General 40mm down on TA Technix Shocks and Lo Suspension Springs

[u33db]

Lowered my 1.2 8v daily today to try and correct the silly high ride height.

I went with 40mm "Lo Suspension" springs off ebay and 4 TA-Technix shortened shock absorbers (in yellow!)

Springs were £80 and the the 4 shocks where £122 so a bit of a bargain compared to standard stuff from eurcarparts!

Word of warning about the front shocks though; the thread for the top mount is a different pitch from standard...this means that you cant reuse the topmost bolt above the top hat plate from the standard shocks. Luckily the pitch is the same size as the front shock-to-hub bolts so i had 2 off those lying about from my Corsa i could use instead. Oh, and the passengers side shock is also missing the bracket for the brake sensor cable...unsure if thats model specific??...but no worries as you can just cable tie this wire up somewhere out of the way.

Anyway I got the front shocks, front springs and rear spring fitted today...will do the rear shocks another time to sort my leaking standard ones.

This is how its sitting though...I didn't want it silly low so i think it looks pretty good for 40mm...opinions?

Front may settle a little bit and the back may come up a bit once the new rear shocks go on...handles pretty good now as well..little to no body roll and still a comfortable ride.

 

[u33db]

FYI - link to shocks on ebay;

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FIAT-PUNTO-D-MK3-type-199-2x-FRONT-2x-REAR-SPORT-GAS-SHOCK-LOWERING-SHOCKS/162590784970?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649

 

[Ben D]

Looks real low at the back, no sign of any rubbing?

Front doesn't look that low just now, mine settle out and came down a wee bit after a couple of drives.

Cheers

Ben

 

[u33db]

Yeah the pictures aren't great TBH due to the sun;

No rubbing at the back...the arch is probably 2-2.5 cm above the tyre but i'm on the skinny 175 15" tyres anyway so no issue there.

I think the back looks about right...but I almost wish i'd opted for the 60mm springs for the front though as it'd have given it more of a rake like your one you posted up. Right now the sills are level with the ground but as you say it may sink a bit more...hopefully....if not I might just get the 60mm springs and swap the fronts out next month!

Just got a few more things to do to the car anyway...cambelt to swap out and I think my sump has gone porus so i'll need to swap that out as i'm dripping all over driveway ATM...Corsa is now a Friday car so this will keep me amused during the week!

 

[Ben D]

Not sure where about in Aberdeenshire you are but I'd not want it any lower the way the roads are near me. Lower would probably mean stiffer too and I'd not want mine any harder granted I'm on 17's with xl 45 profile tyres. My 8v is definitely more comfortable.

You doing the belt yourself?

Cheers

Ben

 

[u33db]

I'm out Inverurie way.

Your t-jet sounds similar to my Corsa in terms of ride height i guess - this is mine also on 215/45/17s and apparently down 40mm on springs and Bilstein B8's (though probably more like 60mm + if i was using the Punto springs as the baseline!);



I'll be doing the belt myself - i've got the belt/tensioner and waterpump sitting here and have coughed up for the locking tool kit...aiming to get it done in a few weeks i think.

I did the Corsa's one 2 years ago so hopefully the Punto is a bit easier...though probably not considering all the bits on the locking tool kit...The Corsa locking kit was literally just a small bit of plastic to lock the 2 cams!

 

[Ben D]

I'm inverurie also, corsa looks to have more clearance at the front

Used West high Street garage for the T-Jet belt, they hired in the locking tool, can't remember how much it was but was more than reasonable.

Cheers

Ben

 

[u33db]

Really?

Weird - what are the chances of that!

I'm up Gordon Road area - i'll keep my eyes peeled for either of your cars.

 

[Ben D]

Figured it was up that way from the houses, plenty of new ones around here but no others quite like that. I'm other side of the sports centre near Aberdeenshire Council. Black 06 plate active sport (usually dirty) and red 59 plate T-Jet (never dirty)

 

[u33db]

Likewise, i thought you'd be in that area because of the houses.

There's actually another guy on Corsa forums with a black SRI around your way which you may have seen...its over 700hp apparently!

Anyway these springs haven't settled much more...i think i might order the 60mm and swap the fronts out now

 

[u33db]

Back shocks fitted today.

One of the originals that i took off was well knackered - it wouldn't even expand out on its own and had a hole in it so you could see the oil bubbling out!

 

[u33db]

As mentioned i wasn't entirely happy with the way the 40mm springs were sitting so have now swpped them out for 55mm springs today.

I think they'll settle a little bit more in a few days but that 15mm extra makes the difference imo;

 

[u33db]

I've had creaking from the car ever since doing all this work as the top mounts had gone.

Today i replaced them but while i was there i also chopped half a coil of each of the front springs, repainted them and stuck them back on.

Its dropped it another 1/2 cm now and the ride height is identical to my Corsa so looks pretty good! I also fitted 195/60/15 tyres last week so the arches are filled nicely.

I know many people won't approve of doing this but at the end of the day i wasn't paying out for coilovers! The springs are still seated tight inside the shock (they are shortened shocks - now way would i have done this on standard onces) so won't fall out or anything/fail an MOT.

Could probably have take a whole coil out TBH.

Pics below for your pleasure;