Should I preload the spring so there is no gap between the top hat and the bottom ring? I'm not sure if that's the reason my top spring isolator is all chewed up. My thoery is that when I jack up the car the spring comes unseated then when I put it down the spring isolator is not seated right. Here's a picture of the spring isolator.



Here's the gap between the top hat and the spring.

 

That is what happened to me when I had Coilovers. It is from raising the car up and lowering it down with the spring unseated.

-Nick

 

I have no gap between the spring and the seats but there is no "load" on the spring when the car is jacked up. Just turn until the top seat touches the spring.