fitting coilovers and geometry set up

[Ian (DaOne)]

I'll hope to have my car back in a few weeks, and I have got a nice set of Apex coilovers.

I'm not sure if to fit them myself, or get someone to do it for me with a geometry set up.

Anyone know the going rate for fitting and setting up?
It's for a classic Impreza by the way.

Thanks
Ian

[DunkRA]

i wouldent imagine it would take more than two hours TBH mate, so should just be two hourly rated from what ever garage you put it into

[RX7]

Hmm, I would have thought it would be about 2 hours plus the geometry work. However unless you take it to someone who can setup suspension all you will have is someone bolting in the suspension and then setting the alignment etc which if you want to make adjustments further eg lowering the car then it will need doing again.

I made this mistake with Autotest, they setup the alignment but when it came to setting up the coilovers they didnt have a clue.

I guess the Apex stuff is height adjustable and also damper adjustable ? You can do the damper stuff yourself, its the height adjustments (whether by adjusting the spring of the length of the damper or both).

Setting up coilovers is a black art, money well spent though as it will be the difference between a car that is uncomfortable to drive and one that sticks to the road like glue !!

[Ian (DaOne)]

i got this email back i sent, but feels on the expensive side

Hi Ian,
you need to budget for 4 hours labour @

[maff]

Depends how far from a decent suspension alignment place you are. I fitted mine myself, got the hight were I wanted it, and the camber and castor fairly tame and then did the tracking with some string. The amount of time it takes is down to how recently the suspension was changed last if ever and the age of the car, horrible things like siezed split pins and stuck castleated nuts can all take time, no sweat for a tooled up garage but a PITA laying on your back in the cold.

Then after a gentle tootle round and no scrubing noises or horrible handling traits, took a gentle drive to Autotest in norwich (20miles)

[Ian (DaOne)]

i have just brought some 14mm camber bolts for the rear.

anyone know of any cheaper roll centre adjusters?
(i have never heard of people fitting these before, did a search on snett, and found nothing)

is it something i really need?

[Tk]

never heard of them

4 hours to fit some shocks then alignment on top blimey

coilovers i always fitted them myself then went to an alignment place

[Fast Eddy]

Totally agree with maff.
Fit yourself if you can, get the height you want and allow to settle then take for alignment.
Eddy

[stockcar]

the roll centre adjusters are relatively new to the market (but have been around at least 12months)

as to wether its worth the extra, depends on how low your going and what your using the car for???

think we normally charge around

[Ian (DaOne)]

ill be mostly using my car for trips to tesco etc and back

and the odd 1/4 mile.

sounds like i shouldnt really need them.