Setting coilovers ?'s

[ZmanIV]

I installed my coilovers D2 and I am in the process of adjusting them.
The rears were set incredibly stiff, I removed 15 mm of compression length from each side (don't know how the previous owner got them that tight) coils free length with wheel off the car is about 7 inches. when I lower the rear of the car it settles about 1/2 inch.
Should I reduce the rear spring rate some more?
The fronts are the opposite they settle about 2 inches when I lower the car.
Should they not settle that far?
I did measure the wheel distance to the top of the fender before I started doing all this and I am now about 1/4 inch off.

Thanks Martin

 

[ZmanIV]

None of you out there have ever set up your own coilovers?

 

[wret]

I assume you are playing around with pre-load adjustment. This does not change spring rate, but it affects the limits of suspension motion when unweighted and compressed. There is not much need to lengthen the compression travel when it is limited by fenders and bump stops, and with no practical way to test changes, I think most (myself included) fall back on the manufactures set-up recommendations. For Tein suspensions, the pre-load is just about zero.

 

[wt71gas]

I recommend to all my customers to run the spring perch up until it just touches the bottom of the spring. You probably don't want to really preload the spring unless you are racing and have a proper set of scales to see what your corner weights are changing to. Anyways just run up the perch and use the lower mount of the coilover to adjust your ride height. Most guys start with softest setting on the dampening and work stiffer from there to how they like the ride

 

[ZmanIV]

Thanks that is what I wanted to hear.
I will remove most all of the remaining preload that was on the shocks when I got them.