Low Volume Certs

[method]

Hey

I know there are some knowlagable people out there, and some people that may even be a engineer that does low volume certs so i have a quick question;

Im getting my cars suspention certed ( coilovers ) and was just wondering what they look for? Obviously they will check the quality of the coil overs, leaks cracks etc right? Not just if they are set up correctly.

And will they have a quick look over the rest of the car too or will they just look at what you want certed?

Thanks

[Malcolm]

I have always found the best way to get answers about certification is to go and talk to whoever you're going to get to do the cert. They will happily answer all your questions

[method]

Well the dealer is doing the cert for me as it was part of the agreed cost of the car so i don't know who is doing it. Was just wondering if there is a specific set of guidelines they follow like a WOF.

I was thinking of bringing my car to autolign to get my suspention checked out after i got it as they are the dealers for tein. But then i thought if it gets its cert the suspention must be alright as a professional engineer should check it out.
But i guess it is better to be safe than sorry, its just that i am tight for cash and that extra $100 it costs for them to look at it will go a long way. But then again i regard suspention and tires as one of the most important pats of the car so i dont really want to be driving around in anything shoddy.

Welcome to the days of my life lol.

[Stealer Of Souls]

They probably check that there is sufficient travel in the springs at both highest and lowest setting.
ie you don't hit the bump stops under normal driving conditions.
Obviously they'll check the anchoring method for secureness...

[RomanV]

When you get adjustables certed, it is only legally certified at that height....

Technically you would have to get it recerted if you adjust the settings after that.

So I doubt that they would check how the car behaves with different settings.

[wde_bdy]

That wil hopefully be changing soon so that you get approved for a set range of heights. Particularly useful for competition cars used on different surfaces.

Callum

[evil_si]

when you get a cert they check the entire car over.
get it certed at the height you want to drive it at.
they put a distance between wheel centre and guard on the cert plate, you are allowed a 5% variance.

they will fail it at a low height if the springs are not captive!
most guys get the shocks machined to keep it captive at the desired height.

[Fraud]

Basically they have a set list of things to check. They will only really have a close look at what is not factory (exhaust, suspension etc).
They certify your suspension for your given ride height (+/- 15% or 5%) checking that they changes have not affected any other components of your set-up, that there is appropriate clearance for your set-up to operate without fouling anything, and if anything has been modified (how/what).

So for example mine has been certified for X lowering (+/-15%), with 5mm spacers, longer wheel studs and 0 degrees camber (aside from the engine etc).

Basically its an indepth WOF check, mainly identifying what work has been done and assessing the quality/safety of it.

[method]

Crap, so i have to ask the dealer to get it certed at a specifit height?

Thanks for your replies guys

[Stealer Of Souls]

I got told that they should check the springs at both the highest and lowest setting for captive springs, and that the spring rates are sufficient to prevent the car from hitting the bump stops under normal driving...

Maybe the certifiers are lazy and only check them as if they were fixed high springs...

As a side note... I found out that some WOF guys won't ask for a cert providing the lowest ride height is greater than the 100mm lower limit...
My understanding was that ALL height adjustable suspension needed a cert. Am I wrong? This has been one of the most major reasons I haven't been looking for platforms...

[Fraud]

Yes, all adjustable suspension needs a cert. Something to do with movement outside of a typical setting? Can't remember. Useless I know.

[method]

Damn it turns out one of them is leaking a little

I can either get rid of the teins and put in standard suspention or maybe get it repaired?

Autolign fix tein suspention dont they? It would be a shame to see the set go as they are worth quite a bit arn't they. Ive never priced up a set my self but i know its a few grand.

Bugger

[JT]

If you bought the car off a dealer and the shock is leaking they should pay to have it fixed. Or have I missed something?

[DRFTIN]

yes autolign fix teins if they are repairable
and like JT said the dealer should have to fix them, dont let them replace them with anything unless you are happy with it

[Andy7447]

just give it a good clean up (steam clean) and polish it all up to look new and they wont look to hard @ it

[RedMist]

just give it a good clean up (steam clean) and polish it all up to look new and they wont look to hard @ it

Don't be an idiot.
Air in a shock is a great way to make a shock useless. Not only dramatically increasing your stopping distance but also affecting the cornering ability of the car.
The check isnt there to piss you off, its to save your life.

[BigDon]

Height adjustable suspension does not need a cert if it is OE, i.e. TRD, Nissmo, Ralliart (as long as the other requirements below are met). I have just got a set of TRD coilovers to avoid having to get a cert and had a fresh warrant done and my mechanic signed it off as fine as per below.

Fitting of or modification to: LVV certification is not required provided that(©LTSA 2004, VIRM: In-service Certification, Version 2, Amendment 1, March 2004):

Springs and shock absorbers

• the springs or shock absorbers are direct replacements, and
• replacement springs fit and maintain contact with un-modified OE seats throughout
full suspension travel, and
• replacement springs are self-retaining in their seats at full extension, without the use
of non-standard devices such as wire-ties, straps, or external spring locators, and
• replacement springs have not been heated or cut, and
• springs and spring seats are not height adjustable (unless OE), and
• replacement shock absorbers fit un-modified OE mountings, and
• suspension maintains sufficient travel for safe operation when fully laden, and
• suspension components maintain sufficient clearance from unmodified bumpstops
when fully laden, and
• a minimum of 100 mm ground clearance exists below any part of the vehicle
structure, or any steering, braking, or suspension component1, and
• the normal relationship between front and rear suspension height is not unduly affected.

"OE" is defined as (©LTSA 2004, VIRM: In-service Certification, Version 2, Amendment 1, March 2004): OE means original equipment fitted at the time of manufacture of the vehicle, or a part supplied by the
vehicle manufacturer.