MCS coilover spring binding on thread condom

[Blue96GTS]

I've got an email into Dan on this subject, but figured I'd post the problem and the forthcoming fix. Hoping you can chime in if you've already fought this battle.

Included with the shocks/springs is a plastic cylinder which, according to the instructions, is meant to protect the top threads of the shock. These units have a taper on one end, which I installed taper-end up, and basically left them flush with the top of the shock.

After spending a lot of time tweaking the ride height, I finally took it out last night for a test ride. I noticed some noise/binding seemingly from the rear of the car, mostly the drivers side. I also noticed today that my ride height was about 1/2 inch lower on the drivers rear than it had been. All else remained the same. While jacking up the drivers rear I noticed a "jerkiness" to the tire/wheel as it was coming off the ground and unloading.

Haven't taken a look at the passenger rear side yet, but it looks like the thread protector device and my spring have a frictional relationship... Have I installed these incorrectly somehow?? Instructions said "to protect the top of the shock threads", so they are at the top...

Thanks for looking, here's what I'm seeing:

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[Steve M]

Mine rub like that, but I've never felt or heard any binding. Could just be a case of the tolerances stacking against you - could be a coil wound just slightly too tight, or the powder laid on too thick.

[Blue96GTS]

Thanks for the reply and reassurance that at least you see the same wear.

Worth mentioning: I don't yet have an alignment after the installation, and had to loosen rear control arms for removal/installation. Attempted to not move stuff too much, but... All is re-tightened while suspension is loaded. As directed, rear lower shock arms were initially left loose and car rolled back/forth a couple of times before attempting to give myself a 140 lb/ft hernia with torqueing them down.

Also worth mentioning is the fact I live in rural America and encounter a 1/4 mile non-paved driveway each time I leave the house, and again upon return. No real clearance between the spring and the shock like the original units for debris to easily pass thru. About twice a year, when my driveway looks a bit thin, I remove the viper wheels and return all of the gravel and small animals it's picked up on it's journey. Is this going to present a problem with these shocks???

[Coloviper]

Mine look like that on my 96 RT. I am here in Colorado. I don't have noises but I do get the same jerkiness. It is on the drivers as well.

[Blue96GTS]

OK, weirdness here. Took the shock out of the car. Somehow the spring has wound it's way around the plastic condom and has adhered itself Chinese Finger Torture style. Impossible to get off with hands and help from the wife-unit... Not sure how this happened, as when I'm adjusting the shock height, I'm holding the spring in one place. As pointed out, perhaps just a bit too much powder coat?? WTF do I do now - I don't want to bang it or get out any implements of destruction..?? Going to go give it a bit of lube...

Here's a pic of the spring stuck to the shock. Note the lack of retainer, and how gravity seems to hold no effect on the spring from falling out.


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[Coloviper]

When we get back from vacation (our first in 2.5 years) in a couple of weeks, maybe we can get together and you can look at mine for a comparison.

[Steve M]

Yeah, that ain't right. I'm assuming you bought them new?

[GTS Dean]

Going to go give it a bit of lube...

Here's a pic of the spring stuck to the shock. Note the lack of retainer, and how gravity seems to hold no effect on the spring from falling out.


Spray a little WD or white lithium lube on the collar, then turn the spring to unscrew it. It could be that your spring I.D.'s are just a little tight for those shock bodies with the collar on them. MCS should warranty that.

[Blue96GTS]

Thanks for the replies.

Attempted some lube on the spring, and banished the unit outdoors to see if the cold of night, or the tepid temperature of the day might unspring my spring. Nothing doing when I checked today upon arriving home. I ran out of time this weekend to look at things too closely, and was a bit hesitant to get too jiggy with the spring, as (yes) I bought these new, and a loaded spring is nothing to be messing around with.

I've been in communication with both Mark Jorgensen, who I bought the units from just before his change of roles, as well as Dan Cragin who has taken over the MCS duties for the Viper crowd. To their credit, they both responded promptly to my issues this weekend, when I know they likely had better things to do. Somewhere in the banter, Mark suggested that I lay the shock/spring on a flat surface to see if his eyes were deceiving him or not. Good suggestion, as you're about to see.

I guess I'm no longer worried whether or not the shock is still loaded, I suspect not. What now worries me is my shock installing abilities...... Am I the culprit somehow??

Dunno. Email into Dan and Mark. I'll keep you posted.


This one is pretty obvious as to what is going on. Look at where spring is resting on floor.

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A different perspective. Straight edge on this picture is a the top of the picture, using the side of the board.

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[GTS Dean]

Hypercoils.

[mjorgensen]

Hypercoils.

Hypercoil makes a great product also, but in the 15 years I've used Eibach I have never seen this issue. I went around my old supplier and straight to the source, they promptly responded and have sent out 2 new rear springs for him which is pretty good customer service IMO no questions asked.

Of course I responded to Mike right away, he is still my customer and deserves it. I have however moved on and have still been receiving many contacts which I cannot always respond to moving forward. I hope I do not upset anyone new if I cannot respond, but I always will at least look at the request and to see if it is resolved without me.

[Blue96GTS]

Slight correction to Marks comments:

"Pretty good" customer service should rightly be changed to "Extremely good" customer service. Mark (and Dan) have been on board with this issue since the beginning, which is only a couple of days ago. Mark notified me yesterday that 2 new springs are on their way, drop shipped directly to my house. As pointed out, Mark has moved on to another job, but still cares! Thanks Mark!!!!!!!!!

Here's a couple of pics of the cut-away coil spring. Still unsure how it happened, but I'll be glad to have the whole incident behind me.


To ensure I wasn't going to kill myself with flying springs, I cut each end off the loose coils to only leave the wrapped part. When I cut to the end of the coil, a small 'snap' was heard - no real tension, I assumed it was just popping loose from being adhered to the plastic thread protector. Interesting to see how this coil completely wrapped itself around the shock housing.

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Here's a pic of the offending coil after removal. Seems like some friction had it's way, causing it to stick to the plastic.

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Besides a possible "faulty spring", if anyone has any good ideas about what might have caused this - or more importantly - what I might have done to cause this, I'm all ears. I'm about to go thru round 2, which I want to leave at round 2 and not go into round 3...

Thanks for your help Mark Jorgensen!

[GTS Dean]

If this was one spring only, then I'd likely chalk it up to an EXTREMELY rare flaw in the metallurgy of the steel rod, or the heat treatment process. If it was both, then there might be some hiccup in the rod feed or coiling process and there are likely to be more springs that have that problem from that day's run.

[Steve M]

That was nothing you did wrong with the install...that was just bad luck. Glad you got it figured out.

[Coloviper]

Damn, now I am going to have to check mine!