Coilover help!!!

[Silvias14240sx]

I recently purchased JIC-Magic FL-A2 coilovers for my s14 and well for some reason everyone else's came assembled and well my fronts did but not my rears...Well I'm almost positive i have them together right but when i go to tighten the piston rod lock nut well the piston spins with it so i tried putting a rag around it and used channel locks to keep it from spinning but still no luck. I took it back apart and noticed there is like a notch on the top of the pistion...does that serve a special purpose?! To get an idea of how I have it assembled...I have the spring sitting on seats and then the pillow ball mount on top of it then a bushing I guess is what it would be on top of that then the nut. I noticed though that when i push down on the pillow ball mount it compresses the spring some and the piston rod just slides right through the center and it doesnt compress the piston at all...So im totally sure I must have something wrong here lol. Any help would be GREAT!!!

[HiPSI]

there should be a washer or spacer that bottoms out on the top of the piston. generally there's a tapered section of the piston where it's threaded for the top nut, and at the bottom of that threaded/tapered section there should be a piece for the top plate to go up against. if that's not in there then it will do as you say and just slide through the top part.

[Silvias14240sx]

well see the upper mount centers itself past the tapered part and then i put the spacer above it and then the nut...but see theres nothing to keep the the piston rod attached to the upper mount so the rod will compress with the spring...i tried calling JIC but the doesnt have a clue wtf im trying to say and im doing my best to explain it lol....maybe this will help explain the problem......When i have it all assembled and i push down on the upper mount it compresses the spring therefore the upper mount moves down but the piston doesnt compress with the spring so therefore the uppermount just slides right down the piston to compress the spring and the piston rod doesnt compress with it due to the upper mount sliding along the piston rod and not staying in place...maybe that will help?! :confused:

[Wei240]

do you have a digicam? because i'm sure w/ pics, people here can answer your question quicker...

[HiPSI]

well see the upper mount centers itself past the tapered part and then i put the spacer above it and then the nut...but see theres nothing to keep the the piston rod attached to the upper mount so the rod will compress with the spring...i tried calling JIC but the doesnt have a clue wtf im trying to say and im doing my best to explain it lol....maybe this will help explain the problem......When i have it all assembled and i push down on the upper mount it compresses the spring therefore the upper mount moves down but the piston doesnt compress with the spring so therefore the uppermount just slides right down the piston to compress the spring and the piston rod doesnt compress with it due to the upper mount sliding along the piston rod and not staying in place...maybe that will help?! :confused:


that's exactly what i was talking about;)

there should be a spacer that goes UNDER the top plate that lets the top nut tighten the plate between the tapered part of the rod and the nut. the top plate should be secured to the piston rod itself, and the washer/spacer that goes under the top plate keeps the plate from sliding down.

[Silvias14240sx]

LOL I know what you was talking about but the problem is there isnt anything to go UNDER the mount lol...lemme take it apart and try 1 more thing and if I dont get it ill take a pic and maybe that will help things out...I REALLY appreciate all the help man!

[HiPSI]

LOL I know what you was talking about but the problem is there isnt anything to go UNDER the mount lol...lemme take it apart and try 1 more thing and if I dont get it ill take a pic and maybe that will help things out...I REALLY appreciate all the help man!


well there SHOULD be something to go under there;)

[HiPSI]

it should assemble something like this (it sucks but it gives you the idea)

[Silvias14240sx]

Yea see i was totally trying to explain that to Ben at JIC but he couldnt seem to understand what i was trying to tell him...But anywho apparently im missing the lower spacer/washer that would go under the upper mount oh well I guess everything isnt ment to always go your way lol but I got it resolved thanks for the help though man!