Rocketman1976

I have the kit mentioned in the title and it is supposed to lower the car 1 1/4 inches front and rear. It did lower the rear from a stock height of 27" to 25 3/4" a perfect 1 1/4". The front is now at 26 1/2", its been about 2 months or more since the install. When I first got the car back it looked higher then stock in the front and then it settled to 1/2" lower than stock after about 2 weeks. The rear looked perfect from day 1.

Another member on here is having a similar problem. I am wondering if Tokico didn't account for the fact that our motor is not mounted up front and it is actually mounted behind the front axles and very low. There is not much weight settling on the area the springs are located at.

Is this a common problem with a possible improper install?
Has anyone else had this problem with the Tokico dsk-519 suspension kit?

I am thinking of placing sand bags under my hood as far forward as I can everynight while I'm sleeping for a week to see if I can get the front to settle more.

SouthFL

Loosen the control arm bolts with the car on the ground. Allow car to settle. Retighten the control arm bolts. It's a well documented issue with spring installs.

Rocketman1976

I heard about this and told my uncle who is a mechanic with his own shop for 20+ years, he said it won't make a difference. The other guy told the mechanic that put in his and they said the same thing, so I was believing them.

I'll try it anyways, thanks.

swoope

iTrader: (5)

what southFl said, and if you need help send me a pm...

your settup is the same as mine.. if you do it right it lowers the car by 1.2 inches..

beers

importshowoff84

hmmm....mine are getting installed this week....so we'll see if i ahve the same problem

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

DAMMIT!! Chris(Rocketman) was asking me about this the other day and I totally forgot about relieving the preload on the front suspension by releasing the front control arms. Sorry about that, Chris.

I am assuming you guys are talking about the upper arms and not the lowers(?).

SouthFL

Yes.
From another post.....
https://www.rx8club.com/attachment.p...0&d=1185842299

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

I didn't think I appeared THAT stupid. I just forgot about the pre-tension issue and wanted to make sure I understood what you guys were discussing. Then, again, I am sure that photo was for the benefit of others reading this thread....

Thanks, South.

Rocketman1976

So do what, put it on ramps and loosen the uppers, then let it sit for an hour or so, then tighten them back up. All while still on ramps right?

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

Either that or use jack stands under the lower control arms to keep the springs compressed. Easier to turn the wheels and gain access to the 17MM bolts that way.

SouthFL

No problem. Photo was for the OP.

I've read of some users doing it at full turn of the steering, but I would imagine ramps would be fine if all four tire contact patches are loaded on rhino ramps. Easier, less combursome in terms of floor jack/rhino ramp toggling, would be simply to do it on a four post runway lift- especially if you have one accessible via your uncle.

Rocketman1976

I'm going to try my uncle's shop, to do the ramps would require me to spend money on a bunch of ramps...

I just spoke to my uncle and I will be in his shop Tuesday morning. I can't wait to get my 3/4" owed to me. No more constant driving uphill

rztom

Hey guys... I'm the other member Rocketman referred to as also having the DSK installed, and with the same issue. I'm afraid I'm not following the logic of the "must load the suspension BEFORE tightening the upper A-arm bolts." Why would that make any difference? That is a pivot point - as long as it's torqued to the correct spec, it shouldn't matter if it's done in a compressed position or at full droop - or even with the coilover assembly in or out of the car... it should still pivot the same. The A-arm pivot point itself has nothing to do with ride height.

I just got off the phone with a Tokico factory tech - and he agreed.

Our problem would seem to be with the spring itself. The factory tech made one suggestion - see if the printed part number on the spring is right-side up or not. The spring is supposed to be installed with the part number UP.... I just looked at mine, and guess what - it's upside down...

So to further this investigation... Rocketman - go out and check your front springs and see how the printed part number is oriented on your springs... would be interesting to see where they are...

Rocketman1976

Hmm... that would suck if mine is also upside down... lowering your car shouldn't be this much of a pain in the ***

rztom

Ya know, this is bugging me, so I went out and looked at the springs again, and I don't think you can install them upside down... they're tapered and only fit one way, right? Small diameter of the spring against the lower seat, larger end against the upper seat. So, I'm not real confident in what the Tokico tech said about the part number business. I'm going to try and lob him a call again....

Rocketman1976

I thought about that as well, the ends butt up against the plates in a certain way so I didn't think it was possible to put them in upside down.

I don't want to keep stressing out about these damn things so I am going to do what everyone says and release the preload tension and tighten it with the cars weight on the shocks and springs. I take it others have had this problem, did the above, and the car lowered correctly.

J8635621

iTrader: (10)

Can't argue with results. Tightening it up after going around the block definitely made a difference on my car and everyone on here swears by it.

Aipex8

iTrader: (1)

There really needs to be a sticky on this issue. It's funny how many times people ask this, they are told the easy fix that will take just a few minutes and has had proven results for dozens for forum members, and they argue that it shouldn't matter. Take the advice and try it.

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

In this episode there is also a subtle lesson about "factory techs" who really have no clue what they are talking about because they don't know the RX-8 as well as we do. They deal with far too many applications to know any one of them intimately. That's why we have foreums such as these.

Rocketman1976

They are probably thinking of Back Woods Billy Bob's Chevy pickem-ups with muddin tires and z28 Camaros with big hood scoops

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

...or Evos and STis.

rztom

Wow... can't believe you said that. You ever work as a factory customer support technician? Didn't think so...

I work as a "factory tech" - albeit in another industry... it's customers like you we loathe to get on the phone....

Your post was totally nonconstructive.

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

I have worked in all sorts of industries and have far more experience than you are obviously aware of. Remember, I deal with issues like this all day long relevant to the RX-8, as it is my full-time job now. I think I have a bit of credibility around here as I have put 100% of my money where my mouth is. I am not a "customer"....I am the Prez. I also don't have a sarcastic attitude with ANY of my customers no matter how problematic they may seem.

I am sure you are good at that which you do but do you know everything about every application your company provides parts/service for? If you read my entire statement rather than react viscerally you would have seen my empathetic conclusion.

rztom

^... Sorry, I should have handled this via PM, not on the forum. My apologies to the forum members....

Charles R. Hill

iTrader: (7)

Or I can simply apologize to you for having offended you and your line of work, which I wasn't intending. Sorry about that. I was trying to point out that the "tech" at Tokico isn't fully aware of the strange "tricks" that seem to work in our application.