I just installed a set of Bilstein PSS10 coilovers and just noticed that the installation instructions state that a 5mm spacer must be used on the front when using 205/45/R17 on 7x17, ET48 wheels/tires. This is what I'm using (R112 Challenge Spoke Wheels).

Are these 5mm spacers really necessary? Anyone have experience with this?

 

I did need spacers on mine wth that exact setup. Without the strut rubs against the inside of the tire

I have 10mm spacers. Make sure you get decent hub centric spacers with extended length wheel bolts.

Edit : just noticed you have 205 tires, I have 215/45/17, so mine are a little wider

 

I ordered some spacers.

Is your's bouncy at all? I have them adjusted right in the middle of the height range. (175mm in the rear and 220mm in the front).

 

Mine is a circuit only racecar with diferent spring rates and custom valving, so can't really compare!

 

I have the same setup as well and I do not have spacers. Never experienced any rubbing. I need to reread my instructions; don't remember anything mentioning 5mm spacers.

These are bouncy (especially on highways) for me no matter what I tried. Mine are set at max height and softest setting. These coilovers are very uncomfortable for street use in my opinion, but they have been great for autocross

 

When I say bouncy it's as if there is hardly any dampening of the springs. For example if I'm rolling at a few mph and apply the brakes to come to a complete stop, the car goes boing, boing, boing, like a spring.

I like a nice firm suspension, even bone jarring sometimes is ok, but this seems to be the exact opposite.

 

No bouncig when braking for me. Something could be off. See if it does it on softest setting. You really have to play with these to find the best setup for your needs.

 

An update on my problem, it was definitely installer error (myself)...turns out that I had not fully tightened the center nut on the front struts, so the damper wasn't doing much and I was basically riding on just the springs. I had thought that I had torqued these down but obviously I did not.

I did install the 5mm spacers. I have them set in the middle of the height range (40mm lower than stock) and only get minor rubbing on the front fender liner on big dips in the road. I also scrap the plastic pieces mounted underneath the front spoiler on speed bumps and my driveway but these pieces are cheap and easily replaced.

So far the coilovers are fantastic. The rear tires no longer hop over the same bumps as they had with the stock dampers and NM springs. I have them set at 5 up front and 2 in the rear. I will probably stiffen it up a little.


Thanks to TazMinianDevil for selling these to me at a great price!

 

It is worth getting one of the proper tools to tighten and check the top nut. Otherwise it is pretty hard to do!

http://www.ecstuning.com/News/Schwab...Kit/ES2652183/

 

I ended up using a 22mm O2 sensor offset socket that I could put a torque wrench on and insert a hex socket down the center.

 

Great! I am glad you were able to fix it.

What is the torque spec for the top nut? I need to check mine.

 

I torqued them to 47 ft-lbs. I got that number from Pelican Parts.

 

Glad you like them. I think too many people skip them because of the progressive spring thing.

 

I'm considering getting the PSS10's. I'm looking for an adjustable coilover that I can have a slightly stiffer ride for DD, softer? setting for longer trips and when I track or autocross, stiff setting.

How would anybody compare the softest setting to the stock suspension? I don't seem to find this comparison anywhere even on other car brands' forums. Seeing that MINI's tend to have rather stiff stock set ups compared to other vehicles on the road, is the softest setting equal to MINI's stock setup?

 

I bought 67morris' setup, ran it for a week not knowing what way was soft or hard setting. Thinking these were a bit stiffed, I cranked them complete to the other end to see if maybe that was the soft setting... made it to the end of the driveway, turned back and... went back to soft. Even at soft, these are not soft, but they are fun as hell! In my experience, any setting on these is stiffer than stock by a fair margin. Oh and I'm on the slightly heavier clubby...