jimmerz
04-01-2012, 07:20 PM
First off, I just want to declare that I am definitely going to seek information from the manufacturer, i'm just posting here to get some other opinions.
Some of you may know, I purchased a set of Stance GR+ coilovers and i tried to get them installed yesterday.
Background:
The tech who helped me install (or attempted to) thought that i was sent the wrong coilovers being the front struts were way too large to fit into the lower control arm spindle (or knuckle or whatever the proper term is, you will see what i am talking about later). Also they did not ship the required bolts for the front strut top hat.
Turns out this has been a confusion. I have most likely been sent the proper coilovers. Here is the cause of confusion and the root of the problem.
In the below image, at the bottom right corner is a picture of the actual front strut that I received. All other images within were pulled off the internet.
The tech thought the wrong coilovers were sent to me because it looked like there was a piece missing below the stance mounting bracket that would fit into the lower control arm. (Labeled C)
However, as it turns out, stance's design is that the strut body is threaded down into the black collar, and the lower part(C) is exposed and is installed into the lower control arm.
This is different from BC coilovers (which the tech has) where the "C" portion is actually a part of the black collar or sleeve and the length of C remains static no matter what ride height your car is set at and does not spin during adjustment.
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/305556_10150666300520665_505425664_9844671_1905428 804_n.jpg
The problem: The length of C labeled above is NOT static. Being a critical component that provides the structural integrity of the front suspension. The length of C is critical so that the strut will not pop out of the lower control arm or whatever disaster may result from having too short of a length for C.
Since I may want the car raised to the maximum height possible, there needs to be a minimum length for C which I would assume is the full depth of the knuckle. Labeled "1" in the below image from Mazda.
If i have to adjust the height of the car while the coilovers are already installed, the strut would be rotating while making direct contact with the knuckle (labeled A below). Is this a concern?
Compared to other images (shown below), does it look like I am missing any pieces?
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/530539_10150666300575665_505425664_9844672_1684498 241_n.jpg
Here are some pictures that I found online with the stance coilovers installed on a mazda3.
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/537998_10150666300645665_505425664_9844674_1187230 279_n.jpg
Here the knuckle or spindle is clearly shown with depth labeled A, this is what I will assume is the minimum length of strut that needs to be inserted.
Above labeled B is the exposed part of the strut below the coilover collar.
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/466339_10150666300695665_505425664_9844675_7827142 94_o.jpg
Above is an image of a stock strut that has been pulled out of the knuckle. With the length that was inserted into the knuckle labeled A. (Assumption since there are clear signs of contact)
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/558035_10150666341540665_505425664_9844841_1952201 74_n.jpg
Above is the maximum length of strut that can be exposed. (ie. I am lowering the car to it's maximum potential).
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/530915_10150666341730665_505425664_9844844_1408049 29_n.jpg
The maximum possible length exposed is about 2.75".
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/523216_10150666342555665_505425664_9844855_4813904 53_n.jpg
Above is the strut with the black collar off. The length from the middle locking collar to the bottom of the strut is 8.75". There is about 5" of threaded strut body.
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/538194_10150666342685665_505425664_9844857_4350107 8_n.jpg
Inside of the collar (which is 5.75" in length) has about 3" of threads. Assuming I want all the threads in the collar to be utilized (for safety), the remaining exposed portion is approximately 2", as above.
The length between the middle locking collar and the lower locking collar is about 7/8".
Here's how you can help:
- Do you see this as a safety concern? What if i raised the car too high? (Consider the worst case scenario where I needed to raise the car high)
- Do you have your stock strut laying around? Can you measure the depth of the inserted portion for me? So i can have at least a reference starting point.
- Do you think my assumption of the minimum length of strut that needs to be inserted should be the same as the depth of the knuckle? Or is it still "safe" IF i only have a portion of strut inserted. (I will NOT be running the car like this, but consider the worse case scenario, because it is POSSIBLE for the coilover to be installed this way).
Discuss and give opinion. Thanks for reading.
Some of you may know, I purchased a set of Stance GR+ coilovers and i tried to get them installed yesterday.
Background:
The tech who helped me install (or attempted to) thought that i was sent the wrong coilovers being the front struts were way too large to fit into the lower control arm spindle (or knuckle or whatever the proper term is, you will see what i am talking about later). Also they did not ship the required bolts for the front strut top hat.
Turns out this has been a confusion. I have most likely been sent the proper coilovers. Here is the cause of confusion and the root of the problem.
In the below image, at the bottom right corner is a picture of the actual front strut that I received. All other images within were pulled off the internet.
The tech thought the wrong coilovers were sent to me because it looked like there was a piece missing below the stance mounting bracket that would fit into the lower control arm. (Labeled C)
However, as it turns out, stance's design is that the strut body is threaded down into the black collar, and the lower part(C) is exposed and is installed into the lower control arm.
This is different from BC coilovers (which the tech has) where the "C" portion is actually a part of the black collar or sleeve and the length of C remains static no matter what ride height your car is set at and does not spin during adjustment.
http://a4.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/305556_10150666300520665_505425664_9844671_1905428 804_n.jpg
The problem: The length of C labeled above is NOT static. Being a critical component that provides the structural integrity of the front suspension. The length of C is critical so that the strut will not pop out of the lower control arm or whatever disaster may result from having too short of a length for C.
Since I may want the car raised to the maximum height possible, there needs to be a minimum length for C which I would assume is the full depth of the knuckle. Labeled "1" in the below image from Mazda.
If i have to adjust the height of the car while the coilovers are already installed, the strut would be rotating while making direct contact with the knuckle (labeled A below). Is this a concern?
Compared to other images (shown below), does it look like I am missing any pieces?
http://a2.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/530539_10150666300575665_505425664_9844672_1684498 241_n.jpg
Here are some pictures that I found online with the stance coilovers installed on a mazda3.
http://a5.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/537998_10150666300645665_505425664_9844674_1187230 279_n.jpg
Here the knuckle or spindle is clearly shown with depth labeled A, this is what I will assume is the minimum length of strut that needs to be inserted.
Above labeled B is the exposed part of the strut below the coilover collar.
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/466339_10150666300695665_505425664_9844675_7827142 94_o.jpg
Above is an image of a stock strut that has been pulled out of the knuckle. With the length that was inserted into the knuckle labeled A. (Assumption since there are clear signs of contact)
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/558035_10150666341540665_505425664_9844841_1952201 74_n.jpg
Above is the maximum length of strut that can be exposed. (ie. I am lowering the car to it's maximum potential).
http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/530915_10150666341730665_505425664_9844844_1408049 29_n.jpg
The maximum possible length exposed is about 2.75".
http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/523216_10150666342555665_505425664_9844855_4813904 53_n.jpg
Above is the strut with the black collar off. The length from the middle locking collar to the bottom of the strut is 8.75". There is about 5" of threaded strut body.
http://a7.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/538194_10150666342685665_505425664_9844857_4350107 8_n.jpg
Inside of the collar (which is 5.75" in length) has about 3" of threads. Assuming I want all the threads in the collar to be utilized (for safety), the remaining exposed portion is approximately 2", as above.
The length between the middle locking collar and the lower locking collar is about 7/8".
Here's how you can help:
- Do you see this as a safety concern? What if i raised the car too high? (Consider the worst case scenario where I needed to raise the car high)
- Do you have your stock strut laying around? Can you measure the depth of the inserted portion for me? So i can have at least a reference starting point.
- Do you think my assumption of the minimum length of strut that needs to be inserted should be the same as the depth of the knuckle? Or is it still "safe" IF i only have a portion of strut inserted. (I will NOT be running the car like this, but consider the worse case scenario, because it is POSSIBLE for the coilover to be installed this way).
Discuss and give opinion. Thanks for reading.