Lower my 1965 Volvo Amazon Estate

[kaptkaos]

My Amazon Estate has stock springs. I would like to lower the car at least one inch if not more.

I don't want to go to the expense of buying springs. I'd like to cut them. How many coils do I cut from the front and the rear to lower the car an inch to an inch and a half?

Thanks in advance.

[northy67]

depends on the gap between the coils/how many coils there are to start with

[kaptkaos]

The rear springs are easy to cut. The fronts are harder, as I will need to take apart the front. I'd rather not take the whole thing apart, cut, put it back and then have to take it apart again.

Any rule of thumb I can follow?

[topcat]

The standard springs are too soft to be cut really, they're very wallowy on cut springs.

[omega]

Any rule of thumb I can follow? [/quote]

yes


don't do it.

[speedy88]

Thanks Omega, very constructive

You'll basically have to use spring compressors, and the windy up type are bad enough with the struts off the car. I recommend you do take the struts out but if you've worked on cars before, you might be able to get away with a friend and some scaffold bar pulling the strut down just far enough so that you can compress the springs and cut them in-situ. I saw this done on a Volvo 940 for literally 10 minute lowering.

But I recommend you do it properly (struts out) if you've not worked on cars much like this before.

[omega]

Jan 11, 2013 19:54:13 GMT speedy88 said:

Thanks Omega, very constructive glad you think so,but before you rant

You'll basically have to use spring compressors, and the windy up type are bad enough with the struts off the car. I recommend you do take the struts out but if you've worked on cars before, you might be able to get away with a friend and some scaffold bar pulling the strut down just far enough so that you can compress the springs and cut them in-situ. I saw this done on a Volvo 940 for literally 10 minute lowering.

But I recommend you do it properly (struts out) if you've not worked on cars much like this before.

the op wasnt asking how to do the job he was asking about cutting springs!

[speedy88]

Omega... What are you on about dude?

Jan 10, 2013 19:50:00 GMT kaptkaos said:

I'd rather not take the whole thing apart, cut, put it back and then have to take it apart again.

My post was in answer to this. Please stop causing hassle in this poor guy's thread.

[kaptkaos]

Right. So I have one vote for don't. One vote for pull the strut/springs and one conditional vote for compress and cut in-situ.

Maybe I should rephrase:

1) How low should I take the car compared to stock ride height? I don't want it in the weeds, but I would like it lowered. I am thinking 1.5 or possibly 2 inches lower.

2) How many coils per unit drop should I reasonably expect? I.e. Cut one coil for each 3/4 inch of drop or something similar.

Thanks for you help, you too Omega. :-)

[topcat]

You don't need a spring compressor on the amazon! The springs are plenty long enough even when cut, but you will find them very soft and it will ride the front bump stops.

You will need to take out around 2 coils at the front and 2 to 3 at the back. I wouldn't cut this many to start with obviously in case your springs are already quite tired.

[Seth]

In my experience a car like an Amazon will drop a couple of inches without significantly affecting the driving experience. You'll still have to re-set the tracking and the exhaust can hang quite low on an Amazon too so that might need 'adjusting'

Jan 10, 2013 19:50:00 GMT kaptkaos said:

I'd rather not take the whole thing apart, cut, put it back and then have to take it apart again.

Sometimes that's just what you've got to do.

If you listen to what someone says on the internet, cut x number of coils off and then its too low for you, you're going to have to get new springs and do it all again anyway.

Speedy, an Amazon doesn't have struts.

[topcat]

.....so have you lowered it yet?

[kaptkaos]

I haven't lowered it yet. Body work starts tomorrow.

I hope to paint it next weekend, and then I will look at the springs. I tend to plan these things out a long time in advance.

I really appreciate the help. I am mostly worried about the fronts. The rears drop right out, and are easy to access and cut. The fronts will take some work to get right.

[Paul H]

IIRC, the front springs are still under compression even when the suspension is at full drop & on the bumpstops, so care is needed when dismantling. Depending on the year, your lower shock mounts are either one bolt or two bolts per side. Undo those, and also the top nut on the shock that holds it to the crossmember, and then the shock should be free to remove from below. The lower balljoint is probably the easiest part of the suspension to undo in order to get the spring out - with the rest of the car properly supported, support the wishbone with a jack, and then lower it gently once the balljoint is unbolted from the wishbone. Whilst doing this, make sure that the upright is secured properly, so that it doesn't put any strain on the brake hose. I have heard of some people bolting the balljoint to the top of the wishbone (rather than underneath), in order to gain some extra height reduction / restore some suspension travel, but cannot comment on whether that's a good idea or not from an engineering point of view.

Btw, many apologies if you already know the above. Also, if you haven't already seen it, this site may be of use:

www.volvoamazonpictures.se/

All the factory manuals, parts books etc can be downloaded from the documents section.

If you want a specific old volvo forum for detailed and experienced tech advice etc that's specific to these cars, then Turbobricks & the Brickboard in the States or the UK's Volvo Owners Club forum have loads of info. The latter also has quite a few active members from the USA & Canada who own Amazons.

Oh, and lastly, please post up a project / build thread

[kaptkaos]

Thanks Paul.

I am already on TB and BB. TB is much more focused on the later cars, and BB seems more geared towards restorations, so I figured I'd ask here. I will check out the UK VOC forum too.

As for build threads, I really suck at them. Every time I am in the middle of something, the wife comes out and says "why don't you take some pictures?" I will try, but can't promise :-)