Lowering

1. Moorzy1990 L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37

   #1 29th December 2010, 12:18

   Hi Guys
   
   Just quick question but i have just brought some lowering springs and obviously want to lower the rear but is it too risky to do myself.
   
   Im pretty good with engines and have the tools but i know those torsion bars can be B*st*rds to get out
   
   What ya think
2. sexy-silver-saxo Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 north devon Posts: 433 210bhp golf gti, red 106 gti

   #2 29th December 2010, 12:21

   i wouldnt no myself but my mate is thinking the same as you .. ill advise you the same as i did him and let the profesionals do it lol
3. Moorzy1990 L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37

   #3 29th December 2010, 12:24

   Lol thats what im thinking, dont want to wreck my suspension and end up with my rear end dragging the tarmac up
4. sexy-silver-saxo Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 north devon Posts: 433 210bhp golf gti, red 106 gti

   #4 29th December 2010, 12:43

   i wudnt no how much that would cost though... how much did u pay for front springs just out off interest?
5. Moorzy1990 L-plater Joined: Jun 2009 Nottingham Posts: 37

   #5 29th December 2010, 12:45

   I only paid £50 for them of ebay but i dont want to fit them till the back is done.
6. Vtr_HBO Regular Poster Joined: May 2009 Stoke on Trent Posts: 307 Silver 106 GTI

   #6 29th December 2010, 14:59

   easiest job in the world, theres a guide on here somewhere for it
7. NorthernIrishScouser L-plater Joined: May 2010 Belfast Posts: 36 2002 Saxo VTR

   #7 29th December 2010, 15:08

   Leave it to the pro's mate heard people also say its a gift but when i checked aaround a load of local garages they just said no chance managed to get 1 that wasn't too happy about doing it untill i told him it hasnt been long lowered so it should be easy enough. And he says 60 quid depending on how it goes ended up he had to call down a different pro to do it as he couldnt get it himself and hes no amature. ended up costing 100 tho
8. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

   #8 29th December 2010, 15:16

   You'll spoil the handling and make yourself look like a dikc. Why bother at all?
   
   I dont understand "i told him it hasnt been long lowered so it should be easy enough"
   
   You mean its already lowered but you want to lower it?
9. sexy-silver-saxo Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 north devon Posts: 433 210bhp golf gti, red 106 gti

   #9 29th December 2010, 15:57

   wouldnt it make the handeling better if its lower? the suspention would be more stiff and you wouldnt get as much body roll ... and it looks better, he wouldnt look a "dikc"
10. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

    #10 29th December 2010, 16:33

    Suspension is there for a reason, believe it or not. When you go over bumps and ruts it soaks up it all up and gives you a comfortable ride. When you take away the suspension it gives you are harsh ride- if thats what you want all day that your choice. Lowering also gives you less grip on real roads becasue the tyres leave the road surface as they skitter over irregularities.
    
    Body roll? Ive never noticed that in my unmodfied Saxo. Im not sure that lowering changes it anyway. There might be one coil less on the front but the g force is still there?
    
    When I see a lowered hatchback I always think they look like dicks, although I saw a slightly lowered Vauxhall Carlton and that looked cool.
11. sexy-silver-saxo Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 north devon Posts: 433 210bhp golf gti, red 106 gti

    #11 29th December 2010, 16:42

    whats comfort to do with handeling? if it doesnt make it better on handeling why are all performance cars slammed on there asses? and why would they make performance springs etc .. it obviously does make a difference.. might not be alot but it does ... and in my opinion .. standard saxos look weigh to high and they just look crap... lowering it makes it look alot sportyer and more like a young persons car than a grannies car... but everyones entitled to there own opinion.
12. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

    #12 29th December 2010, 17:49

    Comfort is part of handling. I dont know what you mean by "why are all performance cars slammed on there asses?" what does that mean?
    
    Racetrack production cars and Nascar have lowered suspension, but it is mainly to reduce frontal area to reduce drag, and to create downforce from the vacuum under the car. Low profile tyres also reduce the tyre warp effect at extreme lateral g force, but when LP tyres 'let go' it is more suddenly and you are likely to spin off.
    
    But you dont encounter extremes of lateral g on the Queens highway. It is not like a racetrck, it is full of potholes, speedbumps, ruts, whoop de doos. And thats why you need springs. And as I have mentioned already, springs keep the wheel in contact with the road surface for longer over rough surfaces.
    
    Lowering cars and putting huge alloys on the makes them worse handling, but it is all fashion, racetrack imitation. I went to a Bolton Wanderers footballers house, and he has a Range Rover Sport with 22" alloys and wafer thin tyres, How is that going to help off road capability?
    
    You're right though it does look like a young persons car, they learn later on
13. sexy-silver-saxo Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 north devon Posts: 433 210bhp golf gti, red 106 gti

    #13 29th December 2010, 17:58

    so why are all track cars lowered?yeh you can say because of airo dynamics and that .. but it obviously handles better aswell ... because you would get round a track alot quicker with crap airo dynamics than you would with crap handeling....look it up on google .. type in does lowering a saxo make the handeling better... theres bin a thread about this and nearly everyone said yes. so you think having your car lowered .. geting bushes strut braces etc does not make 1 bit off difference on handeling ?
14. Railroader Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Bolton Posts: 1068 Saxo 1.4i sx

    #14 29th December 2010, 18:20

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sexy-silver-saxo so why are all track cars lowered?yeh you can say because of airo dynamics and that .. but it obviously handles better aswell ... because you would get round a track alot quicker with crap airo dynamics than you would with crap handeling....look it up on google .. type in does lowering a saxo make the handeling better... theres bin a thread about this and nearly everyone said yes. so you think having your car lowered .. geting bushes strut braces etc does not make 1 bit off difference on handeling ?

    I think it was me who started that thread on Google, and I'm saying that it makes the handling worse, not that there was no difference! But you're not reading properly. I have said that whats best for the racetrack is not best for the road, and that lowering is all fashion and racetrack imitation ^ look upwards in the thread^
    
    Have a think why your car has suspension springs? Now think why reducing the travel of those springs makes anything better? How does lowering the body help? A bit of body roll wont make a car go round a corner any slower, how can it? Lowering the body will lower the center of gravity slightly so the car will be more responsive through a quick left right left chicane, useful for the track, but on the road it just eats into your suspension travel. Its all about compromise, that why Citroen spend billions on research. It is a characteristic of their cars that they do have high looking back ends, I kinda like that though
15. sexy-silver-saxo Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 north devon Posts: 433 210bhp golf gti, red 106 gti

    #15 29th December 2010, 18:55

    well personaly i think they look crap with high back ends. i live in north devon.. here there are alot of windy roads ... so on them roads my car should handdle better... well does handle better. ive had a saxo that hasnt bin lowered and 2 that has ... the lowered 1s stuck to the road a lot better.... plus with a car that isnt lowered u get body roll (well the car i had did anyway) ... witch pushes the car to the side more witch makes it more likely to slide out. i see were your coming from about comfort thought ... the bumps do piss me off at times. but its all about modifying your car .. if thats what your into.
16. user_35776 Established Member Joined: Jul 2009 Barnstaple Posts: 1666 Mk 6 zetec s

    #16 29th December 2010, 19:23

    Easily sorted
    Lower it and get good leather seats
    Handling and comfort
    
17. sexy-silver-saxo Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 north devon Posts: 433 210bhp golf gti, red 106 gti

    #17 29th December 2010, 19:31

    dan .. whos right me or him lol ...?
18. user_35776 Established Member Joined: Jul 2009 Barnstaple Posts: 1666 Mk 6 zetec s

    #18 29th December 2010, 19:49

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sexy-silver-saxo dan .. whos right me or him lol ...?

    Lol
    
    You are both correct because it depends on how you are styling/modifying it personally
    
    Some people uprate dampers and Springs without lowering it but like said look at f1 cars they are really low as they use aero dynamics to get them through corners
    
    Lowering is more of a look thing as most people don't uprate dampers just use springs but improves handling also,
    But personally IMO I will be lowering it powerflex bushes and strut braces all round to get the handling to it's best whilst enjoying comfort in my full leather's
    YEAH!!!!
19. sexy-silver-saxo Regular Poster Joined: Jun 2009 north devon Posts: 433 210bhp golf gti, red 106 gti

    #19 29th December 2010, 19:58

    always have to mention your leathers dont you lol