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How-To: lower your car on full coilovers, the right way.

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Old Dec 15, 2006 | 11:23 AM
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From: Raleigh, NC, USA
Default How-To: lower your car on full coilovers, the right way.

This came directly from Omnipower USA. Thought it would be useful to post it here.

Tools Required:
- 10, 12, 14, 17, 19 deep sockets
- 5mm Allen wrench
- 10, 12, 14, 17, 19 combination wrenches
- 3/8ths, 1/2in drive socket wrenches
- torque wrenches both 3/8 and 1/2 inch
- cutting dikes
- rubber mallet
- flat head screwdriver
- 1/2 inch impact gun

Procedure:
1. Begin by measuring each corner of the vehicle from the top the fender well to the ground. Record each measurement on paper as a reference to the stock height.
2. Raise the vehicle and support it on jack stands.
3. Remove all 4 wheels
4. Remove stock shocks from the vehicle
5. Set up Omni-Power shocks by first adjusting the springs to have 1-2mm of up and down movement, after which tighten the spring perch locks securely with supplied wrenches.
6. The 19mm or 17mm nut at the top of the shock needs to be torque to 18 ft/lbs +-2 ft/lbs. they are pre torque but should be double checked.
7. Loosen the lower collar locks and position the lower collar in the middle of its adjustment range. leave locks loose until final height is determined later. Make sure to keep the length of the front 2 shocks equal to each other and also the rear 2 shocks equal to each other.
8. Repeat this process for all shocks both front and rear.
9. Install all four Omni-Power coilovers
10. After all four coilovers are installed lower vehicle and roll it back and forth to set the suspension.
11. Measure all four fenders in the same location as when it was stock. This will tell you how low the car is from its stock height.
12. If height adjustments are further needed, jack up the car and support it on jack stands. Grab the shock bodies with your hands or use the spanner wrenches and turn the shock body counter clock wise to raise and clock wise to lower until the desired height is achieved.
13. By turning the shock body it will screw into or out of the lower collar effectively changing the length of the shock.
14. After the desired height is achieved tighten the lower collar locks with the supplied spanner wrenches and then tap them tight with a rubber mallet and a large flat head screw driver.


Special precautions:
A: Always make sure there is at least a full 1/2 inch of thread of the shock body threaded into the lower collar.
B. Never over tighten the top nut on the end of the shaft or use an impact gun to remove it. By doing so you will damage the internal parts of the shock.
C. Never lower the car with the spring perches where the springs will have more than 1/2 inch of up and down free play, you will run the risk of bottoming out the shock.
D. Never remove the bump stop, it can be cut in half although we don’t recommend it.

Performance tips:
A. For road racing none or very little spring preload is required for proper performance. The Gen-2-3 shock has a longer shaft and can operate properly without preload.
B. Lowering your vehicle more than 3 inches will cause improper suspension geometry, Omni-Power recommends not exceeding 2 inches for optimal performance.
C. Drag race vehicles will see noticeable traction increases when the front springs are preloaded and properly corner weighted. Many SFWD and Uni-body class cars have run mid 9 sec to low 8 sec times with off the shelf Omni-Power suspension.

*Suspension feel is subjective and interpreted differently by individuals. What suits ones need may not suit another. If after you install your Omni-Power suspension and are having problems or have any questions please feel free to email us and we will do our best to provide the answers you need. Contact info is on our website at http://www.omnipowerusa.com. Customer satisfaction is our number one priority.
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