Suspension fettling options

jasst

jasst

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2,317
Yeah, but not as easy as it sounds on one of these, as I discovered, the only way adjustment can be made to these is to remove the shock from the car, which as you can imagine is going to take a **** of a lot of time if each one has to be taken off repeatedly for small adjustments.
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
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9,038
jasst said:
Yeah, but not as easy as it sounds on one of these, as I discovered, the only way adjustment can be made to these is to remove the shock from the car, which as you can imagine is going to take a **** of a lot of time if each one has to be taken off repeatedly for small adjustments.
Click to expand...

I'm not disputing what you say, but surely this shouldn't be the case, if the threads are well lubricated after spring change?
 
jasst

jasst

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Messages
2,317
The springs are under so much tension , even when all the weight is off the car that it is impossible to turn the adjusting collars, with them in situ, it is also impossible to get spring compressors in place with them in situ. This is what we found when I took mine to have it done.
 
Caldy999

Caldy999

Junior Member
Messages
445
jasst said:
The springs are under so much tension , even when all the weight is off the car that it is impossible to turn the adjusting collars, with them in situ, it is also impossible to get spring compressors in place with them in situ. This is what we found when I took mine to have it done.
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Sorry but that is not the case - it obviously depends on your choice of spring compressers. You can compress the springs ‘in situ’ and then raise/lower the collar to suit.
 
alfatwo

alfatwo

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5,517
Exactly, and once you've done the calculation's you know which corners to adjust and how much

Dave
 
jasst

jasst

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2,317
Not saying your wrong, but I would like to see a set of spring compressors that will fit in situ. as the guys I went to said it wasn't possible. Has anyone actually done it? or are we all talking hypothetically?
 
Caldy999

Caldy999

Junior Member
Messages
445
Mine are out on loan at the moment but they are similar to these.....and I fitted a full set of lowering, progressive rate springs.
C6E4A381-8284-44BD-83FB-B7D96B504F0B.png
 
jasst

jasst

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Messages
2,317
That's virtually the same as I've got, and there was no way I could get them to fit on a 4200 spring whilst in situ, particularly the rears, guess I must be missing a trick somewhere.
 
RobinL

RobinL

Member
Messages
456
I've not tried to adjust Maserati springs but I have adjusted many shock absorbers with same fitting. Alot of folk try a 'universal' C Spanner which usually just damages the lock ring. Either a genuine tool which frequently contacts 3 notches and fits snugly or a quality Hook and Pin set will work. Some anti seize like 'plus gas' or even some diesel slacking the lock ring would help.
 
alfatwo

alfatwo

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5,517
jasst said:
That's virtually the same as I've got, and there was no way I could get them to fit on a 4200 spring whilst in situ, particularly the rears, guess I must be missing a trick somewhere.
Click to expand...

I've done it with those on the rear of my 3200, 4200s are no different

Just persevere!

Dave
 
FIFTY

FIFTY

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Messages
3,100
Plan this winter is the drop the front ARB get it cleaned up and re-finished. I have new drop links from Euro Spares to install as well.

I am thinking maybe to uprate the ARB bushes while I am at it... I have seen an old thread by @CraigWaterman11 but I am not sure how far it went in the end. Are Powerflex poly ones any good or is there an option for an improved rubber bush on the market?
 
davy83

davy83

Member
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2,823
I also managed to get spring compressors on in situ, its a PITA but it can be done. the adjusting nuts really cant be moved with the spring force on them they are too tight and too fragile.
 
dunnah01

dunnah01

Member
Messages
648
I'm having a senior moment but I don't understand how lowering the car changes the spring rate? Corner weight I absolutely get to make sure each side has the same contact, but adjusting the lock ring and spring platform surely only changes the neutral position of the damper and spring (OK slight changes to camber and castor due to lowering aside)
 
T

TimR

Member
Messages
2,731
It doesnt change rate...you're confusing rate with preload ! It absolutely adds preload..unless you hack a coil off the spring !!
 
dunnah01

dunnah01

Member
Messages
648
TimR said:
It doesnt change rate...you're confusing rate with preload ! It absolutely adds preload..unless you hack a coil off the spring !!
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But surely all it does is reduce the preload during assembly. Once the load is on the spring the hub is just nearer the top of the strut for the same weight on the suspension. Or are the dampers progressive so there's a change to the damping around the neutral point
 
dunnah01

dunnah01

Member
Messages
648
This is my simple view of the springy world - for the same weight on the spring once under load (pretending the attached coil overs are installed and under the weight of the car) the only change is where the bottom connection (wheel hub) is. Slightly over simplistic but not a huge difference other than ride height. I don't understand how any preload can be introduced?
 

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spn

Junior Member
Messages
88
The damper has a fixed length. If the natural length of the spring is longer than the distance between the platform nut and the top of the damper when fully extended, then the spring is pre-loaded when installed. As the platform nut is moved up the damper the pre-load will increase but so will the ride height of the car.

The effect of pre-load is to stop the damper compressing until the load on it is greater than the amount of pre-load plus a bit of friction. This doesn't change the rate of the spring or the amount it will compress in total (assuming the total load is greater than the pre-load) but it will change the characteristics of the suspension.

Cheers,

Simon
 
mjheathcote

mjheathcote

Centenary Club
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9,038
Does anyone know the correct size of C spanners required to engage properly on the adjusting and locking collars, with a recommended supplier?
 
FIFTY

FIFTY

Member
Messages
3,100
dunnah01 said:
I'm having a senior moment but I don't understand how lowering the car changes the spring rate? Corner weight I absolutely get to make sure each side has the same contact, but adjusting the lock ring and spring platform surely only changes the neutral position of the damper and spring (OK slight changes to camber and castor due to lowering aside)
Click to expand...

My bad as @TimR said I was probably thinking of preload... My springs are mostly covered in rust though which I understand does effect the spring rate vs not rusted springs (?)
 
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