Quattro coilover install tips....based on S4 installs...(my H&R ultras in this case)
sorry...no pics :(
some tools you need. -13,16,17,18,19 mm wrenches/sockets/3/8 swivel and extensions...12 points too. -spanner wrench for the coilovers...min 3.5" I believe. I have an adjustable one up to 4.5" -big screwdriver or pry bar in case you can't kick the rear shocks in (towards the inside of the car for removal) -heavy hammer..preferably one lead hammer and one steel -diagonal cutters and/or a thin,long flathead screwdriver...used in step 3 for the fronts -big c-clamp for the front springs, or a spring compressor if you got one. In general..when you're pulling out the shock assemblies, don't hit your fenders. I recommend using some masking tape on the inside and outside lips of the fenders...you'll see. Also, I recommend replacing all the nylon lock nuts and getting an alignment...I'm being a hypocrite here, but it's good advice nonetheless. For the fronts: when removing stock shocks 1. remove the grille above the battery 2. disconnect the green harness connector on the pass. side...it's the B1/S2 O2 sensor connector. 3. remove those annoying stainless ring clips that go around the guide pins for the upper shock mounts...look for the little protrusion next to the outermost upper shock bolt. 4. remove the lower shock bolts(pop them out by swinging that lower aluminum control arm out of the way and the upper link bolts...pop the links out by using a punch or 3/8" extension and a hammer. 5. remove the top 17mm bolts. you don't have to worry about positioning these for any alignment problems. In fact, don't even worry about your car's alignment for this entire job. 6. Swing the bottom of the shocks towards you and get that u-shaped piece out first, then bring it down and out with the top. 7. now you have to remove the aluminum shock mount. don't worry, nothing will explode. 8. put a clamp between the spring and the perch, tighten down on it slightly, and remove the 19mm nut on top....don't worry, luckily the spring won't explode too bad if the clamp doesn't hold...just be careful anyway. 9. save the jounce bumpers(the foamy looking pieces that cover the cylinders) and the big rubber rings that sit on the perches. 10. I bet people don't do this, but you'll appreciate it...take those big rubber rings and open up the centers with a grinder so that they slip over the coilover bodies to sit on those perches. You'll like this idea, but it's a PITA to do. 11. On the coilovers make sure that the big metal washer goes inside that perch and is facing downwards on top of those adjustable threaded perches. 12. Put everything together on the coilover and adjust the perches all the way down. The coils that are spaced closely together go on top. I recommend putting a light grease on the coilover threads. Also, make sure the little zinc plated washer goes over the hydraulic cylinder's threads before everything else is put on. 13. install is reverse of removal, don't tighten the top three 17mm shock mount bolts 100% until you get the car on the ground. Check these after you've driven also. When putting the upper links in, you might have to jack up the lower control arm a bit to get the joints started. Just jack underneath the bottom of the brake rotor. Once you get them started, let the jack out and take the heavy lead hammer sideways and pound those things in. You can use grease, but they may pop out on you. If you're having trouble, you might need to put a prybar or big screwdriver into those slots and open the metal up a bit. You can use grease on the steel bolt that slides through and holds those pins in there. 14. crank the front perches up with a spanner wrench. I recommend 45 turns up or so. It'll look good. Depending on your roads you might be able to go lower without scraping around hard turns. I think that's it for the fronts. The rears... 15. disconnect the stabilizer bar link on each side(upper)-NOT NECESSARY 16. move the parking brake cable out of the way to get to the lower shock bolt with box wrenches 17. remove the 4 17mm bolts for the shock housing. 18. remove the upper control link. 19. somehow you have to kick out the bottom of that shock away from the control arm towards the car. It sucks, just be patient and don't hurt yourself. Sometimes they come out easy, sometimes they don't. 20. When you get the lower part loose, just slide it down into the opening of the lower control arm and pull the unit out from the top...just don't hit your fender. Keep your hand between the upper arm and the fender. 21. You can now remove the upper shock bolt that goes through the shock housing...I'm not sure if I always do this...actually you might want to try and get this out before you remove the unit. It sucks if you try this when the unit is situated on control arm, etc. because the force of the spring makesd the bolt removal a pain, but once you get most of the bolt backed out with a hammer/screwdriver...you can take a wrench and just turn it out of there....actually, now that I think of it, this may be the only way to get those rear housings out. 22. OK, with the rear housing out, just swap the coilovers in with the perches adjusted all the way down and the lower mount turned in relation to the upper mount so that when you get it on the control arm, the upper mount is parallel to the upper mounting hole through the housing. Installation is reverse of removal and you'll have to jack up the lower control arm from the bottom of the brake rotor to get the upper shock mount to line up with the hole. This may take a few tries because you'll have to lower the control arm and tweak the rotation on the cylinder. 23. I like to adjust the rears up to 35-40 turns so that I maintain a 1/2" to 5/8" ride height above the fronts. I think one of the keys to this whole thing is pounding out and/or unscrewing the big bolts without ruining them. Oh, also put some wood planks under the tires when you drop it down to the ground so that you can get your jack out. Good luck, sorry about the mess....if you have any questions, give me a hollar. Mike |
mikey boy!! you're back in action????????
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yeah...no imposter here...i'm still doing your coilovers though :)...did you get the DTS in?
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Mike I might come out your way for some car work. Maybe in May..
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i'm going to void your freaking warranty.
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it's been in dude!! the day you told me you're coming out here i ran out and did it... THAN I ....
GOT DOGGED! :(.
hehhe j/k. Ray 00 s4 onyx/silver corrado G60 TORNADO RED...(out to embarass piggie S4) |
lol!!!..that's hilarious....if i didn't come, you would have waited until the day before waterfest,
huh?
sorry i couldn't go downtown...it was very hectic as you know :( |
What else is new. I'm way beyond that point already with all the stuff I have in there.
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haha you know it!! i hope you didnt' sell out my SNUB MOUNT!
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nope..still got it.
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