How long does it take for springs to settle?
Suzuka Master
Joined: May 2011
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Op is too busy to care
Joined: Jul 2010
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@ceb
are you shitting us or is that good advice? most stuff ive read said like wait a week or something, but never saw any real methodology behind any claim
I ask because im getting springy thingys put in, and I wanted to know how long to wait for an alignment, due to my tricky schedule, id like to do it soon as its a good idea
are you shitting us or is that good advice? most stuff ive read said like wait a week or something, but never saw any real methodology behind any claim
I ask because im getting springy thingys put in, and I wanted to know how long to wait for an alignment, due to my tricky schedule, id like to do it soon as its a good idea
SeeYou2Crew #2
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Socal 626
+1 on that info as well. many ppl suggest just wait a week or 2, but im guessing that's because some people think that should be enough time to accumulate 100 miles +? driving 100 miles just ensure that the springs will settle and can handle everyday road condition, also making sure there's no clunking sounds or rattles while the springs can settle in the mean time?
pull that out of my ass, but just an assumption. correct me if needed
pull that out of my ass, but just an assumption. correct me if needed
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Vancouver, BC
I have my alignment done the same day. Just drive a few miles around the block, unless you have adjustable (coilover etc), there's no need to wait 1 or 2 weeks.
In the old days, cheap springs used to sag after a while, but Tein and EIbach make quality product so there's really no need to wait. They do recommend to re-torque the bolts after 500 miles.
In the old days, cheap springs used to sag after a while, but Tein and EIbach make quality product so there's really no need to wait. They do recommend to re-torque the bolts after 500 miles.
Three Wheelin'
Joined: Jan 2009
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Another case is if you mess up your existing alignment after installation. When I put my springs in, I did the camber arms at the same time. I thought I kept them the same length as stock, but it was obvious that I didn't when the rear end seemed like it was flying all over the place on the freeway.
I was on my way to work and decided not to risk it, so took it in. Picked it up after work and all was well.
Granted, my springs were already "settled", but if your car drives funny I wouldn't drive it around for 100 miles before fixing it.
I was on my way to work and decided not to risk it, so took it in. Picked it up after work and all was well.
Granted, my springs were already "settled", but if your car drives funny I wouldn't drive it around for 100 miles before fixing it.
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Op is too busy to care
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I have my alignment done the same day. Just drive a few miles around the block, unless you have adjustable (coilover etc), there's no need to wait 1 or 2 weeks.
In the old days, cheap springs used to sag after a while, but Tein and EIbach make quality product so there's really no need to wait. They do recommend to re-torque the bolts after 500 miles.
In the old days, cheap springs used to sag after a while, but Tein and EIbach make quality product so there's really no need to wait. They do recommend to re-torque the bolts after 500 miles.
Just out of curiosity
Also, i'm learning so much in this thread
Op is too busy to care
Joined: Jul 2010
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Another case is if you mess up your existing alignment after installation. When I put my springs in, I did the camber arms at the same time. I thought I kept them the same length as stock, but it was obvious that I didn't when the rear end seemed like it was flying all over the place on the freeway.
I was on my way to work and decided not to risk it, so took it in. Picked it up after work and all was well.
Granted, my springs were already "settled", but if your car drives funny I wouldn't drive it around for 100 miles before fixing it.
I was on my way to work and decided not to risk it, so took it in. Picked it up after work and all was well.
Granted, my springs were already "settled", but if your car drives funny I wouldn't drive it around for 100 miles before fixing it.
A fellow azine member is helping with the install so it would be much easier for me to just do the arms with him at the same time if I could
Suzuka Master
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There are a few schools of thought here, but the bottom line is that you want to assure that all the bits have 'settled' prior to alignment. A good shop will also retorque everything prior to alignment.
Time does nothing for helping things settle - driving does. Of course you shouldn't drive if your handling is all squirrely but if you've done a proper install then it should be close. A week or two might mean a hundred miles to some but means about 1500 miles to me. By that time I could have screwed up as set of tires.
The real proper way of doing it is to do the install, get an immediate alignment and then have the alignment rechecked in a couple of hundred miles. Since very few people will ever recheck their alignment, I've always found that a nice spirited drive works well before alignment - assuming that you've installed everything right and it is safe to do so.
Time does nothing for helping things settle - driving does. Of course you shouldn't drive if your handling is all squirrely but if you've done a proper install then it should be close. A week or two might mean a hundred miles to some but means about 1500 miles to me. By that time I could have screwed up as set of tires.
The real proper way of doing it is to do the install, get an immediate alignment and then have the alignment rechecked in a couple of hundred miles. Since very few people will ever recheck their alignment, I've always found that a nice spirited drive works well before alignment - assuming that you've installed everything right and it is safe to do so.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 937
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From: Fairfax, VA
Good springs don't really "settle" in terms of a further decline in ride height, any further decrease should not be that significant. Following a spring or suspension install, the only settling that should be happening is any component that has a degree of play (and it better be a small degree) will eventually be forced into place with some driving. For example, no matter how well you seat a spring on the bottom perch of the strut, it will not be in exactly the same spot once you tighten up the top hat and throw the strut/shock assembly on the car, because now it will be under a permanent load. With some driving, there may be some slight adjustments the components make under load to finally "settle". Time is not a good indicator for this, but actual driving is. Get an alignment only after you think you've done enough driving on the new set up, including taking some turns, not just after "two weeks".
Burning Brakes
Joined: Apr 2011
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From: Fairfax, VA
Coilovers should not have the same sort of "settling" time because most coilover springs have flat bottom and top coils, so they should fit precisely and have zero play other than what is allowed for a zero spring preload. There might be some variance depending on the quality but I can't say for sure. You could probably get an alignment immediately and be fine, but it probably wouldn't hurt if you drove around for a few days before getting one.
Suzuka Master
Joined: May 2011
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Good springs don't really "settle" in terms of a further decline in ride height, any further decrease should not be that significant. Following a spring or suspension install, the only settling that should be happening is any component that has a degree of play (and it better be a small degree) will eventually be forced into place with some driving. For example, no matter how well you seat a spring on the bottom perch of the strut, it will not be in exactly the same spot once you tighten up the top hat and throw the strut/shock assembly on the car, because now it will be under a permanent load. With some driving, there may be some slight adjustments the components make under load to finally "settle". Time is not a good indicator for this, but actual driving is. Get an alignment only after you think you've done enough driving on the new set up, including taking some turns, not just after "two weeks".
- Install
- Drive
- Retorque
- Align
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
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You wont need an allignment right away. In fact you might try to convince yourself you dont need one at all. I put my s-techs on last February and it drove straight so I was like screw it. When I went to rotate the tires 5000 miles later I had significant wear on the insides of all 4 corners. Had it alligned and it showed that all 4 were out of spec in regards to toe and camber. Toe was alligned back to stock specs. Camber was adjusted as close as possible with stock suspension components.
As far as settling goes. I know mine has settled a bit in the year Ive had them. I used to be able to slide my 2 ton jack right under the front jack points but ive noticed in the last few months when I jack up the front I need to lift up on the car in order to slide the jack under. Id guess its "settled" 2-3 millimeters since install.
As far as settling goes. I know mine has settled a bit in the year Ive had them. I used to be able to slide my 2 ton jack right under the front jack points but ive noticed in the last few months when I jack up the front I need to lift up on the car in order to slide the jack under. Id guess its "settled" 2-3 millimeters since install.
Suzuka Master
Joined: May 2011
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You wont need an allignment right away. In fact you might try to convince yourself you dont need one at all. I put my s-techs on last February and it drove straight so I was like screw it. When I went to rotate the tires 5000 miles later I had significant wear on the insides of all 4 corners. Had it alligned and it showed that all 4 were out of spec in regards to toe and camber. Toe was alligned back to stock specs. Camber was adjusted as close as possible with stock suspension components.
As far as settling goes. I know mine has settled a bit in the year Ive had them. I used to be able to slide my 2 ton jack right under the front jack points but ive noticed in the last few months when I jack up the front I need to lift up on the car in order to slide the jack under. Id guess its "settled" 2-3 millimeters since install.
As far as settling goes. I know mine has settled a bit in the year Ive had them. I used to be able to slide my 2 ton jack right under the front jack points but ive noticed in the last few months when I jack up the front I need to lift up on the car in order to slide the jack under. Id guess its "settled" 2-3 millimeters since install.
First you say that you don't need an alignment and then you state that you ruined a set of tires in 5000 miles and that your alignment was out of whack.
Think about this logically - you are removing and replacing suspension components. You are altering the center of gravity and the way the suspension operates - that alone should tell you that you need an alignment right away - not in 5000 miles.
You're right, you can save $100 on an alignment now and spend $800 on a new set of tires in a few months. Which makes more sense?
Last edited by ceb; Mar 29, 2012 at 09:00 AM.
6th Gear
Joined: Mar 2012
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The thing is that you will need an alignment true enough, but more like after 100-200 miles after you install the new springs, not 5,000 miles after, cause if you wait that long, you definitely be replacing the set of tires, as well as getting an alignment...
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2011
Posts: 805
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From: New Joisey
Holy Crap there is soo much back and forth here that I'm just completely baffled of what Im suppose to do...
Getting megan coilovers...
My steps...
Install
Align
...drive around maybe a week (about 100 miles for me)
and then get another alignment???
Getting megan coilovers...
My steps...
Install
Align
...drive around maybe a week (about 100 miles for me)
and then get another alignment???
Racer
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 492
Likes: 104
I'm officially confused now.
First you say that you don't need an alignment and then you state that you ruined a set of tires in 5000 miles and that your alignment was out of whack.
Think about this logically - you are removing and replacing suspension components. You are altering the center of gravity and the way the suspension operates - that alone should tell you that you need an alignment right away - not in 5000 miles.
You're right, you can save $100 on an alignment now and spend $800 on a new set of tires in a few months. Which makes more sense?
First you say that you don't need an alignment and then you state that you ruined a set of tires in 5000 miles and that your alignment was out of whack.
Think about this logically - you are removing and replacing suspension components. You are altering the center of gravity and the way the suspension operates - that alone should tell you that you need an alignment right away - not in 5000 miles.
You're right, you can save $100 on an alignment now and spend $800 on a new set of tires in a few months. Which makes more sense?
What i meant was that the OP's car wont blow up if you dont get an alignment within 30 seconds of dropping it. You will definitley need an alignment but dont wait 6 months like I did.
Suzuka Master
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Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Bronx l Heights l Yonkers
Install a camber and Toe kit while youre at it. And then go for an alignment. They wont be able to do much with the stock components if anything at all.Im sure the car can drive "straight" But im sure its all out of spec. No sense in getting an alignment now if youre planning on a camber/toe kit in the near future, You'll just have to do it again
Suzuka Master
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A couple of hundred miles or so won't hurt, but much over 500/1000 may start to cause tire damage if your alignment is screwed up.
SeeYou2Crew #2
Joined: Mar 2009
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From: Socal 626
Good info here guys. I'm glad we can share questions and info without wanting to throw a bag of shit in front of each others lawn afterwards.
My question: Once you get alignment and have camber and toe in specs, would those specs be off later? As in after spring/coilovers you are at -4, after alignment you are back to 0. Would you go back to having -3 or 4 soon afterwards, or would an alignment last as long as having stock suspension. Hope it makes sense
My question: Once you get alignment and have camber and toe in specs, would those specs be off later? As in after spring/coilovers you are at -4, after alignment you are back to 0. Would you go back to having -3 or 4 soon afterwards, or would an alignment last as long as having stock suspension. Hope it makes sense
Three Wheelin'
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From: sandy hook nj
once you go for alignment the specs will stay almost unchanged they can change because the road condition, way you drive etc mechanics say that everyone should get alignment once a year even if the car is bone stock
Suzuka Master
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Good info here guys. I'm glad we can share questions and info without wanting to throw a bag of shit in front of each others lawn afterwards.
My question: Once you get alignment and have camber and toe in specs, would those specs be off later? As in after spring/coilovers you are at -4, after alignment you are back to 0. Would you go back to having -3 or 4 soon afterwards, or would an alignment last as long as having stock suspension. Hope it makes sense
My question: Once you get alignment and have camber and toe in specs, would those specs be off later? As in after spring/coilovers you are at -4, after alignment you are back to 0. Would you go back to having -3 or 4 soon afterwards, or would an alignment last as long as having stock suspension. Hope it makes sense
No, not if it is designed for your car and installed correctly.
Correct. A good pothole can knock your alignment out of whack 5 minutes after you get an alignment. The rule of thumb is once a year (after the winter pothole season.)
Pro
Joined: Nov 2011
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From: Bronx l Heights l Yonkers
I was told this as well, As a nice pot hole can throw your alignment off
Suzuka Master
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Ed - so your question is "will an aftermarket suspension get out of alignment easier than stock?"
No, not if it is designed for your car and installed correctly.
Correct. A good pothole can knock your alignment out of whack 5 minutes after you get an alignment. The rule of thumb is once a year (after the winter pothole season.)
No, not if it is designed for your car and installed correctly.
Correct. A good pothole can knock your alignment out of whack 5 minutes after you get an alignment. The rule of thumb is once a year (after the winter pothole season.)
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