Lowering on standerd springs?

1. gartrell Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Leicester Posts: 1083 BMW 5er

   #1 4th March 2007, 19:33

   I was meant to be having my car lowerd on standerd springs next week by a mate, but the place is always busy and im getting impatient so...
   
   i was wondering would a 'normal' garage lower your car on its standerd springs or would they expect you to supply some lowering springs?
   
   i was going to have a go at messing with the torsion bar, easy, bad idea?
2. Richardson_VTS Established Member Joined: Mar 2006 Northallerton Posts: 1672 Mini Cooper S

   #2 4th March 2007, 21:19

   how do you lower your car on standard springs??
3. gartrell Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Leicester Posts: 1083 BMW 5er

   #3 4th March 2007, 21:26

   dunno if this is right, but i thought you take off the springs, undo them, compress them, tighten them and put them back on?
   
   then on the back, take out the torsion bar, adjust the arm, put it back?
   
   
   im no mechanic so if this is aload of bollocks, worth a try
4. Curran Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jul 2006 Posts: 5387

   #4 4th March 2007, 21:34

   you said it, its a load of bollocks.
   
   you cant lower a car on standard springs. you can use standard shocks but not springs.
   
   
   for the rear, you just need to adjust the torsion bar
5. Sean Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2005 St Andrews United Kingdom (Scotland) Posts: 7384 Green mk1 vtr/s and Focus zetec

   #5 4th March 2007, 21:34

   no you need to change the springs for shorter ones. the rear torsions bars can be adjusted without changing anything though.
6. gartrell Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Leicester Posts: 1083 BMW 5er

   #6 4th March 2007, 22:52

   yeah, just something i was told, had a look for springs, looks like itl be about 55 quid for some springs for the front, 45mil drop.
   
   Easy job to do or is it a job for a pro?
7. chrisni1986 Established Member Joined: May 2005 Northern Ireland Posts: 1020 EVO 5, 306XLD

   #7 4th March 2007, 22:57

   the only way to lower on standard springs is to cut coils off the springs, this is HIGHLY DANGEROUS!!! and should be avoided at all costs, as mentioned above a set of shorter lowering springs will do the job and a garage should be able to fit them for you for not alot of money!!
8. Robbo Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Sep 2005 M'Bro - Teesside Posts: 3060 401 bhp r33 skyline

   #8 4th March 2007, 23:10

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by chrisni1986 the only way to lower on standard springs is to cut coils off the springs, this is HIGHLY DANGEROUS!!! and should be avoided at all costs, as mentioned above a set of shorter lowering springs will do the job and a garage should be able to fit them for you for not alot of money!!

   i was about to mension that! it is highly dangerous! when they manufacture lowering springs the springs are made stiffer. obviously if you cut a bit out of standard springs then youve lost the stiffness!!!
   
   make sure you know how there going to lower it, i.e. buy some lowering springs!
9. DevilDamo Saxperience Addict Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 13761

   #9 5th March 2007, 16:26

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by 5ean_g dunno if this is right, but i thought you take off the springs, undo them, compress them, tighten them and put them back on? then on the back, take out the torsion bar, adjust the arm, put it back? im no mechanic so if this is aload of bollocks, worth a try

   I read that "top" guide on a cruuuze site once upon a time.
   
   Haven't tried it myself mind...
10. Foggy Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Coleford, Glos Posts: 1290 Saxo S1400 EVO II, Boosted Partner HDi

    #10 5th March 2007, 16:32

    If you lower just using springs, make sure you wire the springs top and bottom, as if you get the thing airborne, there is a possibility that as the shocks are std length that the spring could slip sideways.
    
    the rear as mentioned is on torsion bar adjustment.
11. gartrell Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Leicester Posts: 1083 BMW 5er

    #11 5th March 2007, 17:30

    just about to order the springs, will i notice much difference with a 45mil drop or should i go 60?
    
    vtr/vts/1.1 etc springs all the same?
12. jclaydon Established Member Joined: Mar 2005 Peterborough, United Kingdom (England) Posts: 1255 zetec s

    #12 5th March 2007, 17:34

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by 5ean_g just about to order the springs, will i notice much difference with a 45mil drop or should i go 60? vtr/vts/1.1 etc springs all the same?

    No theyre not all quite the same mate, due to the different engine and component weights of each car being different. Furio/VTR/S ones will be very similar though.
    
    Depends what your after with regards to lowering it looks or handling...
    
    You'll feel more bumps at 60mm, will be less comfortable. More understeer too.
    
    You WILL need some arch work lowering a 1.1 any ammount. - Unless you never have ANY Passengers.
13. gartrell Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Leicester Posts: 1083 BMW 5er

    #13 5th March 2007, 17:38

    Quote:

    You WILL need some arch work lowering a 1.1 any ammount. - Unless you never have ANY Passengers.

    really? what sort of arch work, grinding?
    
    i was hoping it was a simple straight swap over, as theres loads of travel at the min...
14. S34MER East Midlands Joined: Jun 2006 Derby Posts: 8305 Skoda Fabia VRS

    #14 5th March 2007, 17:51

    you don't deffo need archwork to lower on a 1.1!!!
15. Ben_C Frequent Poster Joined: Dec 2006 Wirral / Manc (Uni) Posts: 841 Mk1 Saxo 1.1i

    #15 5th March 2007, 21:31

    I lowered 50mm. All you gotta do is this:
    
    The back wheel, put your hand under the arch. Feel the lip? That's gotta be cut off/hammered back. Job done! I needed to do this in order for the wheels to sit under.
    
    However, even when lowering less it needs doing. Infact, I was on 15" non-lowered, an my wheels were rubbing against this lip with passengers in the back. So yeah, needs to be done, definately.
16. gartrell Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Leicester Posts: 1083 BMW 5er

    #16 7th March 2007, 22:29

    http://www.lowering-springs.co.uk/pr...cts_id=1250091
    
    im going to order these, seems cheap, it says they drop the car by 50mm before i order, does anyone else know any decent sites? good choice?
    
    
    
    i
17. Mattvtr Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2006 hinckley Posts: 2580

    #17 7th March 2007, 23:15

    dont get gmax,no better quality spring than standard,good budget ones spax apex
18. gartrell Established Member Joined: Feb 2007 Leicester Posts: 1083 BMW 5er

    #18 8th March 2007, 14:14

    budget ones are the same price for 45mm,p ill get them then
19. williamsvts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi

    #19 8th March 2007, 18:00

    standard springs are very good quality.
20. williamsvts Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Feb 2006 northumberland Posts: 7693 pulsar gtir, mk4 astra sxi

    #20 8th March 2007, 18:01

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Mattvtr dont get gmax,no better quality spring than standard,good budget ones spax apex

    apex are also shit. spax give you very bad understeer.