Alright, so I'm waiting for Tein CST coilovers to arrive now. I'm 100% positive that coils will arrive before the new wheels. So, can I:

1. Install coils -> do an alignment -> wait for my new wheels -> put the new wheels on ?

OR

2. Wait for my new wheels -> put the new wheels on -> install coils -> do an alignment ?

Please note that I'm not going for a big drop, something nice and mild.

Well, I'm really leaning towards the 1st option, since I won't be seeing my new wheels for another 1 - 2 months. What do you guys think?

 

if you put on the coilovers now, and it's just a month or two while before you get your wheels, i say just wait for the wheels and then do alignment together. it won't really hurt much. of course i assume you drive say 1k miles a month

 

Maybe even less than 1k lol. Plus, the summer tires I have on right now will be thrown away once I get new wheels. I have no storage place big enough to fit 18's with tires.

 

I would just put the coils on first so they can settle. It takes about 3 weeks for the spring to fully settle. Then get the alignment done with the new wheels on.

 

ideally you want to do the wheel alignment with your new shoes. as rominl suggested, just install your coilovers with your new shoes together, then do one wheel alignment later.

edit: my bad, i misread rominl's comments. in any event, rominl's suggestion makes sense.

 

i get mixed opinion about this.. some say it doesn't matter if you get your alignment right afterwards, some say you should wait until they are settled.. now, we need to wait till we get our wheels on? which is right? guess i'm on the same boat as op..

 

you should do alignment after springs/coilovers settle that's for sure. my tein cst dropped another 1/4 inch probably 2 weeks after installation

it has happened to be before already that after putting on new wheels (from stock), alignment was off and work needed. so ideally it's a good idea to do alignment with new wheels

if you install coilovers and then wait a long time before new wheels, maybe good idea to do an alignment first unless you don't care about the wear on your current (stock?) wheels. if you are going to install new wheels soon anyway, it doesn't hurt waiting for new wheels, unless you have another 100 bucks to burn

 

^ Agree. I guess if SNiiP3R is leaning toward the 1st option, another $100 shouldn't be an issue.

I am open for donation of the 18" summer tires.

 

lol ^^ I think I'll go with the 2nd option now.

 

personally, I would put coilovers on first, about 1-2 weeks before wheels come in, (or about 500 miles worth of driving), let the springs settle a little, go over different speed bumps and in and out of driveways to settle the suspension, when your wheels arrive, readjust suspension height and during test fit of wheels, you can trim / shave / or roll fenders, then after all the cutting / fitting and adjusting height, then you align..and voila
enjoy, wash, and post pics and most importantly go ride

 

wheels>coils>alignment