BayAreaLex

Hi folks, I got the LPs installed on my 2001 GS430.

I set them to 0 preload and started by adjusting the rear. The rear has HUGE adjustment. I mean I can absolutely slam this car if I wanted to in the rear by not touching the pre-load and only adjusting the lower strut mount, as the directions call for.

However, the front lacks adjustment. With 0 preload, I set the lower shock mount as low as it will go (to the point that it bottomed out and you couldn't lower it any further). With my 245-35-19 front tire, I have 1.5 fingers gap. I need the front to come down another 1/2-3/4"

I see two options. Take the front coilovers apart and have a machine shop cut about 0.5 - 0.75 inches off the threaded tube. This is probably the right way to do it but major work.

The second option is to lower the bottom spring mount. This will obviously violate Megan's 0 preload recommendation. What are the implications of this? I know a lot of you guys are actually doing this but what negative effects can I expect? I don't want any new unwanted noises.

Please advise. Thank you.

Luke

LuxuryGS3

iTrader: (12)

I'm not getting this.. Megan's slam front and rear, you sure you're adjusting them correctly? The bottom tube is what you adjust. The top two rings you leave alone, the bottom ring and lower tube is what you adjust.

BayAreaLex

Allow me to restate.

The bottom tube is bottomed out. In other words, the black threaded hollow cylinder is threaded as deep into the shock housing as it can possibly go.

Don't get me wrong, it's low, but nowhere near where I want to be. Like I said, I currently have the rear set to have the tire even with the fender (0 finger gap).

The front however have 1-1.5 finger gap with the lower mount bottomed out. I have read about people complaining about not being able to go low enough with the Megans without adjusting their preload (i.e. lowering the bottom spring perch). Even though a lot of guys do it, it's not recommended because it reduces shock travel.

Luke

c-low

iTrader: (1)

You sure you have LP not EZ lol

BayAreaLex

Yes, these are Megan LP


Also, doing a search, I found that this guy also couldn't quite get the lower he wanted in the front with his Megan EZ coilovers with just adjusting the lower shock mount unfortunately: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/6092486-post2.html

And here is another guy talking about the limited lowering in the front with Megan: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/6135451-post84.html

You guys who are slammed in the front with the Megans, you must be lowering the spring perch and not just the lower shock mount (like is recommended)?

I guess my third option is to get RCAs, but who wants to do that after just spending a small fortune on coilovers! Megan, you guys dropped the ball on this one.

Here is what my car is sitting like right now. As mentioned above, I can't go any lower on the front without screwing with the preload. If I am willing to adjust the preload, I have another few inches of adjustment.

LuxuryGS3

iTrader: (12)

There's something wrong with your coils. There just has to be, lol.. I'm relaxing in bed right now but ill upload a pic of my Megan's a bit later for you to see I'm able to slam all the way and mine weren't maxed in the front.

LuxuryGS3

iTrader: (12)

Here's my EZ's. Maxed out in the rear on 19's. The front could still go down like another inch or more.

blacksedan

iTrader: (4)

Holy cow! nice!

How does it ride?I had BC coils on my 3rd gen when I had it and it felt "bouncy" on large pot holes or speed bumps, but smooth other times.

BayAreaLex

When you guys say, "maxed out" what do you mean exactly?

I can lower my fronts another 4-5" if I want. But the point is to not touch the preload. I can't lower my front any further if I don't touch the preload.

Is the picture above without touching the preload? I.e. you got it that low with only adjusting the bottom most shock mount (without ever touching the ring that the bottom of the spring contacts?

LuxuryGS3

iTrader: (12)

Thanks. That was actually a year ago. My car has been stock since. I raised the ride and sold the wheels. Under going major changes.

But the ride was smooth overall. Of course a little bouncy over bumps but overall I can't complain.

I never touch pre-load that is without touching the preload and only messing with the bottom mount. That's why I said there's no way that yours have bottomed out unless they're making newer batches that don't go as low but I don't see why they'd do that.

BayAreaLex

This is really interesting, especially since I've found several accounts now where people are complaining about the same thing as I am (limited front adjustment). The only explanations I see for this is:

a.) Your black threaded cylinder is shorter than mine for some reason. If I machined down the threaded cylinder, I could go lower as it would prevent me from bottoming out on the inside of the shock mount so soon.

b.) Your spring is shorter than mine for some reason. As far as I know, I am using 12/8kg springs that come standard with the Megan LP C/O's. Are you sure that you are using the standard spring that comes with the LPs?

I'm interested to hear what other have to say about this. As I mentioned above, I can either:

a.) Adjust the preload and drop her another 1/2" - This would be the easiest but limit my shock bump travel.

b.) Get an 18mm RCA - This would be a 2hr garage installation and $150 for the RCA.

c.) Machine down my threaded cylinder by 1/2" - This would require that I remove and disassemble the coilovers and pay a machine shop to cut the threaded cylinder.

I don't want to take anything away from Megan since their C/Os do appear to be good quality, but I'm puzzled at how they would design the fronts to have so much less adjustment than the rears.

I will call Megan and see what they say, as I am not the only one here experiencing this.

LuxuryGS3

iTrader: (12)

I'm on EZ's not LP's, but they both slam. There are quite a few people on here who are SLAMMED on both LP's and EZ's. My EZ's are straight as they come from Megan. They have not been modified in any way.

BayAreaLex

If we really are doing the same thing (i.e. not touching the preload), then there's clearly a difference in the hardware (length of threaded rod, spring rate/height, etc).

There is evidence of multiple accounts of both sides of the argument here. Mystery continues.

LuxuryGS3

iTrader: (12)

I'd shoot them an e-mail with photos from both my car and your car. You can use the one I posted in this thread and ask them about it, because they have had to have started switching things up recently.

BayAreaLex

Will contact them because now I am quite curious.