JIC magic coilovers problems

[vteccoupe]

Hi everyone, when i bought my dc2r, the JIC magic (FLT-FAS) coilovers that came with it has a ride height of almost stock height, which is roughly 2-3 fingers between the rims and the guards. It rides normal and is able to go thru bumps etc. quite smoothly.

Upon getting the car, i lowered the car by about 10mm to 15mm which lowers the front to 1finger gap and the rear aproximately 1.5finger gap. The above lowering is done by lowering the spring perch.

After lowering, this is wad i experienced:

1. Feels like there is very little shock travel, very little stroke
2. When going over uneven surface or bumps, it doesnt ride over it but crashes over it
3. Whole chassis becum very unsettled as a result of the above symptoms

All of the above experiences is thru numerous sessions of playing around with the damper stiffness, even on softest it still exhibit the same characteristic which is annoying.

I was told its due to me lowering the spring perch which changes the spring rates of the springs, therefore causing the springs to be too soft which in turn leads to the shock absorbers being compressed more, causing it to hit the bump stop?

However, if i stiffen up the damper setting, it still exhibit the same characteristics.

Please help me out before i have to bring my car in to a suspension specialist and get the above problem solved. Its a nightmare driving over uneven grounds as it literally crashes over them.

:thumbsup:

[vteccoupe]

This is what i found regarding lowering of JIC coilovers

http://img396.imageshack.us/my.php?image=5fltfastarheightadjustmly7.jpg

http://img396.imageshack.us/my.php?image=5fltfastarheightadjustmly7.jpg

http://img246.imageshack.us/img246/3504/5fltfastarheightadjustmiu7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[EGJOE]

I was told its due to me lowering the spring perch which changes the spring rates of the springs, therefore causing the springs to be too soft which in turn leads to the shock absorbers being compressed more, causing it to hit the bump stop?

Lowering the spring perch instead of using your base adjustment to lower your car reduces your damper travel. Coilovers with base adjustment, you capture your spring with the spring perch then use the base adjustment for altering height. You are probably riding on your bumps stops or bottoming out your dampers. Oh and lowering the spring perch dosen't change your spring rate.

Hope this helps
EGJOE

[bennjamin]

the main problems here are relevant to the shortening of the piston stroke and the fact the springs are not captive.
This ruins ride and handling.

are your coilovers dual adjustable ? (two sets of perches as shown in the images you supplied?) if so raise the top and secure the spring properly. Then you can lower the car or raise to your hearts content via the bottom adjuster.

[GreekWarrior]

maybe you should of gotten the TAR's? I dunno

[string]

I don't know anything about your particular shocks and springs, but the stiffer you go, the worse slow speed comfort becomes. My car rides great over bump and irregularities at 100kph, but going over bumps at 25kph sucks. When you lower your car, you lose suspension travel very quickly. Riding on bump stops makes handling very poor.

[aaronng]

The above lowering is done by lowering the spring perch.

There is the mistake right there. Set the spring perch back up to how it was before and lower it instead using the lower shock mount if it has one. If it doesn't, then you have to keep the height as stock to preserve shock travel.

[vteccoupe]

i guess i wld haf to move the spring perch back to where it was and adjust the lower perch instead

[GreekWarrior]

I don't know anything about your particular shocks and springs, but the stiffer you go, the worse slow speed comfort becomes. My car rides great over bump and irregularities at 100kph, but going over bumps at 25kph sucks. When you lower your car, you lose suspension travel very quickly. Riding on bump stops makes handling very poor.

hence why duel adjustable coilovers are illegal for street use

[aaronng]

hence why duel adjustable coilovers are illegal for street use

What do you mean by dual adjustable coilovers?

[GreekWarrior]

What do you mean by dual adjustable coilovers?

the ones where you can adjust the height independent of the spring thingy, like JIC's and buddy clubs

[SHOGUNOVDDRK]

the ones where you can adjust the height independent of the spring thingy, like JIC's and buddy clubs

Link?

[EKVTIR-T]

But dual adjust allows you to retain the suspension travel.

[aaronng]

the ones where you can adjust the height independent of the spring thingy, like JIC's and buddy clubs

So why are they illegal?

[GreekWarrior]

Link?

to what?

[GreekWarrior]

So why are they illegal?

have to be ADR approved

[GreekWarrior]

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/vsb_ncop.aspx


http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/pdf/NCOP11_Section_LS_Suspension_and_steering_3Feb2006 .pdf


This last ones for QLD, so it my not apply to other states but it should be similar

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resources/file/ebde8d0521b67c6/Pdf_modification_motor_vehicles2.pdf

[aaronng]

have to be ADR approved

The single adjustable suspension as well as spring and shock combos (non-coilovers) also need to be ADR approved. So I don't think that the fact that they are dual adjustable means that they are automatically illegal.

[aaronng]

http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/vsb_ncop.aspx


http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/roads/vehicle_regulation/bulletin/pdf/NCOP11_Section_LS_Suspension_and_steering_3Feb2006 .pdf


This last ones for QLD, so it my not apply to other states but it should be similar

http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resources/file/ebde8d0521b67c6/Pdf_modification_motor_vehicles2.pdf
Says in there that I can replace the springs, shocks and adjust height by no more than 1/3 the original travel without requiring certification. But, a strut replacement requires certification. What about if you have independent suspension? That is not listed in there. Macpherson strut replacement requires certification probably because the strut forms part of the steering assembly.

[GreekWarrior]

The single adjustable suspension as well as spring and shock combos (non-coilovers) also need to be ADR approved. So I don't think that the fact that they are dual adjustable means that they are automatically illegal.

read the links


coilovers like the tein ss are adr approved

[GreekWarrior]

Says in there that I can replace the springs, shocks and adjust height by no more than 1/3 the original travel without requiring certification. But, a strut replacement requires certification. What about if you have independent suspension? That is not listed in there. Macpherson strut replacement requires certification probably because the strut forms part of the steering assembly.

• The ride height measured between the rubber bump
stop and the corresponding metal stop may be reduced
by no more than one third.

• The rebound travel measured between the rubber
rebound stop and the corresponding metal stop
(or the extension of the shock absorber for vehicles
without a rebound stop) may be reduced by no
more than one third.


f*cked if I know, I didn't make the rules

[aaronng]

read the links


coilovers like the tein ss are adr approved

I did, and my findings are as above.

If you buy Tein SS from Japan, then they are not ADR approved. :)

[GreekWarrior]

I did, and my findings are as above.

If you buy Tein SS from Japan, then they are not ADR approved. :)

yes they are, they are exactly the same as the aussie ones except different spring rates :)

[aaronng]

yes they are, they are exactly the same as the aussie ones except different spring rates :)

They have different part numbers, hence if the cop is anal and pulls out the ADR approved list for Tein parts, they won't be in there and you'll cop a defect. Jap-spec Tein SS does not have an ADR sticker on the damper. So even if the cop wasn't anal and was just looking for that sticker, the jap-spec SS would still be defectable.

[GreekWarrior]

They have different part numbers, hence if the cop is anal and pulls out the ADR approved list for Tein parts, they won't be in there and you'll cop a defect. Jap-spec Tein SS does not have an ADR sticker on the damper. So even if the cop wasn't anal and was just looking for that sticker, the jap-spec SS would still be defectable.

well I was told it was just the type of coilover that was the problem, since they are essentially the same they should still be adr approved. All they do in japan for the aussie spec's is change the spring rate and I think revalve the shocks, then send em here, nothing is changed after they reach australia