suspension

kirsty_2003 · Post by **kirsty_2003** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 12:57 pm

i want to lower my suspension but i havent got a clue how to do it......

ideally like i wudnt mind being able to put 16inch alloys on the car eventually but want to lower the suspension so it looks good with my 14s

im not buying alloys yet coz mine are ok and im spending the money on other stuff!

does anyone know what the cheapest way of doing it is? or just how much it will cost me?

hope it makes sense... kinda in a rush to go to work
soz

much apprieciated

Kirsty

xxx

CHESH740R · Post by **CHESH740R** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 6:27 pm

Cheapest way my dear, is to cut a coil or two of your original springs.

But otherwise just buy some lowering springs which cost around the ton mark.

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 6:30 pm

I am lowing mine tomorrow,

Lowering springs cost me Â£50 Brand New

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 8:07 pm

Don't get to put the new engine in on the same day!

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 11:20 pm

I've lowered an Ibiza, and a Panda but i'm not sure about the 480, it feels sorted already. How do all you lowered people get out of your cars? i feel like i'm lieing down when i get out of my standard height turbo!

Springs should be simple enough to fit, just a jack up job at the back. You need spring compressors for the front though. No more than an evening's work. Shortened piston rod dampers are always nice however.

- BTW my friends refer to my car as the "Delorian" can't beat 80's charm.

Ben Harris · Post by **Ben Harris** » Thu Apr 08, 2004 11:41 pm

JohnTurbo wrote:How do all you lowered people get out of your cars? i feel like i'm lieing down when i get out of my standard height turbo!

I fall out of mine!

I've also noticed that the seats in my lowered 480 are not as thickly cushioned as they are in my non-lowered one (knee although just as comfortable), which makes it so I'm sitting even lower to the ground than normal! It's a good job I'm not short, as otherwise I might not be able to see out the window!

Ben.

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 6:17 am

Just lowered my Blue ES

(Thanks MartinHolmesUK foryour help

)
Haven't tested extensively, but it seems to be pretty damn nice to drive. Not too hard a ride and the steering feels more direct without being twitchy. Will go and test further

martinholmesuk · Post by **martinholmesuk** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:42 am

Baffler · Post by **Baffler** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 9:56 am

Mat,

Â£50 for brand new lowering springs? Where did you get them and what brand are they?

Can some one tell me if the ES set up is different to the Turbo set up. Is there a yellow type spring for the Turbo...?

kirsty_2003 · Post by **kirsty_2003** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:04 am

dont you find that the suspension is way too soft on your car? i want to lower the car and harden the suspension at the same time.....

jakob · Post by **jakob** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:14 am

Yeah, i wonder that too. Can you use the original shocks with a 35mm lowering kit? Or do i have to buy harder shocks aswell?

MatBat · Post by **MatBat** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 10:36 am

I am still running mine on standard shocks, New shocks wouldn't hurt, and when funds permit that's what I'll do. My springs are made by a dutch company (AKTIV) and are exactly the same as the Pi springs in terms of stiffness and Height. They were advertised on eBay, but I bought them BIN. Here is the chaps email:

jr@knsautomotive.co.uk

His name is John Robson

Hope this gets more lowered 480's out there

Ben Harris · Post by **Ben Harris** » Sat Apr 10, 2004 11:11 am

I'm also running standard shocks with mine too. They were worn out anyway, so I replaced them at the same time and fitted Bilsteins, which are slightly uprated (stiffness), from EuroCarParts. My other 480 now needs its shocks replaced too. I'm not going to replace the springs, but will be fitting more Bilsteins onto it.

-Well done Mat and MH! I was surprised to find it wasn't as difficult as I expected it to be! I had my suspension in pieces yesterday too, as I was replacing the top and lower bearings for the shocks.

Ben.

kirsty_2003 · Post by **kirsty_2003** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 8:21 am

ok i dont understand any of that

lol

Ben Harris · Post by **Ben Harris** » Mon Apr 12, 2004 12:42 pm

kirsty_2003 wrote:dont you find that the suspension is way too soft on your car? i want to lower the car and harden the suspension at the same time.....

In that case, it's possible that you shock absorbers are just worn out and need replacing (about Â£120 for parts from the place I suggested above). This on it's own should make the ride much stiffer. Your boyfriend should be able to tell you if they're worn, if he's a mechanic.

Ben.