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So let me start by saying im a noob when it comes to suspension but I am mechanically savvy enough to do a lot of the work on my car myself with the help of my brother in law who is a mechanic. I have read quite a bit around the forum to gather information as well as a thread that was posted about the "science" of suspension... that just threw me for a loop..

So I have them in and basically set up but i have some questions on pre-load. I am not sure where to start really... what are some techniques to get the desired pre-load. Im looking for a stiffer ride so that I can get the max drop without rubbing on the fenders... Right now Im not getting rubbing and have a decent drop but in all honesty.... its not that stiff (in my opinion) when I'm driving.

I cannot push the car down very much at all (if any) at a stand still but the ride is actually not bad in terms of "harshness" and slightly bouncy (Depending on the road).

Info I am looking for is HOW do I properly introduce Pre-load when installing the coilovers? Any insight on how to go at this would be EXTREMELY helpful. I called skunk2 and they were very general and not super helpful.

This is my ride after the drop.... IM looking to get the back a bit lower to match the front....
photo3-3-1.jpg?t=1331555333

 
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I don't understand what you mean when you say, properly induce preload. There isn't a correct or incorrect way to do so... what specifically are you struggling with?

Generally Skunk2s customer service is terrible, just like the quality of their products.

 
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Figured that I was going to get the Skunk2 sucks comment.

More so should I introduce a certain amount of preload before putting the car on the ground or snug it up evenly on both sides drop it then start to introduce preload.

can I introduce too much?

 
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I tried to hold the skunk2 comment in, but couldn't.

In theory, yes, you could exert to much preload and cause excessive wear on the dampers. It would need to very difficult to set that degree of preload though, almost impossible.

You should set the preload to 0 so the spring is snug and nothing more. If you try to compensate for having spring rates that are too low by adusting preload excessively high on linear springs handling will suffer, not improve. You will also lose suspension travel. The more preload you exert, the worse the side effects will be.

 
Rep Power: 351

freaking sweet... time to let the suspension nerd side out!

Preload is used to adjust the initial position of the suspension with the weight of the driver(s) acting on the car (the dynamic weight).

there is nothing you can do about it TFMEX. it isnt an adjustment that you can make on our suspension and no brand of suspension thats a setup that allows u to adjust preload.

preload adjustments ARE on extremely high end suspension (like ohlins)...but their suspension costs more than our cars.

 
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preload is understood easiest with motorcycle suspension.

when the bike is up straight with the rider on, that is its static weight.

The difference between the fully extended length of the suspension and the length compressed by the weight of the car and driver is called "total sag." Total sag is set to optimize the initial position of the suspension to avoid bottoming out or topping out under normal riding conditions. "Bottoming out" occurs when the suspension is compressed to the point where it mechanically cannot compress any more. Topping out occurs when the suspension extends fully and cannot mechanically extend any more.

Increasing pre-load increases the initial force on the spring thereby reducing total sag. Decreasing pre-load decreases the initial force in the spring thereby increasing total sag.

 
Rep Power: 351

so what you are thinking is "rebound" and "compression."

comrpession is the rate when the force "compressing" the shock/strut
rebound is the rate that the strut/shock pushes back.

again, on the higher end suspension, they are able to be adjusted independent of each other.

however, in our low end suspension, rebound and compression are adjusted simultaneously by manufacture's description........ we simply call this "dampening"

some struts can adjust their dampening (like tein SS, koni yellow, and mugen). by adjusting this, it will make the dampening "stiffer" or "softer" by increasing/decreasing the compression/rebound rate

 
Rep Power: 351

i just looked at your coilover spec and they are non adjustable dampening... this means that the ONLY thing you can adjust on them is the height of the car.

you cant adjust preload (none of our suspension can)
and you cant adjust dampening. this is what would have made it "stiffer" in a sense.


so pretty much, you are stuck with what you have as far as ride quality.


what you CAN do, however, is order a special set of springs from skunk. order springs with high spring rates and that should stiffen up everything a bit more (but its a pain in the *** since u have to figure out how to proportion the front and rear spring rate ratio)

 
Rep Power: 351

here are some specs on ur coil system:


Dual Tube Design
Non-Adjustable Precision Valving
Shortened Shock Body and Stroke
Adjustable Ride Height
One-Piece Machined Bodies
Uses Factory Upper Mount
Some Kits include Forged Mounts
SAE9254V Racing Springs

 
Rep Power: 185

Thanks for all the help guys. it was a big help and I understand it a bit more. Since I cant make the ride any "stiffer" but adjusting the dampning I have what I have. Honestly it rides really nice.... I was just trying to get more insight. I appreciate it.