ok here is the assembled coilovers.

The problem I have is the left over "washers" and preload (if that is a problem).

Assembled:




Some of the instructions, as you can see, above the blue plastic protective covering, it only shows, a washer, a sleeve, and a thicker washer. Then there is a spherical bearing that goes into the pillow ball with a sleeve and above it a lock nut. Which I all placed. There are however left over "washers" they are a little thinner and smaller in diameter (see next post)

 

So these are the "extra" washers from the assembly. Looking at the instructions I couldn't see where they would go. Any ideas?

 

Finally, about the preload. The front's with the lower perch at the very bottom, the springs where "longer" than where the top of the perch was. So when I tightened the top nut, it "preloaded" the springs somewhat. No biggie.

However, the rear with the lower perch at the very bottom, never would compress the spring when the top nut fully tightened. Due to that I raised the lower perch to give it a bit of a compression.

Probably not a big deal, but was just wondering if there was any suggestion on "how many cranks" to set the preload, or if even matters.

 

Could those be for the threaded posts at the top of the upper mount, i.e.: for inside the engine bay (though I'd think there'd be six not four)? I use washers with nylock nuts on mine because the factory nuts didn't fit.

 

I don't think this matters. Whatever amount you were to "load" the spring, actually setting the car down on it would load it more.

 

Not sure...when I opened the packaging, the washer where in the packaged together with the coilover pairs. It made it seem like they were for the coilover. The other ones (that I ended up using) where packaged in the pillow mount boxes.

Thanks for the response of the pre-load. I just remember that was talked about a lot when I got my JIC's before.

 

You can get those Ohlins serviced at lots of shops in the US. There is a really good shop right near me called RRT, they service Ohlins, Penske, Moton etc. They do data acquisition and tuning on several race cars so they have a lot of knowledge and experience. There is no need to send them to Ohlins USA to have them rebuilt/revalved.

 

My understanding, most of the valving is supplied from Sweden, bodies are machined in Japan. If they can be rebuilt over here....not by the factory designated importer either, he won't touch them,...should be simpler over there - and by all accounts, standard valving needs changing! Lots of choices if you go to an openwheel forum and search.

 

Joey gave me a call just a couple minutes ago and wanted to clarify his email.

Peter, it turns out you can order from him and they will service the coilovers. He was very apologetic and try to clarify the current situation. However warranty claims do have to go thru the place that you purchased it from but you CAN have it repaired/serviced at Ohlins.

Also, he stressed that he could order parts, like which was offered to me prior, so that shouldn't be a road block in getting these parts or now warranty coverage.

I hope I got all of that right?!

Finally, he shot an email off to Japan to find out what the preload should be. He mentioned that on the coilovers without helper springs it was around 10. He said he would contact me back after he found out. NICE!!!!!


In this economic climate good customer service is nice to have!

 

Why exactly did you order it from Japan instead of from the USA dealer? Just curious.

I can understand the guy's perspective. He makes no money at all if you purchase from an alternative source. Kinda hard to stay in business that way.

 

In the end, if Joey is representing OHLINS in the USA, this is an after-purchase issue.

So in the end, if anyone has an issue with an Ohlins product, Ohlins USA probably should take care of it regardless of where they got it from.

Because in the end, money all goes to Ohlins/Ohlins sweden.

 

Great info, glad it worked out. I'm probably stuck buying stinky old Teins, but I'm happy for you LOL!

 

^ Have you looked into KW Variant 3s?

Great bang for the buck coilover for track use in the 2500 dollar bracket.

 

KW doesn't have an FD application that I can tell.

 

It was more of the delay and incentives to the consumer. After I found out he didn't order the coilovers, I went to RHDjapan.com to look at the part number again. When I went to the website they had the coilovers "on sale". Also, I received a coupon and discount from a previous purchase. That added to the FANTASTIC customer service, I ordered from RHDjapan.

So its kinda like you find something you can buy direct from the manufacturer for X price. But then you find the same item on Amazon on sale or cheaper. That in conjunction with what I thought was a full warranty I went with RHD.

With that being said, I am lucky enough that I am in a relatively financial secure point in my life. If something is more expensive, but the customer service is fantastic, I will go for the more expensive cost.

I'm not say Ohlins couldn't have serviced me just as well, but as Joey explained it to me, they are dealing with issues on who can distribute "X' product etc...

I have to say that RHD service continues to be amazing. I got an email from them asking me to scan the instructions to see if they could translate it for me.

So right now there are two companies bending over backwards to answer a simple question from one consumer. Regardless if anything gets resolved, the fact that they are taking the effort to help me really is impressive.

 

NOOOO!!!! I thought you were going to try the DFV's??

 

They do'nt but they do make customs set ups; i asked them but they could only make a V2 version and I had to send them my original suspension for measurements etc.

Cost would have been somewhere near 1800$ (current exchange rate vs Euro) ex shipping

 

How much suspension travel do they have? From the pictures it seems like not very much, which is weird, considering Ohlins are big name stuff.

 

I have heard others that are not to satisfied with Ohlins USA's services and that reply you got confirmed it to me. I will look into becoming a vendor here again and see if we can get some good Ohlins coilovers sold to you US boys. Overhauls would probably have to be done here in Japan since from what we know of Ohlins USA they dont want anyone's money unless it was there customer in the first place.

Ok looking into it...

 

HAHA that some awesome customer service right there.

 

Well, I had the son of one of the workers in the office translate the text and it looks like I have it put together correctly.

What I falsely assumed was that lower perch was to adjust ride height. That one apparently is not to be moved.

So I assume I adjust the height by compressing the spring?

 

I'll let you know after I get it mounted and back down on the ground.

 

I thought I remembered reading that a few years ago Ohlins was bought by a large Japanese firm correct me if I am wrong it was Kawasaki or Yamaha. So the money is going to the same place yes but I don't know on which continent it is.

I think that Joey's english must not be that good because the way the reply you received comes across would make me never buy parts from Ohlins.

 

Well, he was very nice on the follow conversations. I hope its a good sign. But regarding the ride height...any opinions?

 

^^^^

I'd go w/ between 25" and 25.5" at the fender lips F&R.