davidhowson
Junior Member
- Messages
- 474
4200 ride height adjustment - slight problem (Now sorted!)
Before anyone says it, I'm old enough to have know better
But, I decided to have a go at adjusting the ride height on my car. Sounded quite easy from the various posts I have read (mainly on the US forum) so I bought the required C-Spanner and a new can of WD40.
I started at the front knowing that access to the spring is most limited there, but with some time and effort both fronts were lowered 20 turns which should be about 1 1/4" drop. I have an 02 which had silly high ride height to start with so this shouldn't be too much I thought.
So far so good. Went to rear off side next. 30 minutes and 17 turns lower as suggested over the pond.
Rear nearside. Ah, wont budge. More WD40. Nope. Compress spring with special compressor. Nope. The lock nut moved with very little effort so I know the thread's OK. Tried hitting C-Spanner, nope. Really got mad with it. Nope. Tried a cup of tea. Nope. Tried swearing at it, hitting it and myself several times, very hard. Still won't budge.
So in summary - I now have a car with three lowered corners and one not. Broke two teeth oiff the ring nut trying. Several cuts and bruises, but full swear box for the holidays.
Any thoughts why, or is this the ultimate sod's law in practice? Could it have locktight on it?
I'm planning to take the whole rear strut off the car and try to wrestle with it on the bench where I should be able to compress the spring more fully. If it still won't budge I'm thinking of cutting it off and buying a new adjuster nut.
-David-
Before anyone says it, I'm old enough to have know better
But, I decided to have a go at adjusting the ride height on my car. Sounded quite easy from the various posts I have read (mainly on the US forum) so I bought the required C-Spanner and a new can of WD40.
I started at the front knowing that access to the spring is most limited there, but with some time and effort both fronts were lowered 20 turns which should be about 1 1/4" drop. I have an 02 which had silly high ride height to start with so this shouldn't be too much I thought.
So far so good. Went to rear off side next. 30 minutes and 17 turns lower as suggested over the pond.
Rear nearside. Ah, wont budge. More WD40. Nope. Compress spring with special compressor. Nope. The lock nut moved with very little effort so I know the thread's OK. Tried hitting C-Spanner, nope. Really got mad with it. Nope. Tried a cup of tea. Nope. Tried swearing at it, hitting it and myself several times, very hard. Still won't budge.
So in summary - I now have a car with three lowered corners and one not. Broke two teeth oiff the ring nut trying. Several cuts and bruises, but full swear box for the holidays.
Any thoughts why, or is this the ultimate sod's law in practice? Could it have locktight on it?
I'm planning to take the whole rear strut off the car and try to wrestle with it on the bench where I should be able to compress the spring more fully. If it still won't budge I'm thinking of cutting it off and buying a new adjuster nut.
-David-
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