BRZ/FR-S Coilover Installation Guide

[Buuurz]

Did my coils today. The back were a breeze, 45 minutes tops for both sides. The fronts...those damned endlinks...how does a one year old car have such seized up bolts? It took another 2 hours each side just for those bolts. They're now destroyed and need to be replaced. Blow torch and vice grips should be added to the list of tools needed. Great help though! Thanks guys

[GrimmSpeed]

Originally Posted by Jaylyons1

Did this ever get answered or did I miss it? Not trying to install them on the wrong side.

The way the sheet metal is where the top hat bolts to the car might not even allow you to install the coilovers wrong. BUT in case I'm incorrect about that:

The "thinner side" goes towards the inside of the car, and the "thicker side" goes towards the outside of the car.

Chase
Engineering

[HyperTech]

thx alot for this DIY post. really help full for novice like me.

[GrimmSpeed]

Originally Posted by HyperTech

thx alot for this DIY post. really help full for novice like me.

Our pleasure, glad it was helpful!

Matt Beenen
Engineering

[Rio]

Thank you! Installing my KW V3s today thanks to this.

[yomny]

Maybe I missed something but when you install the strut to the lower control arm(rear) aren't you supposed to compress the suspension?

[vividracing]

Great write-up guys!

[scottxnizzle]

I installed some KWV3s acouple days ago, should I be getting alignment?

[hahaman86]

Originally Posted by scottxnizzle

I installed some KWV3s acouple days ago, should I be getting alignment?

Yes once the springs are done settling and you're at your ideal ride height

[scottxnizzle]

Originally Posted by hahaman86

Yes once the springs are done settling and you're at your ideal ride height

What are the consequences of not getting one lol just curious

[chanomatik]

Originally Posted by scottxnizzle

What are the consequences of not getting one lol just curious

Less-than-ideal handling characteristics for start, like unwanted pulling, biased towards a direction. Uneven tire wear for another.

[Bergen23]

So, I have my coilovers and my rear LCA's ready for install. I'm pretty mechanically competent, however I do have some concerns. I'm iffy about adjusting the ride height and the LCA's. What's the best way to do it? Just slap them on and then let a shop handle it during an alignment? I'm pretty good at being an instruction following monkey, basically every time I've done something with my car (fog lights, exhaust, intake and new tail lights) I've had either the instruction booklet or my laptop right by my side for that stuff. But, I'm hesitant to install the suspension because to be honest, I'm a bit intimated by all the adjustment possibilities.

What's the best way to do it? Install, then get a shop to do all of the adjusting, or get it installed, do the adjustments and let the shop worry about the fine tuning?

This won't be done until spring time and I've been reading up on just about everything I can for this, I just want to be really, really prepared for such a major job.

[slyphen]

i'm fairly new to coilovers. i heard you need all sorts of alignment every time you touch a setting such as ride height. how complicated is this process? does it need a special alignment place for tuning and how much do those usually cost?

[PNW FRS]

Originally Posted by slyphen

i'm fairly new to coilovers. i heard you need all sorts of alignment every time you touch a setting such as ride height. how complicated is this process? does it need a special alignment place for tuning and how much do those usually cost?

Yes... if you set a drop... then align.. .then adjust (-/+) drop, you should realign. So, get that "optimal" drop settled in your mind before you spring $$ for a 4-wheel alignment. Experimenting with drop -- driving around a bit -- isn't a bad thing. But you'll want to get this figured out sooner than later and then get that alignment done.

I'm down in Olympia... I went to the Les Schwab in Federal Way after a "local" alignment shop proved they didn't know what they were doing (another story... lesson learned...).

It's across the street from WalMart on 16th Ave S. It cost about $95 with taxes, which seems like a good price considering he spent an hour on it to get it right. I took mine and had Alan work on the alignment. Not only did he do a good job.. but actually spent some time discussing options... and also found a nagging issue I had been having with a front end link... stopping an annoying noise I had been trying to diagnose.

I highly recommend Alan at this shop! He races and knows his stuff. (Hopefully he is still there.... call the shop and confirm.. then make an appointment to have him work on your rig.)