RangerRingor

So I got my AMR Engineering Coilovers for my 2009 Honda Fit probably a month and half ago, but I just started prepping for an install last weekend. I'm also trying to make a video of a coilover install for GE8 Honda Fits.

Before you go all apeshit crazy on me and tell me to do research. I have. I've tried to prep myself as much as possible for this job. It's just I haven't found all the answers I'm looking for.

Resources I've used so far:
1. Chilton Online Maintenance Manuals
2. FitFreak.Net
3. HondaTuning
4. YouTube Coilover Installation Videos



Intro:
This is my first set of coilovers and the first time installing a set of coilovers. I have all the necessary tools for the job, but I just had a few questions regarding the install. I'm not a full retard when it comes to being a mechanic. I've just been spoiled by detailed maintenance manuals in the field of aviation and am very OCD about torque specs and getting thing done correctly. I don't really like flying by with "just as long as it's real tight" kinda of work, especially when it's a serious component like the suspension.

I've tried contacting AMR Engineering a couple of times this past week. Called a couple of times, left voice mail and but no dice. Even texted. No returned calls, nothing. I don't know if they're out on vacation or what not, but my car has been on jacks this week and I'm trying to finish the install already.

I'm asking you guys who's installed AMR Coilovers/and or installed 2009 and up Honda Fit coilovers to give me some insight on this, please?

So what I've accomplished so far:
I've installed the driver's side front coilover, but they're not fully torqued yet. I've gotten all the assemblies done and they're all snug on my car, I was banking on AMR to answer some of the questions I had before fully torquing everything down, but that never happened. And I ran out of time last weekend.

Here are my questions:
(I'll try to take pictures in the morning to make things more clear and give a better idea of what I'm asking.)

1. Preload. What are suppose to be the preload settings for my coilover? Do preload setting vary with different spring rates? How do you determine the preload settings? I've seen videos of where they set preload by having the spring compress 5mm by tightening the locking collars. So far, I've just tightened it up to the point where I can't move the spring by hand.



2. Do I tighten this collar assembly with a hex key after preload's been set? If so, how tight? Torque value/until there is no gap? All the coilovers I've seen have two locking collars that you tighten together with spanner wrenches. I've never seen this style before and as far as I know, only AMR is the only set that has this style.

Typical set-up I've seen is this style. It has two collars:


AMR's set up is different. It has a rather lose assembly, and I wasn't sure if I had to tighten this collar using a hex key to prevent the collar from moving. I didn't tighter it yet cause I don't want to crush the threads on the strut. I was unsure if this had to be done or not. Here's what it looks like:





3. Hardware. Did you guys/gals use all of the hardware provided by AMR, or re-use the one's from your old suspension. Personally, I've reused most of my hardware from my the stock coilovers because the ones provided my AMR were kinda of awkward for me and I didn't use them. The nuts they had provided had some kind of plastic on the top/built inside of the nut and the plastic prevents me from putting the nut in all the way becuase of the built in plastic. Unlike the ones Honda provided where the nut goes all the way through with no problem.

Also, I've been sent some spacers from AMR, but I don't know where to put them. I looked at a previous set up of AMR Honda Fit Coilovers from their Facebook and it seem's like I'm missing a few hardware when I compared what I have to the picture. IE: Washers that go on the front struts.

(I'll post pictures later.)

4. Is this normal? I opened the box for the first time this weekend and found this. From what it looks like is they're possibly rust? They're copper colored and couldn't get them off. Not sure. Is this okay for a brand new, unused set? It's my first set so I wouldn't really know what I'm looking at...

The flash ruined it, but they're more copper colored:


Here's a better shot:



Anyways, that's all I have for now. I'll try to give them another call tomorrow and see if I get an answer. Hopefully, I get it figured out and get the install done by end of Saturday. I'd really appreciate the help! Thanks.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

I'm having a hard time believing you tried to contact them and couldn't. I really am.
As far as I'm concerned preload is used simply to seat the spring firmly against the upper perch and nothing more.
As for everything else you need to address that with Andy.

RangerRingor

No joke.
- I sent a text on Sunday.
- Called on Monday around 1PM. No answer. Voicemail. Left Voicemail.
- Called on Wednesday around 10:30 AM. No answer. Voicemail. Left Voicemail.
- Checked their website multiple times and they were offline everytime I checked.

No returned calls. I don't even know if they're in town. Might be out of country. I believe they were in Australia last year during this part of the year for Honda Nationals or something of that matter. So I don't know...

GagnarTheUnruly

iTrader: (3)

You can tighten the hex key hand tight and it will hold the perch without damaging anything. The main reason you don't want to overtighten is to avoid stripping the threads or making it too tight to loosen later.

You need to have at least some preload -- i.e. the spring needs to be compressed by the perch even when the shock is at FULL extension. Once you've got at least some preload, you can further raise the perch to raise the ride height. The lowest possible ride height is the height with the minimal amount of safe preload (1/4" or so). Anything higher has more preload.

However I was under the impression that preload could also be independently adjusted on the AMRs. Is that not true?

STOCK_SOHC_DX

I just tightened my set as much as it could go without over doing it, this worked for all 3 of my AMR sets on my cars

RangerRingor

Update(11:09 PM PST 4.26.2013):
Still no replies from AMR Engineering...


Anyways, to those who've posted replies thanks for your help. I really appreciate it. I'll do my best not to mess it up. Hopefully, I'll finish tomorrow.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

They install like any other coilovers.

Andy@AMR

Take a chill pill, I am on vacation. I do have a life other than AMR, and I dedicate a lot of hours to this, I do need a break time to time.

These don't come with instruction because these should be installed by a professional, or someone with the basic knowledge of suspension.

Let us not forget that I'm a small operation, and in the past 4 months we have already sold what we did last year. In other words, we are flipping busy. I am replying to e-mails, and if I haven't replied I obviously havn't gotten to yours. I have never been known to be a flake. I've had about 450 e-mails in a 2 week period....I can't be sitting here answering every single one if I expect coilovers to be built. I'll answer as many as I can in the set hours I have put aside, and then I move on, it's called time management.

I am not sure why your having trouble with this, they install like the Skunk2 coilovers, and like many others. There are a ton of resources and how to installations for this particular chassis. I think your overthinking this way too much, these are a peace of cake to install. If you can't install these, then you should take it to someone that can. I keep all my phone records for things such as this cause I don't need to pull this stuff out of my ***. We called you, and you never called us back, nor did you leave a message. It is only now that u have called us.


Also let's not forget, I did call you quite a few times before to talk to you about the installation. You did not answer. I sent you 2 little bushings you needed for the install, and I called you to give you a heads up. Again no answer. So don't try to make it seem like I left you hanging Kris.

STOCK_SOHC_DX

I just noticed you're in Wa st., why don't you just have them install it?

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

I think he has them installed, just doesn't understand how to adjust them.

RangerRingor

Sorry if that sounded like I'm giving you a bad rep there, Andy. Sorry didn't get to answer your calls, but I'm quite busy, just like you. I go to school 7AM to 1PM Monday to Friday and work from 2PM to 10:30 PM. I don't know what's a good time to call you or contact you.

Anyways, I thought I got done yesterday, but when I lowered my car there was something wrong. So, I'm still having problems with the install. The 2 bushings/metal sleeves you have me don't fit in the front. Anyways, I'll PM you with some pictures and questions regarding the install.

Thanks

Well, that defeats the purpose of learning. Installing them isn't that hard. I just a some nooby questions.

I don't have a problem adjusting them. I can always mess with those later.

TunerN00b

You've never used locknuts before?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Locknut
The plastic (probably nylon) does not prevent install. It prevents loosening from vibration. I've never understood why they aren't used more often on cars, honestly...

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Never used locknuts before? 1-don't second guess things if you aren't familiar with what they are or how they work 2-I don't think a $1,500 set of coilovers would be the first thing I decided to "learn" on.

GagnarTheUnruly

iTrader: (3)

The nylon will stop the locknuts from hand tightening, but they should not stop them from threading down the shock rod. Just use a wrench.

RangerRingor

Thanks for the information guys. I had a good idea of why they work, but I just wanted to make sure.

You're right that I've never used them before. And like I said, this is my first big modification on my car. But I had an idea what the purpose of the plastic would be.
1. The plastic would dampen out the vibrations
2. The plastic would be a tighter tolerance with the grooves on the threads.

I decided to purchase these "$1500" coilovers because of the reviews people were giving towards AMR Engineering. Plus, my GE8 chassis didn't have to much too offer in terms of coilovers. I only considered Bilstein or AMR Engineering.

In terms of learning, it's not like I'm totally changing out my car's suspension symmetry. I'm just "learning" to remove and replace suspension components. Simple bolt-on shizz. My car isn't going to the track anytime soon. It's a daily driver car. I'm just looking to lower my car and have a great quality product that I'll be satisfied with.

And I don't really trust other shops around for this. They might have the same problems as me and I'd end up paying extra money that's completely out of my hand. It's possible that I might be missing just a couple of metal sleeves/bushings to complete my install.

Anyways, on to write up my problem.

EFSedan#6

iTrader: (3)

Beautiful coilovers. Hope you got them all taken care of. If I get cashed out for my stolen Mugen lip, might have to look into these for the EG8

RangerRingor

Well, my car's still on jacks for the 2nd week. This is getting bother some, but I'm confident I found what could be causing the problem. I gave AMR Engineering an e-mail, and a voice mail earlier. Hopefully, they can respond.

Here's a step by step manual I found on how to install coilovers for the Honda Fit.
http://www.jhpusa.com/store/pc/viewC....asp?idpage=16

They're not AMR Engineering, but I'd say it's a similar set up.
I'm missing the collars for the rear dampers. And the collar that AMR sent me for my front struts don't fit. It might not be big part, but they do have their role.

Hopefully, I can get this resolved soon. If not, I'm just gonna reinstall my stock struts...

So hopefully this can be re

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

I find that highly unlikely that all those collars don't fit/work. Because I'm looking at the pics and I don't see an issue. PLEASE post a picture of EXACTLY what you're talking about.

RangerRingor

Update: Still no replies at all from AMR...


Would've been my 3rd week of my car being on jacks, but I couldn't wait anymore. I need to use my car. So I just reinstalled stock suspension this morning. Gonna get it aligned tomorrow.

To be more clear, I think this is what's wrong with my set up. I'm missing collars/sleeves/washers/spacers/what ever you wanna call it. I'm pretty sure they're supposed to come with the kit. There's pictures of them with a similar set up on their Facebook page.

AMR did send me the front ones at a later date, but they don't fit correctly.

Here's some pictures for reference. I got them from JHP USA:



This is what that front collar is supposed to look like...



...but they ones I got don't go all the way down. The diameter of the hole is too small.

Anyways, I'll give more information later when I get home...

STOCK_SOHC_DX

on my FA5 set I had to remove the OEM collars and reuse them on my AMR's.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

If it's something that simple that would make the second person to miss this in the span of two weeks.

RangerRingor

I don't think the stock suspension has collars. But then again, I'm not so sure about that. I took a picture of the stock set up so I'll look in that when I get home.

Also, we're currently in the process of moving houses so I'll try to reinstall my AMR Coilovers if my car does have OEM collars when we're complete with the move.

But for some good news, I got my alignment done today with my stock suspension back in and my car is finally back on the road.

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Funny. That's what the last guy said and after arguing about it for a whole page, lo and behold, there they were.

RangerRingor

Well, here's my findings. I did find a picture of my stock strut that I took during installation and it looks like it doesn't come with a collar. The stock strut, from it appears in the picture and when I was looking, has been machined that way.

Here's some pictures:



In which, I'd really need the collars...

grumblemarc

iTrader: (4)

Almost verbatim what the lat guy said. Did you look in the stock top hats? Cause that's where they usually stick.