Lowering a car 40mm and the implications.

5th October 2009, 22:32

Hey, sorry in advance if this has already been covered, have had a look beforehand and couldn't see it.

What would i need to do if i lowered my saxo 40mm on 15" wheels? (195/45/15) Could i get away with just buying the springs or should i really go and get the shocks too? also would there be any rubbing on the back or front wheels? I know this may be seen as a silly question but i tried to fit some 17"s on my saxo and it ended up that i'd of needed spacers all around and so thought i'd go for some 15"s instead of going into spacers, so just want to make sure there would be no rubbing on the suspension itself, or the general wheel arches, before i buy the wheels this time

Thanks in advance.

5th October 2009, 22:36

Got my car lowered 40mm all round with 15"s, no problems with rubbing at all and i have the same tyre size.

5th October 2009, 22:39

Hi Ryan,

You can get away with just doing the springs at 40mm and adjusting the torsion bars to match. HOWEVER it doesnt cost the earth to do the dampers aswel (something like the Apex kit is brilliant value for money which they do 30mm or 50mm. The base Spax kit is pretty cheap and good value aswel which they do 40mm or 60mm kits)

If you can afford the extra its well worth upgrading the dampers.

With regards to rubbing if you have a flat arch depending on the offset of the wheels which you choose you may get some rubbing issues, if not when its just you in the car, then possibly with passengers (rear is the normal offending area)

5th October 2009, 23:05

mines lowered 40 with just springs and no issues with rubbing with 15's even gonna try 17's lol
will dampers make a big difference ?

5th October 2009, 23:52

Thanks alot for the help guys, and thanks for the information Willsy

Any ideas how much springs and dampers would cost as a kit, or just the dampers seperately? One of the reasons is because i work at halfords we had an order for some lowering springs in for a saxo a while ago and no one picked them up, so they need to go out on clerance, and as i work they i get first dibs on them, so thought i'd snatch them up if my incoming 15"s would be alright with it

Well the cars a forte, so it has the VT kit on it so the mild wheel arches, if thats what you meant. The wheels would either be VTS 15"s or might be getting some OZ titans in 15"s for cheap, both with the same 195/45/15. Yeah that was one of my concerns, having a fully packed car then the back wheels rubbing, if so would it be major do you think?

6th October 2009, 00:13

i have a VTR and with 4 in the back it dont rub on 15's mate unless theres a big change in the arch size cant see there being a problem
you will have 14's on atm so if it dont rub with them doubt an extra inch will

6th October 2009, 11:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ramsay

i have a VTR and with 4 in the back it dont rub on 15's mate unless theres a big change in the arch size cant see there being a problem
you will have 14's on atm so if it dont rub with them doubt an extra inch will

His is a flat arch according to profile.

Front is very rarely an issue unless going silly low

Rear is completely different to the VT arches and drum beams are narrower so he'll most likely either have issues with rubbing on the inner arch which would require a small spacer to avoid rubbing or it could go entirely the other way and rub on the underside lip of the outer arch.

It depends on the offset of the wheels more than anything else. Ive known some rub badly on the rear even at 30mm with some wheels, yet some others being even lower but have no issues.

6th October 2009, 19:08

Surely it isn't a flat arch as it's a forte so its got a VT kit on it? or am i just being silly and talking about the wrong thing?

So your saying i'd need spacers if i wanted to put 15" VTS rims on my car and wanted to lower it 40mm? whats the offset of VTS wheels then?

Would it generaly be easier to just lower it on some 14" VTR alloys? or would 40mm still rub at the back do you think?

6th October 2009, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ryan_

Surely it isn't a flat arch as it's a forte so its got a VT kit on it? or am i just being silly and talking about the wrong thing?

So your saying i'd need spacers if i wanted to put 15" VTS rims on my car and wanted to lower it 40mm? whats the offset of VTS wheels then?

Would it generaly be easier to just lower it on some 14" VTR alloys? or would 40mm still rub at the back do you think?

mate flat arch refers to anything that doesn't have a VTR/VTS bodykit fitted to it (bumpers, sideskirts, etc.)

1.1s like yours basically.

and in answer to one of your questions for dampers & springs you're looking about 200 quid for a spax/apex kit. whereas just springs around 60-70
. My apex kit cost me 200 quid as in the best thing I have bought for my car!

6th October 2009, 22:41

well wat do u think a vt kit is? lol well basically if it looks like a vtr/s then someone has fitted the vt bodykit

6th October 2009, 22:41

1.1 forte doesnt have a vt kit

nothing wrong with just springs if its only 40mm. i dont get any rubbing at the rear only on the front on full lock, but it rubbed before i got it lowered so im guessing some loose inner arches

6th October 2009, 22:46

but someone could have put a vt kit on in so the guy thinks that they come like that as standard thats all im saying chances are it is a flat arch

6th October 2009, 23:01

LSO what wheels you got, 15" VTS ones?

Thats a VT kit right? Sorry i get the forte and furio mixxed up, furio comes with a VT kit bog standard if i remember correctlyyy, not the forte, just mine seems to of had it when i bought it. So how does having a VT kit on it affect whether it rubs or not when it's lowered? would there still be a problem going 40mm on 15" or would 14" VTR wheels be a safer bet?

Thanks for the help

6th October 2009, 23:52

im fine on vts alloys with a 45 profile, and was fine on vtr alloys on 55. even with 4 people i never had the wheels rubbing (the botom of the car rubbed the floor but tyres never scrubbed)
i know there can be complications though with cars with a drum beam, so stick with the vtr alloys in my opinion

6th October 2009, 23:55

im down 60mm at the front on vtr alloys the arch sits just below the top of the tyre and i have no probs havent done the back yet so cant comment on that and the car looks good matey and yea i thought you were getting the furio and forte mixed up lol

7th October 2009, 12:23

ye ive got vts wheels. down 40mm aswell, pics in my thread. i think its more likely to rub on the rear with a flat arch as the rear has a lower metal outer lip opposed to the vtr/s/furios

7th October 2009, 18:45

Thanks Jeff, yeah too many names, hah. I've still got a few plans to go, the back lights are totaly black now and i'm replacing the spoiler with a VT one, came like that whne i bought it and really dont like it.

By the metal outlip do you mean the bit in the wheel arch that hangs down abit? it feels like it can be taken out as it's not solid fixxed.

8th October 2009, 17:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by LSOfreak

ye ive got vts wheels. down 40mm aswell, pics in my thread. i think its more likely to rub on the rear with a flat arch as the rear has a lower metal outer lip opposed to the vtr/s/furios

if hes had a vt kit fitted then the metal arch would have been cut away