Help with lowering springs!!!!

[Fraz]

might be an idea to also list the offset of the wheels...mines is 45

[sinbrad]

Wish I'd taken a photo at the garage once the springs had been fitted. There was no gap at all between the tyre and the arch and if I was honest, I'd say the arch actually came down past the top of the tyre! This is before the springs even get time to wear in! Don't know what my offset is but the wheels are wolfrace ikon plus 17"

[Phil69]

I'd seriously look at the springs again...or atleast check with whoever you got them from that you have been sent the right ones as that sounds far too low for a 40mm drop as I said before.

[sinbrad]

Well after an exhaustive telephone call to the guys I bought the springs off, the outcome was to send them back and they would check them out. They did contact their suppliers who checked all the numbers etc and insisted that everything should have matched. Whilst on the phone though the guy did mention something about the springs being the same for a few of the cali range. Obviously the weight of the v6 is quite a bit different from the 2lt so can't see how the springs could fit both and give the same 40mm lowering? Now looking at a set of 25mm lowering springs from AVO. Hopefully they will be a little better? Any advice is welcome?

[Rosh]

Sounds like you've purchased the wrong springs altogether.

Each calibra throughout the range have different kerb weights and weight distributions i.e. one might be heavier at the front/rear then the other, thus why the spring rates are different between the 8v, 16v, V6 and Turbo.

Jamex are a cheap brand and I don't think they are renowned for their performance with standard shocks.
If you can, spend a little extra on Eibachs and later on some Koni adjustables. You wont be disappointed.
As for the tyre size, you can get away with 215's using ET40. It will be very close the the front wheel arch liners though even with a 40mm drop.

[sinbrad]

Bought the springs as advertised on the net, can only go by what's advertised. Here is the link to see the details.

<a href="http://www.lkperformancestyling.co.uk/product.php?ctn=jamexloweringsprings&product=120151" target="_blank">Here</a>

As for the other springs will have a look and see what sort of prices they are.
Don't want to tempt fate again by going to 40mm if it ain't going to work. So will probably settle for 25mm in the time being. Should still look okay I guess?

[Tim2001]

If thats the ones you got then they should have been ok. As suggested above if you can try some eibachs. Also have you got uprated shocks as well as the smaller springs.

[Phil69]

<!--QuoteBegin-sinbrad+--><div class='quotetop'>(sinbrad)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Well after an exhaustive telephone call to the guys I bought the springs off, the outcome was to send them back and they would check them out. They did contact their suppliers who checked all the numbers etc and insisted that everything should have matched. Whilst on the phone though the guy did mention something about the springs being the same for a few of the cali range. Obviously the weight of the v6 is quite a bit different from the 2lt so can't see how the springs could fit both and give the same 40mm lowering? Now looking at a set of 25mm lowering springs from AVO. Hopefully they will be a little better? Any advice is welcome?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

Just to prove even more of a point to them then - the 30mm lowering springs which are on mine are for a 16V....I kept the same ones in even after putting the V6 in and still haven't had the problems your having depsite having larger wheels as well.

[sinbrad]

Not got uprated shocks, didn't think that would have mattered too much as the standard shocks are in very good nick only been fitted last year? Maybe I'm wrong though as not looked at this lowering until lately? Hence the request for advice [img]/smile.gif[/img]

[Rosh]

<!--QuoteBegin-phil69+--><div class='quotetop'>(phil69)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Just to prove even more of a point to them then - the 30mm lowering springs which are on mine are for a 16V....I kept the same ones in even after putting the V6 in and still haven't had the problems your having depsite having larger wheels as well.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

what point? the springs you have aren't designed to cater for this extra weight, thus you're stressing them past the orginally designed spring rate. I wouldn't be suprised if they fail sooner then you initially anticipated.

[Tits&ass]

lower your tyre profile - sorry if this isnt possible but thought worth ago! Or get adjustable shocks.

[sinbrad]

From the clearance that I had when I fitted the springs the wheels would have to be tyreless to allow a decent gap! Adjustable shocks probably would be somewhere to start but I think and to be quite honest I'll probably just stick with the standard setup. Seems this lowering thing is more hassle than it's worth at the moment?

[Phil69]

<!--QuoteBegin-Rosh+--><div class='quotetop'>(Rosh)</div><div class='quotemain'><!--QuoteEBegin-->what point? the springs you have aren't designed to cater for this extra weight, thus you're stressing them past the orginally designed spring rate. I wouldn't be suprised if they fail sooner then you initially anticipated.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

The point is mainly that I didn't want to buy another set of springs when there was no need.....the car has covered about 60,000 miles since the engine was fitted and they have been fine despite having lots of "play time" during that as well:icon_mrgr so I don't think failure has been a problem.

[Rosh]

In the short-term you will be fine, yes

[marko]

springs springs are different for the v6 to cope with the extra weight. this is how it should look with a 40 ml drop, your tyres shouldnt rub as long as the offset is right should be around et49