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Mar 30, 2016 13:51:57 GMT
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Hi All
As someone who knows nothing about cars but wants the coolest car on the block without spending too much money it would be good to get some helpful advice on the "how" of lowering your car.
As far as I'm aware the cheapest and most haphazard way to lower a car is to cut the springs. Is it that easy? Do i simply take the spring out and cut the same amount off each one?
Whats the next best/cheapest way to do this? What products are good/bad/recommended?
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melle
South West
It'll come out in the wash.
Posts: 1,984
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Mar 30, 2016 14:14:05 GMT
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Deflating the tyres drops your car 3", much easier than cutting the springs.
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www.saabv4.com'70 Saab 96 V4 "The Devil's Own V4" '77 Saab 95 V4 van conversion project '88 Saab 900i 8V
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gazz81
Part of things
Posts: 842
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Mar 30, 2016 16:10:09 GMT
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Mar 30, 2016 16:20:21 GMT
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Very useful link ^^^^^^^^^^^^
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1953 Minor (Long term project) PT Cruiser
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rodney
Posted a lot
https://www.facebook.com/RD-vehicle-transport-and-recovery-services-525622614268010/
Posts: 1,677
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Mar 30, 2016 21:08:44 GMT
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not all can be cut so to save face if it goes wrong most cars have cheap lowering kits availble on ebay , far better option
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facebook: rodney dean / rd transport
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My local mot station fails anything on cut springs! Worth thinking about!
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"To Big block or not to Big block?" Thats the question!
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,256
Club RR Member Number: 160
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My local mot station fails anything on cut springs! Worth thinking about! Well they shouldn't. So that's worth thinking about too.
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ferny
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 984
Club RR Member Number: 13
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My local mot station fails anything on cut springs! Worth thinking about! Well they shouldn't. So that's worth thinking about too. If it looks bodged then they can. Depends slightly on interpretation, mind.
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,256
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Mar 31, 2016 12:30:42 GMT
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A spring intentionally shortened is not a RFR. As mentioned in the special notes or thereabouts. Let's not start that argument again. They are an MOT test pass under the MOT guidelines provided they meet the MOT test guidelines.
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Mar 31, 2016 12:35:14 GMT
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Let's not start that argument again. Next idea for RR podcast "are cut springs legal and will I kill nuns holding kittens doing it"
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Mar 31, 2016 13:21:53 GMT
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Let's not start that argument again. Next idea for RR podcast "are cut springs legal and will I kill nuns holding kittens doing it" Shortest podcast ever .... "Hi, No."
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Mar 31, 2016 17:34:15 GMT
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My local mot station fails anything on cut springs! Worth thinking about! He can only fail them if they are badly cut or don't seat/ stay seated he can not fail them just because they have been cut. edited to add 'read the rest of the post before commenting'
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Last Edit: Mar 31, 2016 17:36:36 GMT by Deleted
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,256
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Mar 31, 2016 17:44:16 GMT
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Next idea for RR podcast "are cut springs legal and will I kill nuns holding kittens doing it" Shortest podcast ever .... "Hi, No." You mean 'yes and no', But enough of that.
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Mar 31, 2016 17:49:36 GMT
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Sorry I'm not starting a argument but many people consider them a bodge [ this is to the o.p ] Your car may be lower but drive worse . Its not going to have as much damping .
Just to balance it up against the nuns and kittens usual stuff.
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Mar 31, 2016 18:02:54 GMT
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If you know nothing about cars then cutting springs is not really the first thing you should be considering doing, yes it can be done but do you know how to safely remove the springs from the shocks using a cheapy (I assume you won't be spending hundreds on decent kit) spring compressors?
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Mar 31, 2016 18:27:23 GMT
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Sorry I'm not starting a argument but many people consider them a bodge [ this is to the o.p ] Your car may be lower but drive worse . Its not going to have as much damping . Just to balance it up against the nuns and kittens usual stuff. My Sunny drove significantly better after the springs were cut. Only true up to a point, go too far and your lack of dampening becomes an issue. It isn't simply a case of shorter = bad ride. It is almost as if a good quality guide would be useful.
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Mar 31, 2016 18:40:27 GMT
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Thats my point exactly- some people recommend it on here straight away - its not as simple as just saying ' yeh go for it , anyone who questions it thinks nuns and kittens will die ' as alot of people do .
The context is the OP has made many posts and himself has said he is a complete novice and doesnt understand much - is it a good idea to say this ? I know some people on here will lop one coil off , then another when its not low enough - it must ride like a bag of dirt so i think it should be taken into account what they want to do and what they can realistically achieve for free without endangering themselves or others .
Thats all , not trying to start a fight , i just think a bit more responsability and help could be shown and less p~~~ taking with the nuns and kittens tired lines .
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b3nson
Part of things
Posts: 886
Club RR Member Number: 22
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Mar 31, 2016 20:11:13 GMT
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Also worth noting, ebay lowering springs are just as likely to ruin the ride of a car, albeit possibly safer than cut springs.
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'99 Fiat Coupe 20V Turbo '08 Panda 100HP
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Mar 31, 2016 20:36:05 GMT
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Also worth noting, ebay lowering springs are just as likely to ruin the ride of a car, albeit possibly safer than cut springs. Lowering springs have the same short comings as chopped springs in most cases. Go any lower than about 40mm/1.5ish coils and your gonna have to use shorter shocks. Just slapping 80mm springs on a car will give you the same issues as chopping too much off your standard springs. That said there are some types of springs that you can't chopped. Like where both ends of the spring taper in so chopping a coil off wouldn't allow them to sit in the cup as the spring would be too big. As with everything like this you need to use a bit of common sense, but as long as you do it'll be fine. Everything in moderation. I've chopped the springs on many cars and they have always drove better afterwards, but then I've never gone full retard and chopped the springs in half
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Rich
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,256
Club RR Member Number: 160
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Mar 31, 2016 21:14:06 GMT
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Thats my point exactly- some people recommend it on here straight away - its not as simple as just saying ' yeh go for it , anyone who questions it thinks nuns and kittens will die ' as alot of people do . The context is the OP has made many posts and himself has said he is a complete novice and doesnt understand much - is it a good idea to say this ? I know some people on here will lop one coil off , then another when its not low enough - it must ride like a bag of dirt so i think it should be taken into account what they want to do and what they can realistically achieve for free without endangering themselves or others . Thats all , not trying to start a fight , i just think a bit more responsability and help could be shown and less p~~~ taking with the nuns and kittens tired lines . I can see you aren't trying to pick a fight but my Hyundai XG30 rode as well as a modern 'M' level BMW with cut springs which I thought was perfectly acceptable. So I wouldn't go as far as to say its a total given that it trashes ride quality, echoing what Hotwire said. My Transporter rode like poop. But I also lowered it over 3" on stock shocks. Totally understandable. But its not ALWAYS safe to assume it ruins the dynamic
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