After 2.5 months of my car sitting on jackstands, I finally put her on the ground this past sunday. Unfortunately, brakes were not bled correctly and with my busy work and time schedule, I have no time this week until this upcoming friday.

Through this time i've been prepping my car for this, my second, auto-x season and the first event I get to attend will be held July 12th.

I won't have the opportunity to drive the car until Friday which would be the 3rd. From what I've been told, once a suspension is installed you should allow at least two weeks, obviously from driving around, for the suspension to correctly "settle" in with the car.

My question to you is, is this the correct amount of time I should allow my suspension to settle in before I attend any Auto-x events? From the 3rd to the 12th only gives me 9 days of driving the car on the new suspension. Will I be causing any damage, primarily to the coilovers, if I shorten the amount of time needed for the suspension to settle in?

Just to chime those in, my car is set-up as my DD/AX car, so this will be driven up until the night before the event.

My suspension set-up as follows (if it plays any role):
PIC Apex 10k F/ 8k R
PIC LCA
Omni Power F & R Camber Kit
PIC Hardbushing Kit Installed all around except F Camber kit (upper control arm/ a arm/ w.e. people call it now-a-days)
ASR Brace w/ 22mm CTR Sway Bar

Just anxious to get some seat time this season. Thank you.

 

Don't worry about it unless you want to get your car corner balanced.

 

Someone with some vast knowledge please chime in... I have never heard of such a thing.
I just had my car aligned and corner balanced and not once did the tech who is very experienced tell me the car has a settling time.
It's like someone telling you to wait for the paint to dry.

 

Actually, this is something I wanted to do. I have received different opinions about due to the fact that my car is a daily driver.

Any input as to whether I should get it done or not?

This is what I've been told from a mechanic. He races himself as well.

But @ times I've questioned some of the stuff he's advised me to do, so I figured I'd come in here and get some feedback from those who make use out of there car.

 

The only thing I can think of he might be referring to is the spring settling a little. However, on a height-adjustable shock I've never heard of that being an issue (only on stock stuff, with the spring removed from the shock body and stored over time like that). I'd say you're fine. I certainly have never given a "settle-in" period to any new shock, and have not had any problems, nor have any of the people I directly interact with.

<--- Thinks that mechanic is full of BS, or isn't explaining himself properly.

Edit: Corner balancing is something you almost definitely don't need, it being your second autox season ever. I don't know that you'd notice a significant difference in vehicle performance.

 

Alright, thanks for the response.

Just wanted to make sure that what he said was correct or not.

Like I said, I second guess some of the stuff he tells me.

Thanks to those who helped.

 

Ahhhaaaaaaaaaaaa it was a paint drying scenario. LOL

Thanks Stinky!
BLK VTi... go out and have fun!

 

Just one more bit:

Did you only replace your shocks/springs/coil-overs? Or did you pull all of your suspnsion bits and reinstall?

The only time I've needed to let my suspension "settle in" was after pulling EVERY suspension part and replacing bushings. Once reinstalled I had the car aligned to my specs. After a couple hundred miles the car was pulling. I took it back in and the alignment was wack. I had it lined up again and now it's good (besides the ever-once-in-a-while alignments I get done now after a few track events).

 

Everything stock (in reference to suspension) was removed from the car, as thats the way I bought it.

I replaced all suspension components and bushings with what was stated above in my original post. The ONLY part that was not replaced was the passenger side compensator arm. I did a rear disc conversion and trailer arm was easily removed.

However the trailer arm on the driver side seized with the compensator arm forcing me to change it.

So going by what you're saying I should give it some time to settle?

 

From personal experience (and please don't take my word as gospel) I would align the car and simply check that alignment after a few hundred miles. The car may "settle" or you may have no problems at all.

 

Yea, alignment is going to be the first thing once I do some last minute stuff on the car fri.

Thanks for your input.

 

i think its bullshit..

 

I agree with the cookie monster (nickrps) just get out and practice and drive like you stole it lol

 

I agree with some you only need the suspension to settle if you are getting the car corner balance, but as someone else said this being your 2nd only season I personally do not think you will even notice a car that has been corner balanced or not.

The big thing is add a little toe out up front maybe 1/8" and 0 toe back.

My one sponsor who is a suspension guru mentioned the settling to me when I had my coilovers (Ground controls and Koni Yellows) on my 00 Civic Si. He asked me how long it was and I told him about a week and he said if I wanted it done right to come back in another week or 2 before he did the corner balancing.

 

You do need to give some time for the paint to "dry". It may feel "dry", but the VOC's slowly seep out of the paint for some time period after the repaint. That's why you should wait a while before "doing" anything to it, like wax or polish.