Rear eibach springs Q: which way up? (quick!)
 

Okay, this might sound really stupid....but... is the right way up for the rear eibach spring? :D That is, the more compressed looking way up? I just need to be sure! :p

http://members.cox.net/protegefun/spring.jpg

Thanks, Charles

According to Darryl's site, the closer coils go on top as in this picture. Although there shouldn't be that much of a differnce, that is how I did it and haven't had any problems since.

http://www.mazdaracer.com/images/pro/ZX2_rear_strut.jpg

mine are set up so the other way, cuz the writing on them is upside down the other way. i figure if they put letters there to read, they should be facing the right way.

I wouldn't trust the way the letters are facing too much. As I said before, that's the way I've had them for a few months so far with no problems. I doubt that this makes any difference anyway.

Yeah, actually the letters are facing up the way it is in that picture.

Now I just can't get the strut and the two big bolts at the bottom that connect to the rest of the suspension to line up :(


Just for fun here are the old front two struts, plus one new one. Aren't they supposed to pop back up? :) (The back two are the same way)
http://members.cox.net/protegefun/oldstrut.jpg

those pistons my friend are shot .......

Damn

LOL! I asked this same question too, but I ended up putting my closer coils down cause I was in too much of a damn hurry and didn't think to look at Darryl's webpage. But I wonder why he thought they should go up? I mean there's nothing in the instructions whatsoever about it. Anyway, I don't think it matters. It's a spring and it compresses the same way, up or down.

No, they are not. (I have to admit... I was under the same impression until my dad corrected me) That's the job of the spring. All the strut does is slow down the spring's upward/downward motion.

As for the spring fitting, when u put it back together, the spring will sit right only if you put it one way. (my struts looks just like the protege ones) So, if you get confused, just put it whatever way you want and test fit the top perch and see if the strut rod will line up with the hole in the upper perch.

The rear Eibach's will fit correctly in the perch either way. It's the front ones that are obvious as to which way they go.

I understand that, however, they are still supposed to pop back up after a few seconds...the struts are 'gas-filled shocks' for a reason... :)

Yeah, what he said. Gas shocks use gas pressure inside the shock to always keep the oil under pressure to prevent aeration (and fade- due to your having foam instead of oil in your shocks...foamed oil doesn't offer much resistance).

Anyway, that gas exerts pressure on the piston which extends the shock. Some shocks have a position at the bottom of the travel where they can be locked for shipping (Push down and turn), mainly to save space in shipping, but also to reduce pressure on the top seal (from the piston pushing against it).

The reason for having the closely spaced coils at the top has to do with unprung weight. Since the closely spaced coils are heavier, you want them closer to the body to reduce unsprung weight. It's a pretty minor difference, but it's there.

Unfortunately the shocks aren't in the locked shipping position. They just don't offer any resistance. I wonder if they are the original 10 year-old ones? Unfortunately the car is missing the records from the last owner. Oh well. I got it all together, it makes a world of difference! :) I thought that the position of the coils was supposed to be like that, but I recieved 'advice' otherwise from a friend. :rolleyes:;)

On a side note I just noticed I have a higher post count than you, which is kinda scary considering you probably know a lot more than I do. I guess if you get a monkey behind a keyboard.... ;)

Ack! I guess I'm gonna have to flip my springs then :( !

and the winner is......

also, with the eibachs, the tops had a flattened top coil that mated to the upper perch, where the bottoms had a normal round coil that fit into the slot on the lower perch.

there was some concern about the "loose" feeling the ZX2 struts had back when Wil and I got them, we both eperienced a "weak" feeling when compressed, but was assured they'd be fine, and infact, they have been. They've been used for racing and daily driving since they were put on, awesome strut forthe price, i still rave about them, as i can't believe they cost so little and perform so well.

Hmm. I only had a flattened coil on the front ones though, hence the http://www.protegeclub.com/forum/images/icons/icon5.gif

The ZX2s feel great to me, then again I was also driving on zero resistance struts beforehand. :)

Just having driven it for a few days the combo feels great. I'll also get to test it at the NASA event at Willow Springs this weekend too. :)