natman316

Can I adjust my rear height with the suspension on the car?

Any tools needed or do i just jack it up and take the wheels off and use the kw tools?

thank you

Mort

I think I remember (Haha) seeing a spring compressor being used to compress the spring so the upper mounting pad could be adjusted without taking the springs off the car. I think you need to remove the spring pressure so that the adjuster on the top of the spring can be turned.

LFM_Vancouver

If you find an easy let me know ASAP. I've heard you basically have to un install almost all the way to adjust the height. I need to adjust ASAP for my winter tires!!

abcut973

I don't think you can do it without having the suspension out.

Rsquad911

had my rear suspension out 3 times to get it at my perfect height.

Note: the passenger side rear has our 60-70 lb battery. You'll want to raise the coil on that side a little more so the fender gap is even on both sides.

Roswell

Seriously? Sounds like a lot of work to just adjust the height?

Rsquad911

Sadly it is.... =O(

Roswell

Wow, couldn't they built some kind of knob at the top of the shock mount? I think H&R has them?

Rsquad911

I think those knobs you are thinking about are for rebound or compression adjustment. For height you have to drop the suspension pull the adjustable spring perch out and adjust it by hand.

Very annoying... Especially when you are trying to get the perfect ride height....

Roswell

I see, good info Pierre! It proves how poor I am.. Never been able to afford a set of coilovers yet.

Mort

I knew I wasn't dreaming. Here is the thread by Mikegpr03 to quickly adjust the rear ride height on coilovers without taking the suspension apart. Unfortunately the pics are not available but if you get hold of Mike I am sure he will help you out.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c63-amg-w...pr03s-way.html

natman316

omg thanks!

I'll have to message mike for sure. I really just need a tiny bit more adjustment to get the rear pass. side sitting right

Mikegpr03

Yes I came up with a way to adjust very quickly
I don't have the pics anymore but I will take some this weekend when my car goes on the lift

olszowa12

Please do Mike, I would like to know how to do it by myself.
A friend of mine who is a mechanic did it for me last week without taking the coils out but he doesn't want to tell me how he did it.

RalphSmithIII

I look forward to seeing this as well. I'm guessing you'd need some type of basic spring compression tool such as the screw type ones you can get for around $40 at a parts store or online?

The only way I've seen it adjusted was by lifting the car and dropping the lower-arm (I think that's what it's called) to get the spring out. I'm assuming Mike's method using a compressor allows for the adjustment while still on the car.

natman316

thank you so much mike, it would be greatly appreciated by the community!

I'm so close to getting the right height, but right now its still rubbing a little so a quick adjustment would be perfect

Mikegpr03

Yes tools needed
Floor jack
Wrench
And the compressor
I will post pics by the weekend
Electric impact helps too

natman316

hey mike, any chance you got the pictures this weekend on the adjustment?

Thanks!

natman316

hey guys i have another question. So when I jack up my car, is it normal that the car sits a little higher for a little when I put the car back on the ground. My car would have an extra finger gap everytime I jacked it up and lowered it before going back to normal after driving around for 5 minutes....

also, mike is this the kind of spring compressor you used?


and take one leg off so that you can fit it inside the springs?

thanks.

Mort

When you jack the car up the suspension droops and the inner edge of the tires moves inboard toward the center of the car. When you lower the car the outer edge of the tire contacts the floor first and is in toward the center of the car a little at that point. Friction between the tire and floor keeps the tire from sliding out to its normal position at rest and keeps the suspension from fully compressing to its normal ride height until you move the car. Thus the car is jacked up a bit until you roll the car allowing the tires to return to their normal position at rest. Also it might take some movement to work the suspension a little and let it settle to its normal ride height. So yes what you are experiencing is normal.

natman316

ok thanks!

I tried to do the spring compressor thing with no success today. seems like it just cant get the springs down enough since the legs were too long :

so i just made my rear suspension max stiff....goddamn it rides bad but less rubbing now