Couple BC BR Questions
 

Just bought a used set of BCs that arrived today and I have two questions. One is that the wrench or wrenches weren't in the box. Where can I get one, how much do they run, can I use something else to adjust? Two is I wanted to test the rebound so I pushed the back struts on the ground. They did bounce back but it wasn't a very quick recoil (no spring obviously). Are they supposed to recoil quickly or is it normal for them to take a few seconds to reach full extension. Sorry I'm a suspension/coilover noob.

You should contact bc to see if you can buy a new wrench. If you have a friend with Coilovers you can see if their wrench fits. I think the shock expands slowly, from what I remember.

I'll do that. I stole them basically so I guess I can't complain.

What you need is called a spanner wrench. There are lots of different types but I personally like the ones that have a hook on both sides like this
http://i10.ebayimg.com/07/i/001/b6/c0/6706_12.JPG

I talked to the guy I bought them from and he is claiming he'll send me some. I also emailed BC about it as well. I wish they sold those adjustable ones locally.

Another question... with the back springs... is the spring adjuster simply for preload or does that aid in raising/lowering the car. Trying to figure out if the rear ride height is adjusted by the spring or by the shock (or a combo). Doesn't seem extremely complicated but I'd rather get it right(ish) the first time so I don't have to deal with clunking issues or blown shocks.

The springs are for height and the shock is for preload. If I remember correctly.

For the front the shock is for height and the spring for preload.

I guess I did mine wrong in the rear then, if this is correct. I assumed the spring was simply preload in both the front and rear. So I adjusted the spring collar in the rear so the spring was snug and tight, and used the adjustment on the shock itself to lower/raise. Seems alright, but I hope it does not hurt anything by doing it the way I did.

well when i did CO's on my Speed6 you want to make sure there is some tension on the spring when the car is jacked up so it does not rattle around at it's fullest range of motion. I do know that the kid who bought my car 2 years ago still has them on and are running great :) (They were BC's)

perhaps I did it right then ... edited my post to make more sense as I had an incomplete sentence that, well, made no sense.

Yep. I want to say they advise to make it where you can barely turn the spring with your hand before the coilovers are on the car. I want to say I read that somewhere.

I have installed numerous BC Br series coilovers on Z's... So hopefully i can help you out here.

On the rear you will set the height you want on the spring. Once you know where the height of the vehicle should be then you will tighten the 2 gold rings on the black inner piece that goes inside the rear spring OFF the car.
The rear spring should be dropped in the perch on the car and then bolt up.
In the meantime the strut should be installed but only the top bolts fastened leaving the bottom fork type piece free.
To set the pre-load you will utilize a seperate jack to raise the bottom of the metal perch the spring sits in 1/4-3/8 inch then lock the jack in place so it holds that compression.
The next point you will spin the bottom fork piece of the rear strut down until it meets up with the bolt hole it needs to be attached to. Then slide the bolt through and use the BC provided nut and tighten to spec.
Once this has been completed you will have set the pre-load.
I set at 3/8 and found it felt a little better then the 1/4 inch and always used that on future installs.

So basically the strut holds the pre-load set on the spring :)

Dont hesitate to ask me on here or PM me if you have any questions.

-Chad

Volk that makes a lot more sense. Interesting how the design is almost exactly opposite from front to back. Thanks for the help! Throwing a rep your way.

Glad i could help! Yeah BC's set up is not considered a true coilover... True coilovers run the same rear strut set up like the front typically already pre-loaded from the factory and a little metal connector replaces the entire metal perch and spring (kinda looks like a camber adjuster for the rear)

Any of you guys can PM me if you get stuck with an install! I talked a fellow 350Z member over the phone on the installation! My wife wanted to shoot me as i left our lunch date for a little too long... haha

-Chad