Problems with lowering

[KAMENi]

i went to this guy and we were going to lower my saxo.
when we put the front springs, they fitted on the housing of the shocks, so we couldnt lower it.

we also had problems with the torsion bars so we've just put on the rally shocks.

the car is stiffer now, but we havent lowered it.
the guy said that i can get the same radius shocks (front), only shorter, not stiffer, and we can cut the housing to weld the screw on (screw of the springs, regulating springs)

[KAMENi]

the car is pretty stiff...
our roads are, a hole on every 5 meters, so it jumps around...


what can i do to lower the front suspension? should i do like the guy told me to?
any ideas?

[Scott]

i dont get what you mean mate, does the lowering spring fit fine but the shock absorber wont fit? If either are not fitting they must be the wrong ones

[KAMENi]

i got the springs a while ago, and yesterday i went to install them. the springs fit ok, but they dont fit all the way down, they only sit on the case of the shocks. i have to cut that case to make them sit all the way down.
did i explain it good this time?
they dont fit where the old ones were. they fit a few cm's higher.

anything?

[Scott]

So the springs fit in the bottom cup but are to tall to allow the Top mount to go back on?

Are you using spring compressors?

[KAMENi]

no, you got it all wrong.

springs fit around the shocks, but wont go all the way down, where old springs were. i have a wider shocks shielding, and the screw on the lower part of the spring cant go down... it sits on that shielding... container of the shock... dont know how to put it.

the guy i bought the whole suspension from said that it will fit right on, but it doesnt.

[Scott]

damn the language barriersmileys/smiley17.gif

ask the guy you bought it from?

[KAMENi]

i'll try to draw it and sent it to your e-mail...

[KAMENi]

drawing sent....


and one more thing...
does it damage the shocks if they are fully extended?

we tried to pull out the torsion bars, and didnt manage, so we simply put on the shocks, but they are almost all the way out. will it damage them? can i drive it this way?

[KAMENi]

oh yeah, and i asked the guy i bought it from.
he said that i must heat up the springs and compress them, or cut them, or change the shock "shielding".

he also said that rear shock will be damaged soon if i keep them like they are. the guy that installed them said that there is really no problem if they are fully extended, all the way out

[Dan]

i wouldnt advise cutting the springs! smileys/smiley5.gif

[KAMENi]

i know... i'm just saying what that guy suggested me...

i'd rather heat up the old ones and compress them... or simply buy new, same radius, only shorter for 5 cm's

[Scott]

replied to your mail, just be very careful heating springs up, once they have cooled you may find they have gone very brittle and will simply shatter at the first big compression of them smileys/smiley3.gif

[KAMENi]

scott, the screw is for height and dampening adjustment, both. if i move it up, the ride will be higher and stiffer. it's in it's lowest position now

i didnt think of removing the screw...

i'll call the spring makers and ask them about heating and compressing...

[KAMENi]

i'm afraid if i remove the screw, the ride will be too low, and the shock shielding will be hitting all the way up, on the screws holding it to the car...

the spring guys said that they'll do it (heat it and compress it) for 15 quid, and make new ones for 25 quid per piece.

now, i'm considering going back to default springs, only compress it for 4 cm's, and lower the back a little, with it's default torsion bars.
what do you guys say?
how much will i lower it if i move it by one notch (on the bars)?

[Scott]

notches is not the way to do it matey, if you do it the way im going to show you in the link ill PM you then you can dictacte exactly how much you lower it.

Why dont you sell this setup you have just now and use the money to buy lowering springs and save any more trouble?

[KAMENi]

thanx for the link.

did you mean simply to buy lowered springs?


what do you suggest, do i keep the default torsion bars, or put in new, wider, stronger ones?
i was thinking of lowering it on the default ones

[Scott]

if you can get thicker bars for cheap then go for it, but no real need especially if your only going for looks

[KAMENi]

i already have the bars, so i'll install them.

can you please tell me what did you mean with "...and use the money to buy lowering springs and save any more trouble? "? did you mean that i simply buy new shorter, stiffer springs or what?


sorry bout being annoying smileys/smiley9.gif

[KAMENi]

oh, and i'm going for more stability, then looks

[Scott]

ah well if your going for more stability then stiffer springs and shocks are the way to go, but the trouble your going to have to go to to fit your current setup, is it worth it? especially when you could buy springs and shocks that just go straight on

[KAMENi]

you're right...

i'll try to sell the front springs, or return them, and simply buy new, harder and lower ones, or simply "toast" the old ones