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So I have been looking for a coilover kit for my XKR and there are the REALLY high end (read costly) kits or the import sets from PB Brakes, Ceika, etc. Those kits are all between $850-$1200 but none of them offer springs for the rear so you give up your height adjustability or the ability to easily change out spring rates. I am working with one of the import companies on a rear coil over kit for the rear and the only info that I cannot easily get are the measurement for the rear upper spring cup. Does anyone have one of these handy where they can give me the measurements? We need the inner measurements so they can machine a spacer that will fit in the factory cup but cradle the smaller diameter spring.
Having a 4 wheel coilover setup under $1000 really appeals to me and I am sure there are others one the board that feel the same.
Update - no measurements needed. The company was able to source one locally and it developing a coil over for the XK8(R). I will get the first one and document the instal and report my findings. Price is $850 delivered for all four wheels, should be a fun project.
Update - no measurements needed. The company was able to source one locally and it developing a coil over for the XK8(R). I will get the first one and document the instal and report my findings. Price is $850 delivered for all four wheels, should be a fun project.
That is close to the cost of the stock parts. Will be interesting to see quality of kit and how it performs.
Still waiting on the 4 wheel coil over to be finished, to give you an idea of the timeline he said to put the car in storage for the winter. here is the website
Hi, and thanks for the quick reply. I've been searching and can't really come up with much in after market coil overs. Do you have any links? All I want is a comfy ride because my cats are stuck in firm mode. Some one prior to me plugged two shocks in wrong and broke the contacts off at the top of the shocks. Thanks, stacey
if you just want to eliminate CATS then cheapest way is to replace the adjustable shocks/struts with standard Bilstiens. I did this in the rear and it was fine. That is the suspension that base XK8's came with when the CATS option was not installed. Pull the plug on the suspension module in the truck and the warning light on the dash will go off.
I have the Ceika coilovers installed but as the op stated, the rears do not come with springs, so they are not adjustable. I have H&R Lowering springs on the rear. So far, the ride is good.
Ok, a little update since it's been a year. Geico Racing was not able to get me a rear coil over kit so I decided to just do it myself. I bought this kit from PB Brakes. I installed the front coil overs in the spring and have been really happy with the ride so far. Like all the others kits PB uses the stock rear springs so no height adjustability but it has the threaded shock body so I had PB Brakes toss in extra spring seats. I bought a set of 2" ID springs (I don't remember the spring rates off the top of my head) and machined up a spacer to give the springs something to sit on. I hope to get them in the car this week and will report back with updates.
Ok, a little update since it's been a year. Geico Racing was not able to get me a rear coil over kit so I decided to just do it myself. I bought this kit from PB Brakes. I installed the front coil overs in the spring and have been really happy with the ride so far. Like all the others kits PB uses the stock rear springs so no height adjustability but it has the threaded shock body so I had PB Brakes toss in extra spring seats. I bought a set of 2" ID springs (I don't remember the spring rates off the top of my head) and machined up a spacer to give the springs something to sit on. I hope to get them in the car this week and will report back with updates.
That looks very nice. Please report back with how it rides. How much did making a coilover kit set you back in parts? Maybe you can do a step by step for the rear coilovers.
Quick update, I got the coil overs installed and did a little testing. The instructions that came with the kit were vague and incorrect. In order to not ruin the shocks or the ride I had to first set the ride height and set the shock up so that 1/3 of the stroke was compressed. Then from there I set the preload height. Right now the height is about 3/4" higher than I would like but the springs I installed were too soft. They are 350# so I have a set of 450# on the way. I'll drive the car for a few days on the softer springs and make sure there is no binding or rubbing. I will report back after I have the stiffer springs installed.
Hi, yup I have a full adjustable set up on the car. I have been running it this way since late 2020 and no issues. The 450# springs in the back seemed to be right on. the ride is sporty but not the least bit uncomfortable, far better than the H&R lowering springs with spacers that rubbed the tires. Once the springs settled the ride height was perfect so no need to further adjust. We have terrible roads where I live so even with pot holes and bumpy roads no issues. Since the springs are off the shelf 2" coils I can change the spring rate, go progressive or what ever easily and inexpensively. The only issue I have is the adjuster knob for the rear shocks is on the top of the tube so you need to drop the shock to adjust. Next time I have the shocks out I will install a remote knob into the trunk. They are like $30 on eBay.
Now that I have a set of CATS shocks gathering dust, one day I may pull one apart and see if I can mount a threaded sleeve and then I will have adjustable ride height along with the CATS shocks. That is nothing I will do anytime soon, my next project is getting the twin screw kit I bought from 4zfed on the car.
Feel free to ask questions, happy to help the next person, everything was off the shelf except the spacer at the top of the spring, but anyone with even basic metal lathe skills can make those easy enough.
Great job and for a reasonable price.
I can see this is the way to go on a car needing a full shock and spring replacement. It would save money for sure on the CAT replacement.
Thanks to all the shop, of course and you for getting things right.
Any photo's on the install difficulties, surely there are some things that need to be tweaked.
It was over a year ago but I have to say the project went VERY smoothly. I didn't have to modify anything on the car at all. It wasn't like changing a tire but everything went together so much easier than expected, I still am unsure why the kit makers don't offer it as a kit. The only part I needed to make was a simple spacer ring. Even the factory top rubber mount fit PERFECT in the center of the spring to locate it center on the shock. I used regular tools to install it, just a Harbor Freight hydraulic press to mount the spring and installing is the same as changing shocks, probably easier since its all one piece. I had to do a bit of research to learn how to properly set the preload but found an article on setting up coil overs the RIGHT way. Most of the manufacturers of these off shore kits do not instruct proper set up. Doing it properly means I get the full range of the shock and the full benefit of a properly sized spring. The only trick I learned was that removing the bottom part of the shock and installing that after the spring was in the car gave you a lot more room to work. Hard to explain.
The car is tucked away for the winter but when I bring it home and get it on the lift for spring cleaning I will snap a few more pics. Here are a few from the original install.
Nice custom install, do you have part no's and contact info? Also did you modify the front springs/shocks? Did you have the ACD / CATS option?
I have a 2001XKR with 130k miles, it could be time to change out parts! The Bilstein rep said 100k is about time to replace shocks
Full Coilover kit
