FactionFab How to Adjust Pre-Load and Ride-Height on Coilovers Suspension

[@Gitiffan]

Just installed these (F-Spec series) earlier today on my son's 2013 wrx sedan. Car looks great with its lower and aggressive looking stance after the install. Ride is slightly stiffer than oem, but that is to be expected. It still rides great at max damping setting. Gonna tweak it some more once it gets an alignment done. But on the initial test ride, we set it at 0. It was quite the spongy/soft feel as a passenger (that could be due to my son's driving style), but still good handling. I would use this adjustment for daily driving or maybe a few clicks up between 10-16. We then tried max damping, 32 clicks. Ride got stiff for sure, but not bone rattling, innards shaking stiff. I would guess that setting will be for if you want to track your car or aggressive canyon driving, lol. Car was great on turns and curves. Definitely an upgrade in handling performance. If I had to give this set a con, it is that the front set didn't have nutplates welded on like the oem struts for reinstalling the brake and abs lines. This was specific to my son's 2013. Other oems might not have nutplates either. But that is a very mild con and I would still rate it 5/5. Install was a breeze. I had my son do the preload and guided him throughout the install process. One tip for installing the front set. Install both coilovers up in the tower loosely before attempting to install the lower mount bolts. We fully installed the left side and when we tried to drop the right oem strut, it was not gonna happen. Since the front are affected by what the other side does, having the shorter coilover installed on the left raised the right side as well. That didn't give us the room to remove the right oem strut, so we had to remove the left top mount nuts in order to drop the left side. So again, install both front coilovers into the tower loosely and you won't have to do double work. For the price, this set is a great upgrade. Awesome product FactionFab! My son is now saving up for the front and rear brake upgrade kits you guys have!

[@factionfab5834]

Awesome feedback, glad to hear you are enjoying them! And good tip on install procedure, the front sway bar is what keeps the two sides connected and fighting that doing one at a time doesn't sound fun!

[@Gitiffan]

FactionFab we adjusted it to 10 clicks from zero and it rides very good. I think it is a good setting for an older fart like me. Hahaha.

[@premiumxperiments6059]

Just ordered this for my 2016 WRX, will be doing a review on them on my channel @SubieXperimental when I get them. I like the fact that you guys backed up your product on other comments, looking forward to help you guys in any way possible! Sincerely, David L.

[@factionfab5834]

Thanks for the order and we look forward to seeing your review!

[@fletcherjax5078]

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[@deaconbraydon1999]

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[@fletcherjax5078]

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[@Kichizo_DJ]

I just preset and did ride height can’t wait to put them in my 03 wagon! It’s a daily so I went with the F spec not looking for doing anything with chamber don’t have a track to race on so we shall see I will trying to make a review when I get 10k on them.

[@factionfab5834]

Enjoy the coilovers. The F-Spec are fantastic for street use and occasional track days. Quiet and complaint when needed, but can definitely get rowdy when you change the adjustment settings!

[@Kichizo_DJ]

I think they are great. I did have some height problems but that was due to wheel set up NOT the coils or guild although it was a great reference for me. Great work on them

[@AndresVDJ]

installing mines today cant wait to see how they ride !

[@factionfab5834]

Make sure you play around with the settings! Its 1/2 the fun!

[@MrStipr22]

@@factionfab5834 I have a 2005 wrx sti, and I want an inch drop front and half inch rear.....how I do it? No instructions in the box.. Thanks Frank

[@factionfab5834]

@@MrStipr22 images.rallysportdirect.com/image/upload/s--l2px0IFS--/v1578087751/rsd_instructions/FFA_coilover_instructions.pdf

[@MrStipr22]

@@factionfab5834 ok...but can you tell me distance between collars?

[@factionfab5834]

@@MrStipr22 That set of instructions has a table with model specific heights and distance to give you a starting point. Every car is different as well as differences between the F, FR, and FL-Spec line. If you're trying to go 1.5" lower, on the F-Spec I'd say 30mm in the front and 90mm in Rear, FR-Spec would also be 30mm in front and 110mm in rear.

[@carvin7lust]

so Im getting the FR-spec for 2021 WRX and looking at one inch front and rear. Did the math and think that 68-69mm for front will give 1 inch drop and rear is 52.8mm for the 0.6 inch (plus the already 0.4 inch it already has because stock height is 16" and the coils are 15.625") giving you 1 inch total. Hope this works! yes/no???

[@Unknown_tomb]

Just installed the FR spec like about month ago on my wrx and im just wondering if its normal to hear clink noise? Well i hear it on my front driver side. I don't know about the others

[@Catholic_warrior_of_Christ]

Question is it possible to just adjust them without removing them

[@factionfab5834]

Yes it is possible, but depending on how much adjustment you are going for it may be easier and faster to remove the lower bolts so the lower mount can spin freely. The weight of the suspension, knuckle, etc can be a bit of a workout on the forearms if you are trying to adjust them while fully installed.

[@jason216cleveland]

What’s the minimum drop on say a 2015+ WRX? Also How much adjustment is in the camber/ caster with the top hats? As I am a experienced track rat myself knowing how to push a car, should I go for FR spec? Car isn’t a daily but I do go on cruises 1-3 hour + drives. Thanks! I’m considering buying these but gotta save up some coin to get them 😅

[@factionfab5834]

The instructions hosted on our website have a full table with ride height specs. We also don't specify a camber / caster spec as there are other variables and adjustments that can affect it, but I would say most cars would be able to get up to an additional 6 degree adjustment range with the camber plates. Also note that the F-Spec does not have camber adjustable top hats, and your range will be within stock spec. In our opinion, the F-Spec and FL-Spec are totally capable of improving performance in the canyons while still maintaining some civility, and the FR-Specs are recommended for those who want to maximize performance at the expense of comfort.

[@JoeBoi808]

What about the FL spec preload is it the same thing set up for this?

[@jfarrow80]

I have the fr-spec on my 18 wrx and was wondering for daily driving purposes what would be the recommended setting in terms of having a smoother ride?

[@factionfab5834]

Since our coilovers are independent ride height adjustable, you should be able to set the height anywhere within our specified height range and not need to worry about affecting ride comfort. As far as the damping adjustment, we usually recommend starting in the middle (16 clicks) and then adjusting in 2-3 click increments to dial in where YOU want the car. There is going to be some personal preference here, but I found that 8-10 clicks from full soft was a comfortable place for the FR-Spec on most models.

[@lewisstill4886]

You can adjust the rears right on the car without having to unbolt the control arm correct? I may just want to adjust the rear a little lower without having to get the car realigned.

[@factionfab5834]

Yes you can change the ride height without unbolting the control arm! Loosen the lower locking collar, then the whole body will spin either up or down depending on how you want to change it, and you can leave the upper collars alone. Pro tip, if you are changing it a lot, the sway bar will be forcing the suspension to be level, so you may consider adjusting both sides a little bit at a time or unbolting an end link while adjusting. But keep in mind that even adjusting the height alone can affect the alignment as it changes the suspension geometry, and the more you change the ride height, the more likely you'll need to get realigned. It would not be a bad idea to take the car in for an alignment check (often free from most shops) after even small adjustments.

[@Ultraxfinance]

For some reason I can’t match the rear with the front because it goes past the thread hole.. does this mean People put the front lower than the rear

[@factionfab5834]

Shoot us an email at [e-mail] with more detail about what car and coilovers you are using, we'll help you out!

[@jabeez1010]

Nice and necessary video. I have a 2015 subaru impreza (non wrx, non sti). Will these fit? I want to keep stock ride height, increase spring rate, and have appropriate damping.

[@factionfab5834]

We have not confirmed fitment on a non-wrx/sti platform. Also all our coilovers have a minimum drop so the suspension will not be able to be kept at a stock ride height.

[@galaxylion5869]

alright i have a question i have godspeed mono maxx coilovers for my 8th gen si i tightened my preload 10mm past it from being hand tight.. would that ruin my coilovers faster or it doesnt matter because the only thing i notice is my front is sittfer than the back. first time installing coilovers and some advice would be nice

[@factionfab5834]

Changing preload is commonly done when doing a full corner balance as it does affect the ride and weight carrying qualities, but that process is much more tedious and requires more equipment to set up. My assumption is that the car is riding unnecessarily harsh on 10mm of preload, and you would be better off taking that down to a lower number. I would probably reach out directly to Godspeed for specific assistance on their coilovers since our knowledgebase is strictly on FactionFab coilover testing.

[@autoluxdetailing]

I got these for my 2019 WRX and the rears don’t adjust much lower than stock. I was HIGHLY disappointed.

[@factionfab5834]

We offer 3 different lines for the 2015+ WRX with varying ride height specs and end goals, if you want to send us an email to [e-mail] with more information we’d be happy to help you figure out how to get your car lower!

[@autoluxdetailing]

@@factionfab5834 email has been sent

[@antonyleung2687]

What if I didn’t do any preload and just adjusted it when it’s already on my car? Also can I get an alignment right after I install these or should I wait for them to settle? Also how do the FR spec ones for the wrx hold against salt and harsh weather?

[@factionfab5834]

Initial setup (including preload) is done easier off the car, but doing it on the car will be just fine. We would recommend scheduling the alignment as soon as possible with coilovers, they don't usually have much of a settling period (lowering springs DO require settling before alignment). And all of our coilovers are tested for salt and corrosion and are capable of going years under normal driving. Your biggest enemy is going to be simply dirt and attempting to adjust ride height on coilovers that haven't been cleaned. Seasonal light cleaning, yearly deep cleaning, and/or a neoprene coilover cover will go a long way towards easy maintenance and full adjustability long term.

[@roli710]

I’m sorry if this is a stupid question but if I want the front and rear the same height would all I have to do is make sure they’re all the same thread length? Ex if I have the front at 55 mm and the rear at 55mm would they be the same height?

[@factionfab5834]

Unfortunately that is not the case. Our instructions (www.factionfab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Coilover-Install-Instructions-v4.0.pdf) go into detail on how to set ride height with a reference table showing max and min thread lengths. With this, we recommend doing ballpark initial settings, then going back a 2nd and most likely 3rd time to dial in your preferred ride height.

[@whiteshark4281]

I having trouble setting my ride height on 4 sides. Its reading different heights both rear right in left reads different. An on the fronts reads different ride height too. what can I do in this situation I have a 2021 STI with FACTIONFAB FL-SPEC COILOVERS

[@factionfab5834]

The beauty of adjustable height suspension is that you can make small changes to each corner to compensate for small differences in ride height that are caused by different vehicles, weight balance, and load. The ride height settings provided in the instructions are simply a beginning guideline and not meant to be perfect for all cars. If you need further assistance, please email us at [e-mail]

[@whiteshark4281]

Okay I well email you thanks

[@anathemafps5323]

My 04 sti is lowered right now. Can these coilovers be adjusted and work well for stock height? I'm totally done with driving a lowered car and my current coilovers need to be replaced.

[@factionfab5834]

We have 3 different coilover lines, all with various ride height ranges, however the tallest riding line that we offer for the 04 STI is the F-Spec, which at maximum height (for this application) is about 1/4" lower than stock. If you want to read more about this specific product, you can go here: www.factionfab.com/product/factionfab-f-spec-coilovers/ We also have every model / line specific ride height ranges in a table located in the coilover install instructions, which can be found on that page as well.

[@Hashslingslasher96]

I have a 2002 wrx and I’m going to autocross it... should I get F spec or FR spec? Are there any partial sponsorships soon?

[@factionfab5834]

Both will work great for AutoX. However the FR spec will have a more aggressive spring rate and valving to better suite competition use. However unless you plan on running slicks, the F-Spec will be more then capable of keeping up with street tires. As for Sponsorship, we currently do not have such program in place

[@markrod3850]

Is there a calculation we could use to determine ride height to set the collar distance before hand

[@factionfab5834]

There is not unfortunate as the motion ratio is vehicle specific so a 02 WRX setting for instance wouldn't be the same as 2020 STi or BRZ

[@PJs_Rage]

How much space you should have at the end? Talking about the area where the two bolts go for the hub

[@factionfab5834]

Please refer to our install documents for all measurement data. www.factionfab.com/downloads/

[@CarlosValencia-cd7fi]

Do you need to replace stock control arms in order to install this and have the car alignment done?

[@factionfab5834]

Replacement control arms are not required, but an alignment is. However the main determining factor for the control arms is your final ride height. The lower you go, the more likely they will be required to get back to an OEM spec.

[@elmermartinez4953]

I just got some FL specs today and I was wondering how I can do the math to drop 1.5 or 2 inch down from stock height 2015 WRX, or how many mm is max and min height Since FL are different from the other two

[@factionfab5834]

Here is the link for all the instructions. This should help answer all your questions. www.factionfab.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Coilover-Install-Instructions-v3.0.pdf

[@bigdm9349]

I just got a set of fr spec for my 2012 sti and it doesn't fit over the knuckle.

[@factionfab5834]

Please reach out to a vendor where you purchased the coilovers or email us at [e-mail] for farther assistance.

[@delaneyschafer2110]

Anyone know how these perform in the winter? I live in Canada and we get snow 8 months of the year. I'm also curious what kind of life expectancy you can get out of these.

[@factionfab5834]

Our coilovers do undergo salt spray testing and are capable of withstanding all weather conditions, in addition we have tested them long term through Utah winters with no problems. The biggest thing to worry about is usually dirt. Keeping them clean with a cover or protective spray (Boeshield T-9), deep cleaning before any attempts to adjust ride height, and a yearly disassemble and clean will go a long way to keeping them in good condition long term.

[@delaneyschafer2110]

@@factionfab5834 awesome, thanks for the reply. I ordered a set last night. I can't wait to receive them and get them installed.

[@Matt_A4]

So what really is the point of preload, so many people say different things like, makes the spring more snug, keeps tires pushed down for smooth travel over bumps, so not really sure

[@factionfab5834]

The reason is to simply keep the spring in place, which is why we suggest only 3-5mm of pre-load. We hope this helps.

[@Matt_A4]

FactionFab yes it does help thx, some people say too much preload is gonna be a bad time if the pressure of the preload is more than the weight of the vehicles corner but thx

[@factionfab5834]

@@Matt_A4 bunch of pre-load is simply going to change the pressure of the spring, having an adverse effect on ride quality.

[@PJs_Rage]

How much tread should be at the base part? Me and my friend are having issues

[@factionfab5834]

This is dependent on many factors, including car model, coilover line, ride height, etc. There is a table with some specs on the install instructions document, which is hosted on our website, www.factionfab.com. Check that document out, and email us if you have any further questions.

[@Brownie_fz]

Do I have to pre load or can I just install them like that out of the box?

[@factionfab5834]

The coilovers are NOT set up from the factory and must go through an initial setup including preload and ride height. Check out the install instructions for more info! www.factionfab.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Coilover-Install-Instructions-v4.0.pdf

[@birdslappy]

Can I adjust the ride height with the coilovers already installed on the car or should it be removed to adjust the height?

[@jaredwalker3152]

totally doable,m just loosen the lock nut for the ride height and thread it up the shaft then thread the shaft into the base

[@factionfab5834]

It's possible for sure. Personally I think it's easier to just unbolt the lower mounts, especially for bigger adjustments. One thing that helps is considering the sway bar, which means changing both sides at the same time (or alternating in smaller increments), or just unbolting the sway bar altogether. Don't forget to clean the threads before attempting to adjust anything! Getting dirt inside the threads is the number 1 cause of seized collars.

[@MrStipr22]

Ok....got mine today If I want a inch lower up front what's the measurement?

[@MrStipr22]

2005 wrx sti

[@dylanwirkus2119]

Question what are the two rubber garments for that come with the dampening dials ?

[@factionfab5834]

They are to be used in the front coilovers to hold the adjuster knobs. Extra protection to prevent them from falling out during driving and losing them.

[@dylanwirkus2119]

@@factionfab5834 Thank you so much ! 🤙🏼

[@WolF7581]

I am interested on purchasing these and currently have them sitting in my cart at rallysportdirect. I would like to know if this will work for my application. The car is a 2000 Impreza with a 2004 sti drivetrain swap. Thanks

[@factionfab5834]

These will NOT be a direct fit for you car as the top hats are different on both the front and rear. This is a common modification to the GC/GM/GF chassis though and there is a ton of information on how to put GD suspension (You will need 02-07 WRX/ 04 STI for your setup) on your car that I would highly recommend reading into before purchasing, but the short answer is that the front top hats will bolt up but be clocked differently, and the rears will require slotting or redrilling in the chassis for the top hats to bolt in.

[@MRG1BZ]

What should the bottom collar be torqued at?

[@factionfab5834]

No specified torque spec as they are hand wrenches only. They should be tight, but not extremely so. They are made from a softer aluminum on purpose to prevent overtightening and damaging the threads, so keep that in mind.

[@dhruvkadun9059]

Too much preload make car stiffer?

[@factionfab5834]

According to the laws of physics, no, but the real world application can make it feel like a yes. Long answer with all the math below. Spring load is calculated by force and distance compressed. So say you are running 8k springs, the full definition of that spring is 8 kilograms per mm, meaning every mm of compression adds 8kg of force. This rate means that the more a spring compresses, the stiffer it "feels" even though the spring rate doesn't change. Our recommended 4mm of preload is a decent number to ensure that the spring doesn't move on it's own, and at this compression you are starting the compression early and applying an extra 32kg of force at rest. When on the ground, the force of the car ends up on the springs, so convert a round 3000lbs, you end up with 1360kg, or 340kg per corner. The springs under no preload would apply the same 340kg force upward, keeping the car in the air with the suspension compressing ~42.5mm (340/8). Preload will increase the upward force (pre-loading the spring as if it was already compressed) of the spring by the 32kg, reducing the drop / resting height of the vehicle by that 4mm, so your suspension is now ~38.5 compressed. The weight of the vehicle doesn't change, so now you take your original 340kg on the corner, divide it by distance of 38.5mm, and you're left with an effective spring rate of 8.8kg/mm. The true spring rate stays the same 8k, but this extra force affects how the vehicle handles under compression. So say you want to add even more preload up to 8mm, 340 divided by 34.5mm, and you're at an effective 9.8k spring. There are some other factors to consider with spring rates and driving dynamics like geometry, sprung weight, plus more, but this should be enough to for a basic understanding of what preload does to suspension. The last thing to consider with adding preload is that you can also limit the compression rate of the coilover. At a certain distance, the spring physically won't be able to compress any more once the coils of the spring are touching. At that point your spring rate reached infinity, meaning it's essentially a solid piece of metal.

[@wingedlion17]

What's the minimum drop on these? I want to install the f spec on a 2017 86 but don't want more than 1 inch drop in the front.

[@ForGnargnia]

measure your current hub to fender ride height (or google it if its stock) and then compare it to the numbers in the chart

[@factionfab5834]

The minimum drop on the 86/FR-S/BRZ coilovers is actually very close to stock height. Also keep in mind that the FR-Spec actually will sit about 1/8" higher than the F-Spec because of the top hat design. For more detail, check out the install instructions PDF where we have a handy guide to setting the ride height on page 2.

[@wingedlion17]

@@factionfab5834 ok great!

[@mattc7879]

is the chart applicable to the FL spec?

[@factionfab5834]

We have updated the PDF to now include the new applications. As this video was made pre FL spec

[@mattc7879]

@@factionfab5834 where can i find the PDF? thank you

[@factionfab5834]

@@mattc7879 images.rallysportdirect.com/image/upload/v1597069942/rsd_instructions/Coilover_Install_Instructions_v3.0.pdf

[@honeywellsnake]

Bought an frs with a set of these on them. Looking to go max low but didn't come with wrenches! Feel free to hook me up factionfab lol

[@factionfab5834]

Shoot us an email at [e-mail] and we'll see what we can do!

[@alexisonfirecjj]

What’s the preload for the rear

[@factionfab5834]

We recommend 4mm (the wrench thickness) for both front and rear.

[@leekouvlogzs]

can this be used for drag racing setup?

[@factionfab5834]

There are no reasons to stop this from being used on a drag setup, though it is not necessarily designed for it. It would still be an improvement over stock.

[@babymj985]

How many mm between collars converts into an inch drop?

[@factionfab5834]

1"=25.4MM

[@babymj985]

@@factionfab5834 thank u for the fast response

[@aeeseupaii]

Complicated as fuck. Can someone give me the measurements if i want to go down a inche and a half on my STI 2020?

[@factionfab5834]

We intentionally leave exact specs vague as the final results can vary pretty significantly, even on stock cars depending on model and trim. My recommendation is to ballpark a setting that around where you would like to be during initial setup off the car, then install and drive the car around the block before taking measurements, and then do a 2nd adjustment. Even when I set up coilovers I always plan on doing a 2nd and sometimes 3rd adjustment to fine tune where I like fitment.

[@drivewaystar6485]

Lol at this comment section. It's called a calculator guys..

[@dylanwirkus2119]

Just bought my set, can’t wait to get them!