Could i get away with just springs?

[Jaymo8]

hey i'm debating on lowering my 1.1 about 40-50mm just to get it looking nicer.
Would i be able to get away with buying a set of spring and using the original dampers or will i need to buy new ones?

cheers

[Alexywhite]

Yes you could just "Get away with it". But the normal dampers that are on your car were not designed to operate with after-market springs.

The phrase, "if your going to do something, do it properly" SPRINGS to mind

[Alexywhite]

You're*

[Jaymo8]

Fair enough. would it do alot of damage to the original dampers and or car if i did?

[LSOfreak]

i used 35mm eibach springs with standard dampers and it handled/felt fine etc. when i took the dampers out to have a look at them they were quite fooked a year and a half on. you can get away with it if your on a budget, just be prepared you could sacrifice handling/ride comfort and your damper life. people usually say any more than 40mm and get a full kit. general rule i stick to tbh

[Jaymo8]

i used 35mm eibach springs with standard dampers and it handled/felt fine etc. when i took the dampers out to have a look at them they were quite fooked a year and a half on. you can get away with it if your on a budget, just be prepared you could sacrifice handling/ride comfort and your damper life. people usually say any more than 40mm and get a full kit. general rule i stick to tbh

sweet, cheers man!. well i doubt my car will last more the 2 years. so i'm gunna get a VTR next year and scrap me 1.1, take all the mods off and transfer it. then i will buy proper dampers for it :)

[hard_corejoeboy]

Im down -40mm and mine seems fine certainly handles better than before. But would deffo be better with aftermarket one's. Shame i spent the money on the engine!

[Jaymo8]

Im down -40mm and mine seems fine certainly handles better than before. But would deffo be better with aftermarket one's. Shame i spent the money on the engine!

sweet. Have you had any problems with it after you lowered it?

[dannyboy2005]

i lowered my car around 40mm on standard dampers

Very firm ride, handled well too.

No damage as such as i took it steady over pot holes and speed bumps.

[Jaymo8]

i lowered my car around 40mm on standard dampers

Very firm ride, handled well too.

No damage as such as i took it steady over pot holes and speed bumps.

Sweet. This is easing my nerves of doing it now (Y) I'm tempted to buy the springs for my sax if she passes her MOT this month as a little present. haha!

[Saaamon]

Keep it at 40mm and you'll be fine, but if your shocks are already knackered then it will really show up.

[Jaymo8]

Keep it at 40mm and you'll be fine, but if your shocks are already knackered then it will really show up.

Sweet. cheers man. this may sound stupid, but how would i know if they're knackered?

[Saaamon]

Jack the front wheels up, then check for play in the shock. You'll see the stantion moving where it goes in to the body of the shock absorber if its worn, tiny bit is ok though. Then more commonly will be oil leaking from the shock, there wont be much, but if its in good condition then it will be completely dry. If they have been leaking for sometime the oil will have dried up, so look on the body of the shock to see if it looks stained with oil. Despite this though i lowered my car knowing the shocks were worn and its been ok but i knew it was never going to stay on those shocks for to long so i really wouldn't worry yourself , plenty of people lower just with springs all the time.

*It wasn't a silly question at all fella.

[Jaymo8]

Jack the front wheels up, then check for play in the shock. You'll see the stantion moving where it goes in to the body of the shock absorber if its worn, tiny bit is ok though. Then more commonly will be oil leaking from the shock, there wont be much, but if its in good condition then it will be completely dry. If they have been leaking for sometime the oil will have dried up, so look on the body of the shock to see if it looks stained with oil. Despite this though i lowered my car knowing the shocks were worn and its been ok but i knew it was never going to stay on those shocks for to long so i really wouldn't worry yourself , plenty of people lower just with springs all the time.

*It wasn't a silly question at all fella.

Cheers man! really helped clear my head on that one! hopefully me and my cousin will lower her if she passes the MOT. i'll chuck some pics of it up on my progress thread below to keep you updated. cheers fella.

[hard_corejoeboy]

I think i may have damaged mine when i had 4 people in the car and took it over the mother of all speed bumps in my camp though. So just be careful when your heavily laden over bumps.

[gsavill90]

I found when i got mine lowered, the front felt alright on standard dampers, but the back end felt really twitchy.

I think it'd be worthwhile just fitting uprated rear dampers, but keep the standard front dampers.

[Jaymo8]

I found when i got mine lowered, the front felt alright on standard dampers, but the back end felt really twitchy.

I think it'd be worthwhile just fitting uprated rear dampers, but keep the standard front dampers.

sweet. well im only gunna lower the front. my rear is fairly low as it is (due to the lovely sub and false floor) haha

[Mark51]

you will be fine, imo though if your getting a VTR then id save your money and wait

[Jaymo8]

you will be fine, imo though if your getting a VTR then id save your money and wait

Well i wont be getting the VTR for another year and abit. so just going to lower this cheaply until i get the VTR then buy coilovers or proper dampers and keep the springs.

[PETE-VTR]

I found when i got mine lowered, the front felt alright on standard dampers, but the back end felt really twitchy.

I think it'd be worthwhile just fitting uprated rear dampers, but keep the standard front dampers.


i agree 100%, i lowered the rear on apexi dampers and the fronts on brand new OE bilstein dampers and spax 40mm

handles really well, but if your after a really firm ride uprate all dampers.

and a note on the spax springs expect spring chatter with these

[Jaymo8]

i agree 100%, i lowered the rear on apexi dampers and the fronts on brand new OE bilstein dampers and spax 40mm

handles really well, but if your after a really firm ride uprate all dampers.

and a note on the spax springs expect spring chatter with these

What you mean by spring chatter mate? :S :S

[Lewis]

Im down 70mm at the back (It was suppost to be 50) with standard dampers and no trouble yet 4 months on but i know for a fact that if i carry on this low it will be dead in a couple of months

[Jaymo8]

Im down 70mm at the back (It was suppost to be 50) with standard dampers and no trouble yet 4 months on but i know for a fact that if i carry on this low it will be dead in a couple of months

sweet! bet it looks a nice euro slag that low ;) cheers mate. i doubt i will go that low without dampers. i'll keep mine at 40mm for now on the cheap, get a VTR in a year and make it a euro slag i think.