I 'm finally getting around to buying coilovers (Megan Racing in this case) but I need some info before I physically install them.

1. What is a good ride: height, camber and dampening setting, for an aggressive street driver? I dont have rear camber links, so I cant go too low.
I also currently have 17in rims with 205/45/17

2. How do you actually measure the ride height? My understanding is you measure from the wheel arch to the ground, jack the car up, and re-adjust.

3. How do i actually adjust the coilovers. According to youtube videos and such, I shouldnt touch preload. I should set the bottom most locking nut,
then turn the whole assembly, so the black threading retracts into the shock body.

 

Set them right in the middle. That way you eliminate half the adjustment right off the bat. That way after you drive it you will know if you want it stiffer or softer. If you start all the way at one end you will automatically want to change it, starting in the middle you may just be fine with.

 

I'll be frank about Megans. You're "saving" yourself money for coilovers with camber plates that are under $1k easily, but in honest, they're harsh from its softest setting, and harsh in their hardest setting. Regardless of how you adjust it, this system is bone jarring hard and I can say that because I've had 2 sets of these coilovers so I know firsthand how these coilovers are.

Adjustments are pretty easy like any other coilovers system, you can pretty much understand the method of adjusting ride height via youtube videos....

Good luck.

 

Thank you all, that is a good point Way, Ill make sure to set it in the middle.
Thankfully im 21, so Bone Jarring isnt really an issue.

After all the youtube videos, I still dont understand preload. Do Megans come preloaded from the factory, if not is there specific preload I should be setting?

 

Typically there are two methods. The first is by measuring from a static point on the car to the ground. This is usually the pinch welds or in the case of the mini the front and rear jacking blocks. I don't like this method as it will change depending on what diameter tires you have on the car. The other method is from the center of the hub up to the wheel arch. Make sure you are measuring straight up from the hub. This measurement will not change if you change wheel sizes so you can compare across minis of the same generation.