How to diagnose a bad coilover? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

rx8guy · 02-17-2009, 01:18 PM

I'm about to buy a used coilover, any tips on how to check to see if the coilover is in good shape.

the owner doesnt know much, bought the car with the coils on, he said the car has about 60k miles, doesnt know much else.

How do you check the coilover setup? to see if its in good conditioN?

thanks.

carlos_mx1976 · 02-17-2009, 01:20 PM

very good question ..

Sthrteen · 02-17-2009, 01:30 PM

Buying used coilovers isn't the best idea, but more information would be helpful like the make and model of the coilover, how many miles the coilovers have on them.

a leaking strut/shock is no good.

joefresh · 02-17-2009, 01:35 PM

if there are no visible leaks or damage, take the coilover apart to the bare strut. compress the strut and see how quickly it pops back up. if its really slow its probably on its way out. best bet is to buy new unless its really cheap and serviceable in the usa.

rx8guy · 02-17-2009, 02:11 PM

well the coilover is JIC FLA2

I know JICs reputation isn't the best, but I can get these for $200 VERY cheap.

any ideas how to check?

Logan · 02-17-2009, 02:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rx8guy

well the coilover is JIC FLA2

I know JICs reputation isn't the best, but I can get these for $200 VERY cheap.

any ideas how to check?

What Joe just posted above you is how I normally would do it

JIC reputation is good now

In previous years their customer service wasn't had a tough rep but now they have new staff so everytime I've dealt with them its all good

Talk to Steven over here if you have any questions, he can help you out

g6civcx · 02-17-2009, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rx8guy

How do you check the coilover setup? to see if its in good conditioN?

Theoretically, the best way would be to use a shock dyno to measure the response.

Realistically, the low budget way would be a visual inspection to check for leak and flat spots in the travel.

JIC-Magic · 02-17-2009, 02:42 PM

Quick tip would be to check out the area around the shaft of the damper to see if there are leaks, thats the quickest sign to see if the damper seals are going bad.
- If your local you can have them checked out here in Downey,
- Or you can have them shipped to us and rebuilt if they are already bad, as long as the damage isnt severe
- or if they are completly messed up we have a trade in program for old sets, basically you send in your old set and we hook it up with a new set for a discounted cost

-If you have pictures of the set feel free to drop me an email and i can take a look at them for you, I won't be able to tell you in detail the exact condition without them in front of me but I can do my best to give you some imput on it.
[email protected]

Sthrteen · 02-17-2009, 02:46 PM

That's some good customer service right there. ^^^

Teknolust72 · 02-17-2009, 03:31 PM

The JIC trade-in program is really good, and I would take advantage of it!!

zugoi · 02-17-2009, 03:49 PM

I have a better idea. Give me the contact number of the person selling the coils and ill buy them and let you know.

How much does it cost to rebuild a set of coils?

ilovecoupes · 02-17-2009, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joefresh

if there are no visible leaks or damage, take the coilover apart to the bare strut. compress the strut and see how quickly it pops back up. if its really slow its probably on its way out. best bet is to buy new unless its really cheap and serviceable in the usa.

listen to this guy

rx8guy · 02-18-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JIC-Magic

Quick tip would be to check out the area around the shaft of the damper to see if there are leaks, thats the quickest sign to see if the damper seals are going bad.
- If your local you can have them checked out here in Downey,
- Or you can have them shipped to us and rebuilt if they are already bad, as long as the damage isnt severe
- or if they are completly messed up we have a trade in program for old sets, basically you send in your old set and we hook it up with a new set for a discounted cost

-If you have pictures of the set feel free to drop me an email and i can take a look at them for you, I won't be able to tell you in detail the exact condition without them in front of me but I can do my best to give you some imput on it.
[email protected]

I send you an email yesterday no responce, can the FLT A2 be rebuilt?

zugoi · 02-20-2009, 01:45 AM

and how much does it cost

*ManoNegra* · 02-20-2009, 09:29 AM

buy them
gut them and stuff Konis in there
hmmm.....

Fries · 02-20-2009, 11:38 AM

FLT-A2s are rebuilt for $200 a strut + shipping. You can also trade them in a receive an amazing discount for the new FLT-TARs [Think Stance pricing].

This information isn't hard to find, just go to the website. There is a Frequently Asked Questions area that will offer some guidance.
+1 for JIC

Forge_55b · 02-20-2009, 11:46 AM

even if the JIC's are blown, for $200 it is worth it lol

also if you see caked on dirt, most likely they are blown and the dirt got stuck from the fluid that leaked out (won't really see any fluid leaking in this case)

also the dampening check is the easiest thing to confirm if anything is wrong

02-17-2009, 01:18 PM	#1
rx8guy Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: river Age: 33 Posts: 21 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	How to diagnose a bad coilover? I'm about to buy a used coilover, any tips on how to check to see if the coilover is in good shape. the owner doesnt know much, bought the car with the coils on, he said the car has about 60k miles, doesnt know much else. How do you check the coilover setup? to see if its in good conditioN? thanks.

02-17-2009, 03:31 PM	#10
Teknolust72 Nissanaholic! Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: SoCal Posts: 1,748 Trader Rating: (40) Feedback Score: 40 reviews	The JIC trade-in program is really good, and I would take advantage of it!! __________________

02-17-2009, 03:49 PM	#11
zugoi Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bay area Posts: 560 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	I have a better idea. Give me the contact number of the person selling the coils and ill buy them and let you know. How much does it cost to rebuild a set of coils? __________________ Drunk posting FTW! Last edited by zugoi; 02-20-2009 at 01:48 AM..

02-20-2009, 01:45 AM	#14
zugoi Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bay area Posts: 560 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	and how much does it cost __________________ Drunk posting FTW!

02-20-2009, 11:38 AM	#16
Fries Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: May 2007 Location: Texas/or/Afghanistan Age: 33 Posts: 1,511 Trader Rating: (3) Feedback Score: 3 reviews	FLT-A2s are rebuilt for $200 a strut + shipping. You can also trade them in a receive an amazing discount for the new FLT-TARs [Think Stance pricing]. This information isn't hard to find, just go to the website. There is a Frequently Asked Questions area that will offer some guidance. +1 for JIC __________________

02-17-2009, 01:20 PM	#2
carlos_mx1976 Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Monterrey Age: 45 Posts: 14 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	very good question ..

02-17-2009, 01:30 PM	#3
Sthrteen Zilvia Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vista/O'side Age: 34 Posts: 151 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Buying used coilovers isn't the best idea, but more information would be helpful like the make and model of the coilover, how many miles the coilovers have on them. a leaking strut/shock is no good.

02-17-2009, 01:35 PM	#4
joefresh Zilvia Junkie Join Date: May 2007 Location: socal Posts: 451 Trader Rating: (11) Feedback Score: 11 reviews	if there are no visible leaks or damage, take the coilover apart to the bare strut. compress the strut and see how quickly it pops back up. if its really slow its probably on its way out. best bet is to buy new unless its really cheap and serviceable in the usa.

02-17-2009, 02:11 PM	#5
rx8guy Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: river Age: 33 Posts: 21 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	well the coilover is JIC FLA2 I know JICs reputation isn't the best, but I can get these for $200 VERY cheap. any ideas how to check?

02-17-2009, 02:42 PM	#8
JIC-Magic Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Downey, CA Posts: 23 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Quick tip would be to check out the area around the shaft of the damper to see if there are leaks, thats the quickest sign to see if the damper seals are going bad. - If your local you can have them checked out here in Downey, - Or you can have them shipped to us and rebuilt if they are already bad, as long as the damage isnt severe - or if they are completly messed up we have a trade in program for old sets, basically you send in your old set and we hook it up with a new set for a discounted cost -If you have pictures of the set feel free to drop me an email and i can take a look at them for you, I won't be able to tell you in detail the exact condition without them in front of me but I can do my best to give you some imput on it. [email protected]

02-17-2009, 02:46 PM	#9
Sthrteen Zilvia Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Vista/O'side Age: 34 Posts: 151 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	That's some good customer service right there. ^^^

02-20-2009, 09:29 AM	#15
ManoNegra Guild of Skullduggerous Intent Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Socal Posts: 7,841 Trader Rating: (48) Feedback Score: 48 reviews	buy them gut them and stuff Konis in there hmmm.....

02-20-2009, 11:46 AM	#17
Forge_55b Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: OC Age: 39 Posts: 414 Trader Rating: (2) Feedback Score: 2 reviews	even if the JIC's are blown, for $200 it is worth it lol also if you see caked on dirt, most likely they are blown and the dirt got stuck from the fluid that leaked out (won't really see any fluid leaking in this case) also the dampening check is the easiest thing to confirm if anything is wrong

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode