The key is to explain exactly where the
collars are installed, which have been mentioned earlier in the thread (In summery: 6Rs in the front, 2Rs in the back nearest the bumper, F goes in the passenger side and the unmarked
U / thinnest goes on the driver side of the remaining bolts),example;
F-BUMPER-F
R O-- - --O R
R O-- - --O R
U O-- - --O
F
R O-- - --O R
R O-- - --O R
B-BUMPER-B
(F=Front,
U=unmarked collar,
F=Marked collar, B=BACK)
Well, I finally got mine installed Saturday! First impressions are good, it does seem more solid, without being more stiff or harsh. I don't know that I'd go so far as to say it "transformed" the ride, but then I always thought the ride and handling was pretty damn fine already!
The tech let me watch over his shoulder (figuratively speaking, since it was up on a lift). The placements of the
collars did come out a little bit different that the diagram that was posted here. There were two bolts on the front sub-assembly that the fitting was so tight that it required the thinner
collars, but they weren't quite the ones listed here. Redoing the chart, what he installed was more like:
F-BUMPER-F
R O-- - --O R
U O-- - --O
F
R O-- - --O R
R O-- - --O R
R O-- - --O R
B-BUMPER-B
(F=Front,
U=unmarked collar,
F=Marked collar, B=BACK)
In other words, the thin ones went in the middle pair of the six bolts on the front sub-assembly, not the last pair of bolts on the front sub-assembly.
Definately get a four-
wheel alignment done immediately! He pulled it around on the alignment rack when he was finished, and *everything* was way out of wack! The geometries had all been changed. Not surprising since he was prying on the sub-frames with a crow-bar to get the bolt holes to line up so he could get the
collars in. He took his time, and fussed with the alignment until it was just so. Even had me climb up and sit in the drivers seat to see what it did to the numbers, and to double-check the steering
wheel alignment. That's why I'll pay the dealer rates for something like this, attention to detail. Plus the tech is a bit of a motor head himself, and was real curious how it would come out. The results put a big smile on his face, and a big thumbs up! but then, he doesn't drive it every day. I have a few before videos, and I'll try a few after videos. I don't know if the difference will come out clearly or not, it's kind of a subjective feel kind of thing.
But there's at least one curve, in a valley, over an older bridge, where if you take it at speed, you usually have to allow for some lane drifting, because of the rough surface. I tried it once this afternoon, and it stayed right in my lane, didn't drift wide at all. Wound up nailing the gas half way thru the curve, because I didn't get the usual drift. I'll try to get a video of that tomorrow also. Oh, and my LED backup lights just came in. Maybe get them in tomorrow, since it's a holiday for me, even though I have to go into the office for a couple hours in the morning. Starting to feel like Christmas all over again here!
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