. I am really just worried about the paint cracking and then not being able to match the pearl if I were to have it repainted. As it sits now the rear does not rub at all.

 

[STRICK-]

I'm anxious to see how it turns out. I wanna lower the rear of mine some more but I haven't rolled the fenders yet. I am really just worried about the paint cracking and then not being able to match the pearl if I were to have it repainted. As it sits now the rear does not rub at all.

I understand what your saying about the paint cracking, mine cracked when i did it originally. Thats why I had mine hammered out and repainted. Mine arent even lowered all the way down now, so it should be interesting.

 

[RichB]

Yes they are RX8 wheels painted matte black.

You know if those are stock rubber? looks like they are stretched.

 

[CnoTataymo]

I believe they're 225/40 from what he told me last time.

 

[Ferdball]

Rear preload is set pretty specifically. You have to unbolt both the spring perch and lower shock mount. Once everything is unbolted and loose you position the spring collar at your desired height and assemble the collar/spring/donut in the spring perches. Using a jack you compress the spring to the point where both the top and bottom are in contact with the upper and lower perch. While doing this grab the spring and try and wiggle it around. Keep compressing the spring by using the jack until the point where the spring does not move vertically or horizontally. Basically you are trying to bring the spring to max rebound without being loose. (1)
Once you are there throw in the bolt that attaches the lower spring perch to the knuckle.(2) Now you raise or lower the shock mount to line up with the mounts on the knuckle. Once you get the shock mount and knuckle mount lined up, throw in the other bolt and tighten her up.
Loosen the set nut on the shock body. By hand turn the shock body clockwise, which will shorten the shock. Continue this until you begin to feel some resistance.(3) As you are turning it, more compression is applied to the spring. The resistance you feel is the proper preload on the spring. For me it was about 10 turns. The theory behind matching the height of the shock to the level established by the spring at max rebound is that in driving situations where max rebound is achieved you dont want to limit the available shock travel by having it too short. The same applies to compression. If its too short you will just hit the bump stops

1) Compress the spring perch until max rebound.
2) Attach knuckle. (Is that the lower shock mount point?)
3) Rotate shock body clockwise until resistance is felt. Tighten set nut.

Wastegate13s picture
Where exactly is the knuckle?

Rear BC setup

 

[Ferdball]

My settings need to change

Before

After - Im too high

My Front setup

Out of the box

Wastegate13s setup

The problem when installing the front was that there was no point of reference to set the height to. So we set them to the stock struts and installed. I obviously have mine set too high.

 

[fostersafb]

Before


After - I’m too high


My Front setup


Out of the box


Wastegate13’s setup

The problem when installing the front was that there was no point of reference to set the height to. So we set them to the stock struts and installed. I obviously have mine set too high.

The fronts just require a little bit of adjustment to get right. No big deal as you can adjust the height by just taking the wheels off.

To answer your question about the knuckle, I consider the knuckle the component that the wheel hub bolts to. So the coilovers don't have a knuckle they bolt to the shock mounting point on the knuckle. Please somebody correct me if my terminology isn't correct.

As far as the height in the rear goes it depends how low you want to go. With the rear spring collar adjusted all the way down you will have a 1 1/2-2 finger gap in the rear. If you want to go lower just remove the lower ring and that will drop it another 1/2" or so. I think i have mine set with both rings adjusted as low as possible and and the shock is something like 20-25 rotations from full extension. I have a 1 1/2 finger gap which I'm happy with.

Let me know if you have more questions, enjoy the BC's!

 

[CnoTataymo]

With the both rings in and all the way down, my stock tires were flush with the fender. I've noticed people with BC's have all different heights when lowered all the way.