How to: Turn Tanabe Sustec Pro SO-C Type 2 coilovers into Type 1 (and save yourself ~$80)

[Andryzzle]

This: Into Using: http://more-japan.com/product....age=1 Pricing from optionimports.com is: Type 2: $675 Type 1: $855 The helper springs from more-japan are $48 for a pair. Not only is this cost effective, it solves a problem with lowering the Type 2 past a certain point. The problem is that the spring that comes with it, the pro 210, is not long enough to compress under no load unless you have it set to a certain height. This causes a problem when you hit a bump and the spring decompresses and comes unseated. It will sit crooked and snap back into place. This happened to me and I decided it was not good for my springs. The lower limit is about here: needless to say this is unacceptable so here are the type 2s from way back when... and here are the helper springs that are $48 a pair from that link. I opted for just getting 2 for the rear so i could drop it lower. The front works just fine as a type 2. Front can go lower than this: Anyway, there is a very good writeup for replacing shocks and struts so i'll keep mine pretty brief. This is for the back only btw and its a sedan. -Jack up car and remove rear wheels. -Remove this bolt from the bottom of the strut. its a 17. The nut is welded on the other side so you only need a breaker bar or a ratchet. -Pull up rear seat bottom cushion and lower backrest of rear seat. -Pull back plastic pieces covering the strut tower, you should now be able to see the 2 nuts holding the top of the strut into place. -Remove the 2 nuts (14mm) -Pull the strut off of the car, you may need to step on the rear hub to free up some space. -Use the spanner wrenches to decompress the spring -I opted to clean the strut and the threads as well -Use an adjustable wrench to keep the very top of the strut from turning and a 14mm wrench to loosen the nut. -Put the helper spring assembly on top of the existing spring, silver seat down. -Use spanners to adjust the spring seat to the bottom of the threads -Reassemble strut -Install strut As you can see, the spring stays seated even fully extended -Put wheels back on and let car down. Final ride height: I'll take more pictures tomorrow.

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[shaunk18]

[accord_raffi]

very nice job. tucks the tire very well

[TheMuffinMan]

Hmm, is the sole purpose to keep the spring seated? My GC's have a tendency to pop outta place every so often.

[Andryzzle]

Are the GCs 60mm diameter (thats what the helper springs are)? I imagine this mod would be pretty universal. Keeping the spring seated while going lower was my main motivation.

[Saosinx]

[Loco-B]

good info in this thread.

but i must say that i haven't run into this issue with my sustec's yet.

[Andryzzle]

I guess if you have no problem, no reason to fix it. When I tried to lower mine more back when I first got my coilovers it happened a couple of times... the time I distinctly remember, I was going around a turn and hit a bump. When I turned back the other way it popped back down.

Have driven on it since last night and no sign of problems.

[DoC-JoneS]

good write up. i take it your are fairly happy with the S0-C's? i haven't seen anyone actually running them before.


Modified by DoC-JoneS at 12:02 PM 6/25/2008

[Andryzzle]

yea Kurumi and I are both running the S-0C type 2 on accords.

Mine have always ridden really nice but now that I can sit lower its

[Loco-B]

Originally Posted by Andryzzle

yea Kurumi and I are both running the S-0C type 2 on accords.

Mine have always ridden really nice but now that I can sit lower its

hell yes!!! Tanabe has made one hell of a product!

solid suspension for sure. not too stiff, not to soft, and great **(adjustable) ride height
you can check my sig for more pics of the ride height!!


Modified by Kurumi at 9:32 AM 6/25/2008

[Andryzzle]

adjustable ride height*

where do you have yours set?

[Loco-B]

all the way down. but i've blown my upper strut mounts out in the rear.......LOL user installation error.....

put a washer in place where it needed to be and havent had an issue since.

[TouringAccord]

good info

added to the FAQ

[shaunk18]

Originally Posted by Kurumi

all the way down.

this is where Andryzzle NEEDS to be!!!!

[Saosinx]

lol we put them all the way down.

[JDMugenBB1]

Bringing this back up since I'm about to purchase a nice used set of Tanabe Pro SS II coilovers...

I was wonder what you guys use to Adjust the Stiffness of the strut??

Is there a KEY or Knob ... or do you just use a screw driver?

I know Tanabe probably didnt make this and expect us to use a screw driver. I know there HAS to be some coo looking Key/Knob that says Tanabe on it haha

If you do have, can you post a pic?

Thanks!

Ceasar

[MissJPhatEphex]

hmm..interesting..good info!

[Andryzzle]

Originally Posted by JDMugenBB1

I was wonder what you guys use to Adjust the Stiffness of the strut??

i don't have the SS so they are NOT dampening adjustable, only height. hope you figured out your issue though