Anyone running Belltech coilovers?

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signguy62

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Yes, as I eventually figured out. It's much easier to install them straight out the box (max drop/very little spring compression) as apposed to pre setting the desired height as the directions tell you to do.
As for the 3 top studs. Looks like when they were pressed in, either they tilted a little or the got bumped. I just tapped them straight with a dead blow and then opened the holes in the top or the spring pockets a little with a drill.
Eventually got them installed and all in all I'm pretty pleased.
 

07Burb

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Yes, as I eventually figured out. It's much easier to install them straight out the box (max drop/very little spring compression) as apposed to pre setting the desired height as the directions tell you to do.
As for the 3 top studs. Looks like when they were pressed in, either they tilted a little or the got bumped. I just tapped them straight with a dead blow and then opened the holes in the top or the spring pockets a little with a drill.
Eventually got them installed and all in all I'm pretty pleased.
Do they ride pretty well? Tossing around getting a set for my Esky
 

randeez

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Yes, as I eventually figured out. It's much easier to install them straight out the box (max drop/very little spring compression) as apposed to pre setting the desired height as the directions tell you to do.
As for the 3 top studs. Looks like when they were pressed in, either they tilted a little or the got bumped. I just tapped them straight with a dead blow and then opened the holes in the top or the spring pockets a little with a drill.
Eventually got them installed and all in all I'm pretty pleased.
i got ya, glad it was fixable.
unfortunately for as many years as these can work 07-18 atleast there are few direct swap in solutions for coilovers, to drop anyway lift there are a few more. wish more companies would jump in. i had (and still have) the atomic upper and lower coilover mounts - they require using 1/2" shock bearing on both ends that dont last very long (was swapping ~6months or so. and the ends of the bearing dig into the mount so almost definitely have to just hammer/break them out. i used them with QA1 coilovers and a few different springs - i would say the ride was definitely better but maintenance was easily 3-4x as much.
 

signguy62

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i got ya, glad it was fixable.
unfortunately for as many years as these can work 07-18 atleast there are few direct swap in solutions for coilovers, to drop anyway lift there are a few more. wish more companies would jump in. i had (and still have) the atomic upper and lower coilover mounts - they require using 1/2" shock bearing on both ends that dont last very long (was swapping ~6months or so. and the ends of the bearing dig into the mount so almost definitely have to just hammer/break them out. i used them with QA1 coilovers and a few different springs - i would say the ride was definitely better but maintenance was easily 3-4x as much.
You have the Atomic stuff on a 07-14? Tahoe? I've got his brackets for my 03-07 RCSB that I planned on running a set of QA1's with. So the issue isn't with the brackets themselves? It's with the bearing ends on the coilovers?
 

randeez

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You have the Atomic stuff on a 07-14? Tahoe? I've got his brackets for my 03-07 RCSB that I planned on running a set of QA1's with. So the issue isn't with the brackets themselves? It's with the bearing ends on the coilovers?
not anymore, i went from lowered 4-6ish to lifted about 7".
the pictures on his page with the red springs are of my actual install
7_3c1a4c9de1ee71a718fd7b7bff6ca291726380ca-601x800.jpg

the mounts top and bottom are set up for spherical bearings:

qa1-com8t-102pk_xl.jpg

if you see where the edge of the bearing would meet the mount with a 1/2" hole for a 1/2" bolt, theres hardly any surface area for that edge to sit against. when you tighten it up it pulls the tabs in and the bearing presses a groove into the ears of the mount. my experience has been that after about 5-6 months these bearings start to squeak everytime you hit a bump, theyre not at any risk of failing but it starts to sound like an old POS crown vic . when you go to swap them you need to pry the ears apart to get the bearing out of the groove its made on the inside of the mount.
 
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