R129 Adjusting Coilovers advice - help required please

[J16SBR]

My recent purchase of a 99 SL320 came slammed on coilovers, I like how it looks but prefer the standard height. Do any other owners have coilovers and how easy are they to adjust yourself? I jacked up the car yesterday and sprayed with GT85 lubricant. I also have the spanners to adjust, would appreciate any advice here.

Ive attached pictures of the front and rear set up. Videos online/youtube mostly show a different type of coilover and ive learned the type on the SL may be called Divorced Coilovers.

 

[JBell]

On the pic "front" there are 2 nuts below the spring, you screw them up to raise the car

 

[J16SBR]

On the pic "front" there are 2 nuts below the spring, you screw them up to raise the car

I thought as much. This one does not look too difficult, hopefully the GT85 stuff makes it easier to do. Rears?

 

[JBell]

I thought as much. This one does not look too difficult, hopefully the GT85 stuff makes it easier to do. Rears?

Rears are the same, there should be a spanner that came with the coilovers.

Jack it up first and measure the height you raise so it is even all round

 

[KennyN]

Normally the lower ring is the locking one , so back it off slightly then screw the top ring upwards to increase the height , once happy with where the car is sitting then screw the lower ring up and lock it onto the upper ring.

When setting the final height remember to take into account how level the surface is / the weight of fuel in the tank and the "ballast" on the drivers seat.

K

 

[J16SBR]

Normally the lower ring is the locking one , so back it off slightly then screw the top ring upwards to increase the height , once happy with where the car is sitting then screw the lower ring up and lock it onto the upper ring.

When setting the final height remember to take into account how level the surface is / the weight of fuel in the tank and the "ballast" on the drivers seat.

K

Thanks Kenny, do you think its the same principal on the rears? looks really tight to make any adjustments

 

[KennyN]

Thanks Kenny, do you think its the same principal on the rears? looks really tight to make any adjustments

You may have to remove the strut to adjust , if access is impossible on the vehicle.

If you are doing the above then count the threads from the locking ring downwards , that way you can set the other side to the same , that way the height should be the same without the faff of removing and replacing them to get it right.

K

 

[Larkone]

Having been through this when I changed to coilovers on my Lexus - counting the threads will only get you near to even across the axles. Pick a datum point near each wheel (top centre of wheel arch), adjust, put wheels back on and lower, bounce a few times to settle the springs and measure to the datum point across the axles, lift adjust etc. until they are equal. It took quite while to do this until mine were finally even across the axles, especially as a small change to one wheel then affects the 3 others. Key is to do this on a very flat surface, no slopes.

Then you will need to have a 4 wheel alignment setup done across toe in, caster and camber because they will have been setup for the 'slammed' position which will not be right once you get it back to a sensible height.

 

[J16SBR]

Having been through this when I changed to coilovers on my Lexus - counting the threads will only get you near to even across the axles. Pick a datum point near each wheel (top centre of wheel arch), adjust, put wheels back on and lower, bounce a few times to settle the springs and measure to the datum point across the axles, lift adjust etc. until they are equal. It took quite while to do this until mine were finally even across the axles, especially as a small change to one wheel then affects the 3 others. Key is to do this on a very flat surface, no slopes.

Then you will need to have a 4 wheel alignment setup done across toe in, caster and camber because they will have been setup for the 'slammed' position which will not be right once you get it back to a sensible height.

When i bought it, i thought, coilovers - these will be straight forward to adjust....

 

[Larkone]

When i bought it, i thought, coilovers - these will be straight forward to adjust....

Which is why there are an awful lot of slammed cars with very uneven setups - people can't be bothered. It is not difficult it just takes time

 

[J16SBR]

Which is why there are an awful lot of slammed cars with very uneven setups - people can't be bothered. It is not difficult it just takes time

I guess slammed lowered cars have their fans. I just liked the look of this one and thought "fully adjustable" that will do me....