Spring preload?

[mryangtastic]

Hi ClubITR!

Owner of an EP3R here.
Just had a set of MCA's X-R installed by a mechanic.
He preloaded the springs and the height in the rear is incredible. Higher than factory.
It's 40mm higher than MCA suggests whilst the fronts are 20mm higher.
MCA does specifically mention that loose or preloaded springs will not impact handing.

No idea who is right.
Completely have no idea what to do...
Lower the height and have loose springs?
Or keep them preloaded?

[eskimo_firefighter]

For the MCA coilovers, preload and height adjustment are separate. Preload collars under the spring should not effect the height of the car, but can have an effect on the handling of the car. The springs should have slight preload on them without the springs being loose.

I'd suggest go to another mechanic if they don't know how to adjust the height of the coilover changing the preload.

[ChargeR]

Do the MCA X-R for EP3 have a separate base height and spring platform adjustment? ie. two locking collars beneath the spring, and a further locking collar against the bracket which attaches to the knuckle/lower control arm. If so running the springs loose (ie. not "pre-loaded") will probably not have a negative effect on handling, provided the damper has enough bump stroke. When you adjust spring "pre-load" (Quotation marks inserted because it's a stupid term) what you're really doing is adjusting how much bump and droop travel you have available. A stiff spring heavily pre-loaded will give very little droop travel, and poor grip and handling over undulations.

Just take it to a mechanic who knows what they're doing. Coilovers are not rocket science. Whereabouts are you located? I'm sure someone here can recommend a competent workshop.

[mryangtastic]

Do the MCA X-R for EP3 have a separate base height and spring platform adjustment? ie. two locking collars beneath the spring, and a further locking collar against the bracket which attaches to the knuckle/lower control arm. If so running the springs loose (ie. not "pre-loaded") will probably not have a negative effect on handling, provided the damper has enough bump stroke. When you adjust spring "pre-load" (Quotation marks inserted because it's a stupid term) what you're really doing is adjusting how much bump and droop travel you have available. A stiff spring heavily pre-loaded will give very little droop travel, and poor grip and handling over undulations.

Just take it to a mechanic who knows what they're doing. Coilovers are not rocket science. Whereabouts are you located? I'm sure someone here can recommend a competent workshop.

They do have the spring seat collars as well as the bottom mount collar.
I'm located in the Northern Beaches.

Just got confused because usually the bottom mount adjusts ride height whilst MCA says spring seats adjust ride height.

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[mryangtastic]

For the MCA coilovers, preload and height adjustment are separate. Preload collars under the spring should not effect the height of the car, but can have an effect on the handling of the car. The springs should have slight preload on them without the springs being loose.

I'd suggest go to another mechanic if they don't know how to adjust the height of the coilover changing the preload.

According to MCA, the preload collars or spring seats is their recommended way to adjust ride height and that the car will handle the same whether springs are loose or preloaded.

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[eskimo_firefighter]

Interesting! Didn't know MCA suggested to change the spring seat for ride height.

If you can try do this yourself I would experiment and go with the option of Lowering the spring seat.

[ChargeR]

Based on that follow the instructions, and lower the car using the spring seats. Assuming the mechanic hasn't messed with the lower locking collars and base height.

[tinkerbell]

BTW - having non-captive springs is illegal and defectable...

so note really "perfectly fine" as MCA tells you...

[felixR]

Wow. I always thought adjusting the height at the spring seat did affect how the car handles.

Where it says "Note: There is one exception to this rule and it is explained on the other side of this page..." - can you please take a picture of this page?

[ChargeR]

BTW - having non-captive springs is illegal and defectable...

so note really "perfectly fine" as MCA tells you...

Got a link/reference for the legislation that states all springs must be captive at full droop?

[mryangtastic]

Wow. I always thought adjusting the height at the spring seat did affect how the car handles.

Where it says "Note: There is one exception to this rule and it is explained on the other side of this page..." - can you please take a picture of this page?

That's the page.

It became known now that the mechanic did try to lower it by the lower collar... He lowered it as far as it could go whilst having the springs preloaded. And well, it's higher than stock.


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[eskimo_firefighter]

Wow. I always thought adjusting the height at the spring seat did affect how the car handles.

Where it says "Note: There is one exception to this rule and it is explained on the other side of this page..." - can you please take a picture of this page?

I was thinking the same Felix.

[eskimo_firefighter]

I'm guessing to lower the car using the two top spring perches, there would have to be no preload at all and more!

[mryangtastic]

I'm guessing to lower the car using the two top spring perches, there would have to be no preload at all and more!

That's absolutely correct. With severely limited experience, the springs were 'unentrapped' and had about 2cm play when jacked up. However the car is lower now.

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[eskimo_firefighter]

How does the car handle and feel?

I would have thought having the springs loose like that would decrease the stroke of the shock and make it handle/feel worse.

I find it interesting that MCA recommends lowering via the spring seat.

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