Spax Coilovers - Help Needed

[wils2795]

Alright,

I am having problems with my front tyres rubbing against the spring and locking nuts on my coilovers. The car is fitted with an XE engine and I am trying to establish what springs I have on my coilovers - length/Ib and if I can put shorter springs on so the locking nuts can be adjusted upwards to clear the wheel.

Anyone know from the pictures below what these numbers refer to?

Image 1
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/20140203_183340.jpg

Image 2
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/20140203_183352.jpg

Image 3
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/20140203_183404.jpg

I basically need to increase the distance between the bottom of the spring and the top of the hub. Currently I have about 120mm from the center of the top bolt (hub) to the U/Side of the locking nuts at the bottom of the spring. The standard suspension pictured below has about 200mm between which is plenty but would mean swapping the coilovers for a standard strut set-up. Any advice which is the best way forward? I am not wanting a really harsh ride and I am worried by putting on shorter springs on the coilovers, the ride will be very harsh. I did adjust the locking nuts up to the highest position which stopped the tyres rubbing against them but the ride was very harsh due to the spring being compressed so much.

Can't fit wheel spacers as the tyres then foul with the arches.

Image 4
http://i410.photobucket.com/albums/pp183/wils2795/Nova/20140203_183432.jpg

Thanks

[Benn]

Under the black cover you'll have a helper spring. Remove it, then refit everything. This will raise the spring and lock platforms up above the tyre.

[wils2795]

Under the black cover you'll have a helper spring. Remove it, then refit everything. This will raise the spring and lock platforms up above the tyre.

Thanks Benn,

I will look but I don't think there is a helper spring.

Robert

[Benn]

If not, then you'll need a shorter spring. Do the legs do the camber? If so it might be mile out and touching

[therealnovaboy]

You have a couple options.


Run wheel spacers. And jack up the suspension so it doesn't foul the arch.

Elongate the top(hub) bolt and pull the wheel out to give slightly more positive camber. You'll probably find its way to much neg camber if your really low
Run thinner wheel/tyre or better offset.
use a shorter spring. However you will need to machine the spring cups as they do not fit standard 2.25 springs.


Numbers mean jack. Probably just part/serial numbers. R200 on the spring probably means it's 200lb.

[burgo]

Spax dont have helpers and im sure they are alot stiffer than 200lb. Why not just ring spax?

[wils2795]

Thanks for the comments guys!

I took a look again last night and they do not have helper springs. I measured the spring which is about 8" so I guess I could put in shorter springs...say 7 or 6". If putting in a shorter spring, will this make the ride a lot more firm? I will contact spax and see what they say.

Any ideas how I go about measuring what camber I have and see if there is any mileage in elongating the top hub hole to pull the wheel out?

Cheers, Robert