Match the application
Compare the box and part labels with your order and vehicle. Check required mounts, brackets and any electronic damper compatibility before taking the car apart.
Coilover User Guide
Speedzone / Coilover user guide
SET YOUR STANCE.KEEP YOUR CONTROL.
Understand your coilovers before you turn a collar. A better setup starts with the right kit, usable travel and an alignment plan.
Start with the exact application
The right kit comes before the right height.
Whether you own SPDZ1 suspension or another coilover kit, confirm the part number, year, make, model, trim and any required drivetrain or body-style details. This guide explains the setup process; the instructions supplied for your exact kit control the measurements, hardware and installation procedure.
Inspect what arrived
Check for missing hardware, shipping damage or leaks before installation. Keep the packaging and contact us if something does not look right.
Plan the finished setup
Tell your installer your driving needs, wheel and tire package, desired height and road conditions. Include alignment and any required supporting parts in the plan.
Need the SPDZ1 instructions for your kit?
Send the order number, kit or part number, vehicle details and clear photos through our support page. We can help identify the correct reference before installation.
Know what you are changing
Three adjustments. Three different jobs.
Ride height
Sets how the vehicle sits within the kit’s permitted range. Depending on the design, it may use a threaded lower mount, a spring seat, or a separate rear spring adjuster. Identify your layout first.
Spring preload
The initial compression of the spring in the assembly. Set it to the kit specification; it is not a shortcut for making the vehicle lower or fixing every ride-quality problem.
Damping
Controls how the damper resists suspension movement. It is separate from spring rate and ride height. Use the specified baseline and adjust in small, recorded steps.
One number does not fit every kit.
Torque values, preload, minimum thread engagement, adjustment direction and click counts vary. Do not transfer a setting from a different vehicle or brand, and never force an adjuster past its stop.
Build the installation plan
Install the system, not just the struts.
Mounts & orientation
Check left/right identification, mount orientation and any OE mount reuse. Worn bearings, mounts or bushings can affect the result even with new dampers.
Lines & brackets
Retain brake hoses and ABS wiring with the correct brackets. Check routing through steering and suspension travel so nothing stretches, rubs or gets trapped.
Locking hardware
Clean the threads before adjustment. Use the tools and tightening method specified for your kit; do not assume hammering collars is appropriate for every design.
Have an experienced suspension installer handle spring-loaded assemblies, mounting and final tightening. Use the vehicle and kit specifications for fasteners, required tightening at loaded height, replacement hardware and any calibration.
Separate rear spring and damper?
The spring adjuster sets the spring’s installed position while the damper length must suit that layout. Follow the kit’s sequence and check spring retention and available travel; copying the front coilover procedure can give the wrong result.
Complete the setup
Lower is a choice. Clearance is a requirement.
Keep ride height within the kit’s specified range and leave usable suspension travel. Measure the vehicle on level ground under the specified load; equal exposed threads do not guarantee equal corner heights.
Check tire-to-suspension and fender clearance through steering and travel. Include sway bar links, brake lines, axle clearance and bump stops in that inspection.
Finish with a complete alignment at the intended driving height. Camber plates and correction arms solve different problems; choose them from measured adjustment needs and the exact application.
Keep the setup working
Clean threads. Clear records. Consistent checks.
Record your baseline
Write down the kit, ride-height measurements, preload specification, damping settings and alignment report. Change one setting at a time so you can compare results.
Inspect & maintain
Follow the maker’s cleaning and service schedule. Check collars, mounts, lines, leaks and hardware as instructed, especially after adjustment or an impact.
Diagnose before adjusting
A noisy or bouncy ride can have several causes. Check installation, travel, mounts, spring seating and tire condition before assuming the damping knob is the answer.
Why does the car feel bouncy or harsh?
Have the installer check available bump and droop travel, spring seating, preload, damper settings and component condition. A very low setting can reduce usable travel. Return to the specified baseline before making further changes.
What should I check if it makes noise?
Note when the noise occurs: turning, braking or crossing a bump. Have the installer inspect mounts, spring seating, locking collars, end links and clearance. Do not simply tighten every fastener harder; use its specified torque.
Should the left and right damping settings match?
Use the kit’s recommended baseline. For a typical road setup, start with consistent settings across each axle unless the maker or a qualified setup specialist specifies otherwise. Front and rear settings need not be identical.
Do all kits need camber plates or adjustable end links?
No. Included equipment and required supporting parts depend on the vehicle and kit. Reused OE parts must be serviceable, and alignment correction should follow measured needs.
Can I use the old guide’s torque or preload number?
Only if the current instructions for your exact kit confirm it. The previous guide contained kit-specific numbers and terminology from another brand. Those figures should not be treated as universal SPDZ1 or coilover specifications.
The original visual resource
Keep the pictures. Use the correct specifications.
The illustrations from our earlier guide remain available below. They show common parts and layouts; any printed dimension, torque, direction or limit must be confirmed against your current kit instructions before use.
Open the original illustrated reference ↓
Brand-specific diagrams
Identify the component layout for the exact series.
Watch the adjustments
Manufacturer videos explain individual adjustment tasks.
Check the maker’s guide
Use manufacturer material only for the brand and kit it covers.