Lower that car!

[Shortcut]

Ok, some advise on lowering. I know some of you are past masters.

To drop the ZS a few inches do I need to get hold of shorter springs and dampers or do you just go crazee with the cutter, and if so how crazee. Don't want that ultra slammed look mebee just a tad (technical term) lower.

What wil this do to the suspension set up?

Cheers

[rmad]

If you want it done properly, get some springs made up. I don't have a probalem with cut springs though...usually because you can't get any low enough, and because of cost! How much you cut depends on the size/length/amount of coils and how low you want to go. If in doubt play it safe...you can cut more off later, but you can't put them back. On the front of my Cressida I took off 1.5 coils first and then put it all back together and drove it up the road (the springs need to 'settle') before deciding how much further to go.
In the good old days we cut 1/4 of the spring off...and then threw the 3/4 away! Proper low!

Good luck!

[Shortcut]

I guess there's no real way of telling how many coils equals how many inches down?

In the groups opnion what's worth doing and what's not. i.e. Is 1inch going to be even noticable. I don't want to end up on the floor like some of the 106's.

I also guess that a lower car means lower centre of gravity and less roll, but do less coils mean weaker sprins therefore softer ride.

Sorry to sound naif like but its all a bit arcane!

[rmad]

104ZS said:

I guess there's no real way of telling how many coils equals how many inches down?

In the groups opnion what's worth doing and what's not. i.e. Is 1inch going to be even noticable. I don't want to end up on the floor like some of the 106's.

I also guess that a lower car means lower centre of gravity and less roll, but do less coils mean weaker sprins therefore softer ride.

Sorry to sound naif like but its all a bit arcane!

Assuming that the springs aren't mounted at an extreme angle less coils should make for a stiffer ride...the theory is that it's the guage of the bar used to make the spring that makes the difference...less coils/same guage=stiffer spring. This is assuming the forces are acting from directly above...if the fulcrum points also have an effect on the spring you'll need to take that into consideration.
I can usually tell from looking at a spring (and the car it's on) a rough inches-per-coil rate.

ps. I don't actually know all of this 100%...if an engineer says I'm talking out of my bum, they're probably right!

[Shortcut]

thanks rmad

The front and rear struts etc are prety much vertical so that shouldn't be a problem.

i wil see if I can rustle up a pic of the springs for your estimable advice (Mr Haynes?).

Obviously I want to get it right! Just feel the need to do SOMETHING to the old girl and with funds at a mega low this seemed a cheapish activity!

[iRocco]

Found some I think:

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Yeah that looks about right. Cheers!

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Here's another view



What do you recon oh lowering guru?

[rmad]

At the front, I'd say one coil would give you a sensible drop (around an inch at a guess), the spring doesn't appear to be flattened at the ends which is handy. Cut the spring exactly level with the original end (ie. exactly 1 coil), I'd say at the rear one coil should do it...have a look at the spring seats to see if the spring will sit in either cup without flattening...if not you'll have to replicate the old end using heat to bend the spring (although I never do this! )
It wouldn't surprise me if you ended up taking a further coil out of the front later to even it up...depending how level the car sits in it's un-lowered state.

ps. ;D ;)Don't blame me if it all goes horribly wrong!

[wagoneer]

I bow to rmad's lowering prowess (if you ever saw his 2CV....) but will add that a good set of spring clamps makes all the difference. Halfords do some and Machine Mart do a set for £25 that has 3 clamps in it.

Good luck, go for it and post some pics post slam.

[Shortcut]

Spring clamps? What? Why?

Paret of the process or end result?

[rmad]

Part of the process...a spring is a very, very dangerous thing.

[mattblack]

rmad said:

Part of the process...a spring is a very, very dangerous thing.

104ZS, the above is VERY true.... if you've not dismantled a strut assembly before be very careful! Study the manual before you start. Also be aware that the spring compressers themselves can come flying off if not positioned correctly..... having one whistling past my head and bouncing of the Humber's windscreen is not something I would like to repeat Try to get some decent ones with a good deep 'hook' on them, they're less likely to slip off. (you'll see what I mean when you look at some cheapo ones). A few big cable ties round the compressers is also a good insurance policy.

As for the amount of lowering, with a macpherson strut the amount of (compressed) length you shorten the spring by will be the amount of lowering you get. It's also a good idea to use cable ties to make sure the ends of the spring can't come out of their seats when the suspension is fully unloaded, ie when the car is jacked up. (although this shouldn't be problem if you don't go to mad with the grinder ) .

[Shortcut]

yes they are. I,ve been reading!

Also been looking at some pukka lowered, tarmac springs from Spax in france. They don't seem to cost much and might offer a cleaner solution!

The whole spring springing thing is scarely. People seem to be loosing fingers here! May leave it to the garage!

[wagoneer]

Oops, I think we put 104zs off doing the job chaps. Honestly, it is OK but you just need to be so careful. Having said that, rmads Cressida went down real quick without any heart stopping moments. We left the springs on the struts to do it. That way there was no chance of a sproinging springing accident!

[Shortcut]

Ha

Perhaps we can bring tool to the show and put on a workshop demonstration!

;D

[rmad]

104ZS said:

Ha

Perhaps we can bring tool to the show and put on a workshop demonstration!

;D

'Retro-Rides Drop Shop LIVE'...that's an idea for a TV show!

Nice try 104!

[UtterPiffle]

wagoneer said:

We left the springs on the struts to do it. That way there was no chance of a sproinging springing accident!

Now I cringed when Simon told me how he (you?) cut those coils. If the vibration from the grinder caused one of the clamps to ping off, the unclamped bit would have moved up and pinched the grinder blade almost certainly shattering it. I've had grinder disks shatter before and its bl**dy scary! Please take your struts apart and release any tension before cutting. Ya gotta play safe kids!

[Shortcut]

i agree

There are two options. I am either going to get the struts etc dismantled by the garage and then go mad with the cutter or more probably get a set of proper lowered springs. Have had a look on a couple of fast ford forums and they go on about driving around with the springs clamped!! this sounds positively insane. If something broke... still the gut was a XR2 owner!!, maybe it would be good for the gene pool!

[Davenger]

Living proof that stupid people shouldn't breed ;D