Few simple coilover adjustment Q's from a noob (pics)

[Jabtronic]

Hi, I recently installed some coilovers on my MX83, they're the first set I've ever bought and so I want to make sure I know how to adjust them properly..

They're Kei Office coilovers, unsure of the spring rates but I'd guess they're pretty high.
Here's a pic:


Now, from what I understand, the A adjustment is height, and B seems to be stiffness.

Basically the more slack the springs have (while unsprung) the suspension will be softer right (until it starts bottoming out?), so for the best ride should I aim for something like 40-50% usage of the strut clearance when the car is lowered back on the wheels? Is there a general rule for stuff like this?

Anyway once that's sorted I guess then it's just a matter of adjusting height with A? If I adjust the whole shock up too high will it stop before it falls out of the bottom part? Just something I wanna be safe about before I go screwing it up too high

And here's the top


I'm not too worried about camber settings, that's pretty self-explanatory. I'm just wondering which damper is stiffest, 1 or 4? Also is there any difference between going from 1 anticlockwise to 4, or going clockwise1-2-3-4? Because I can go either way, and I don't really understand how that works out.. does it just reset back from 4 to 1?

I'm a complete noob at this I know, should probably just take it to a suspension shop and get them to look at it all for me but I'm only after simple adjustment suggestions for now, nothing serious. Ta

[indeecent]

Yep, A is for height, B is for slack on the spring, which effects general stiffness etc.

For B, its all about getting it how you feel like having it in my opinion. You are the one who has to drive the car, and deal with it.

Not sure about fully extending A, and if the tube has a bit to stop it from coming completely out, having never dealt with such things.

Those adjusters up the top look exactly the same as the KYB AGX tops.Maybe Kei Office use custom versions?

But it would be fairly safe to assume its 1 is the lowest setting, and 4 the highest. And they would be simple 4 way adjusters, just like the AGX's. Guessing you have to push down with a little screw driver, twist and release? haha...

They are nice coilovers, and if they are the one's I'm guessing, they are 12kg/10kg spring rates. Should be fun

[Norbie]

The B adjustment is in fact preload, it doesn't adjust stiffness as such. If you don't know what this is for just wind it up (with the car on the ground) until the springs are fully captive. Read up on suspension theory if you want to know what preload does.

[indeecent]

The B adjustment is in fact preload, it doesn't adjust stiffness as such.

yep, thats why I didn't make too much comment on it, I don't know alot about it. and I didn't use the word 'stiffness' as spring rates should be a constant.

thanks norbie, learning new things about suspension haha.

[oldcorollas]

err.. unless the springs have no compression at all when the cars weight is on them.. they can't have pre-load as such...

B is to adjust the relative position of the spring and shock.
A is for ride height.

you want your shocks to have the right ratio of bump/rebound, and that is set with B. (ie, B controls the extension of the shock when the car is sitting there...)
then ride height is set with A...
or something like that

[Jabtronic]

Ok cheers for that, anyone care to explain how the damper adjustment actually works? Just curious that's all.. what actually happens inside the shock when I change the adjustment?

[richzx]

If they are the sameas KYB AGX then it has washers in there that let oil flow through at different rates and this is what gives you the different stiffness AFAIK. Also on the KYBs they say to turn 1 way for up and then go back down i.e. dont go from 4 to 1 with only 1 click go down from 4 3 2 1 like that dont know why but they wre the instructions from KYB. Hope this helps somewhat.