HELP: Can't adjust ride height-Coilover is stuck!

[SmogSUX]

Anyways I need to raise the ride height on my car (http://www.rx7club.com/showthread.php?t=731446#) and I have KTS coilovers.

http://splparts.com/main4/parts/FC3S...on/default.htm (http://splparts.com/main4/parts/FC3S/Suspension/default.htm)

The lower silver sleeves or w/e you call them spin to move up or down the threads so you can lower or raise your car's height. Anyways I managed to adjust all of them, but one of them is stuck...I simply can't get it to budge. I'm using the 2 blue callars that hold the spring up to pivot on and putting a tire iron through the hole on the bottom of the silver collar. (It's the rear strut) I've let it soak in PB Buster for hours on end and have tried heating it up with a torch, etc...I just can't get it to budge...anyone have any ideas on how to get it to move? I'd even be willing to take it to a shop if I knew which one to take it to and had assurance that the strut won't be damaged.

-I have cleaned it all off to remove any gravel and dirt too...
-I know this is for an FC, but the coilover is pretty much the same design for my 240.

[aznpoopy]

it very typical out here in the north east

i suggest taking a metal hammer to the lower shock mount area. tap/bang against it all around while you soak into the threads with pb blaster. yeah you might dent that shit up a little. obviously, don't hit it so hard you break it. the idea is the vibrations unseize the threads.

after that i use the spanner wrenches and turn the spring perch and spring perch locking collar towards or away from each other, with the coilover fully bolted on. this is the only way i've ever gotten enough torque on the assembly to break that lower shock bracket loose. i've tried doing it by sticking a breaker bar into the lower mounting point and it never works for me. the coilover always spins too freely or my friend can't keep it from spinning with two measely spanner wrenches.

[SmogSUX]

Thanks, I'll try that, but also I use the tire iron while the coilover is bolted up to the car. I only use one spanner wrench to pivot off those spring perch locking collars and the tire iron through the bolt on the bottom...I'll try to hit it with a metal hammer though...the rubber shot mallet might not cut it though..

[tgd89]

I had the exact same problem with some rusted coils on my car. I had to take them off the car, put the rear part where it bolts to the car in a vice, and use, either one or two for the top, pipe wrenches with literally a 10ft long breaker bar. It worked wonderfully, but gouged a bit out of the collar. Better than no adjustment at all.

[SmogSUX]

Oopps...delete this, I understand

[DaPCWiz]

alot of times if I can't get my collars loose, I shove the spanner into a long ass metal pipe and hook it on. Then I have massive leverage to make that shit turn. I also cover the threads with lithium grease before I tighten everything up to minimize any rust formation in the future.

[aznpoopy]

yep. use grease, or even anti seize or maybe teflon tape. anything to keep water from getting into the threads.

let us know how it goes

[gotta240]

A trick i do is to use a spanner wrench and a good sized metal hammer. The force AND sudden impact of hitting the spanner wrench usually breaks them free for me.

It can be a bitch, but don't give up.

[downshift_sideways]

I soak the threads with pb blaster. Get a flathead punch and hammer it on the collar to break it free.

[aznpoopy]

guys the collars aren't seized. its the actual lower sleeve portion (where the coilover bolts to spindle) that is seized.

hammer/punch works well enough for collars. but hammer / punch method doesn't work on the sleeve because you need to twist the assembly and max out the bushing (on the rears) before torque is applied to break the sleeve loose from the threads.

Thanks, I'll try that, but also I use the tire iron while the coilover is bolted up to the car. I only use one spanner wrench to pivot off those spring perch locking collars and the tire iron through the bolt on the bottom...I'll try to hit it with a metal hammer though...the rubber shot mallet might not cut it though..

the hammer is good as a supplemental trick, but the real solution is the torque i got by the way you spin the collars against each other. please try it... it worked on my silkroads that hadn't been adjusted or cleaned in like 2 years. when the threads started coming out they were all rusted to shit. it works!

[downshift_sideways]

ooooohh. Hella misread <3

[aznpoopy]

no problem ... i figure you guys in cali are just lucky enough to never have to deal with this problem

[ZX88]

what i did was i cleaned my coilovers really good before winter and covered the thread in a really thick electrical tape.

[SmogSUX]

I live in Cali :( I don't see why it happened. Lol my mechanic friend that seems to be able to do anything has the car now for misc stuff I need done that I can't do, so I'll have him try it out. Thanks guys

[nevaland9]

Get a nice flat head screw driver or punch, place it on the coilover ring where the coilover key would go but instead of pulling on it like you do with the keys, your pushing with the the tip of the punch and manly taps of a big hammer.

for best results..tap-tap-BAM-tap-tap-BAM & repeat as necessary.

if that dosnt work take the coilover out of the car and try your luck with a vice and big wrench

GL

[importdude]

i always apply anti seize when i can on the threads

i had a few stuck ones and im in CA!!!

i would soak it with a bunch of pb blaster tho and hammer away
it will come loose sooner or later

[Ian]

I have the same problem right now



Sucks!


I'm gonna try hitting it with a hammer more...

[viperbite]

oh i did this crap to my coilovers.

ended up having to put the wrench on
and hitting it with a hammer softly about 500 times. it got it loose. very slowly
with NO damage to threads.

[Phaze*2_Mizzark]

this ish is depressing. i have the same problem right now =/. i'll try the advice i found on here tomorrow. thanks guys.

Mark

[The ROMAN]

I had this problem (with the collars, not the end piece) when I decided I wanted to use my 4 year-old Tein HEs again. It took 5 turns with this to get them loose (with pb-blaster, threads are fine, too):

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b334/9082345029386/0718081905d.jpg
http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b334/9082345029386/0718081905.jpg

[g6civcx]

If all else fails, remove the coilover from the car, disassemble, and clean all parts if possible.

Or order an entire replacement unit and bolt the new one in.


This is the reason why I don't like running expensive coilovers on a daily driver.