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Tuning decent lowering springs vs. budget full setup

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Tuning decent lowering springs vs. budget full setup

Colledge

Colledge

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i've gone back thru all the old threads about the cons of lowering springs but i couldnt find anything about the budget end of the dampeners/ springs route.

what is the general concensus on this kind of thing. is it worth the extra £90 on top of a decent set of eibach springs?

also it says 35-70mm drop... does that mean that the car will drop anywhere in that bracket or that the setup is adjustable between those heights, if so... then how does that differ from coilovers?

cheers.
 
Without going into brands it will be a case of getting what you pay for basically in terms of quality and performance in much the same way that tyres differ. If a shock is 35 - 70 mil drop that will be adjustable and determined by your personal taste.

Coilovers tend to be fully adjustable with greater drops and higher quality components.

Hope this helps,
Johnny
 
i'm not entirely sure on my budget, i've got money at the moment for a top of the range set of coilovers but i would rather not because a. i have to pay for insurance in december, b. i'm no racing driver and don't need fully adjustable suspension or even particularly improved handling (not cornering like a boat would be nice though) and c. i'm more after aesthetics than anything else.

my car has 46k miles on and i'm pretty sure they'll be the original shocks. if lowering springs will mean that i'll only get another couple of k's out of the shocks then it would make sense to get the full setup right? rather than spending money on a set of shocks further down the line.
 

If it's any help I have just put a set of Pi springs on my 3dr JTD mainly because I was under the impression that one had snapped and it was the cheap option of getting new springs all-round.
I have to report that the ride is as comfortable as previous albeit a little firmer but the cornering is infinitely better. As far as your shock absorbers go I would say that you should have no worries for another 40/50k.

Just be mind-full of all those traffic humps and rough roads that can cause damage underneath (sump/exhaust:)

ps. Did I mention it also looks better!

 
Last edited:
Colledge said:
i'm more after aesthetics than anything else.
Click to expand...
In that case why not go for Eibach -30mm and not bother about dampers.

The issue with dampers is not so much that they'll wear out quicker (which they will) but that they simply don't function properly when the wrong springs are fitted. The lower the drop then the bigger the problem the suspension will have in keeping the tyres in contact with road surface (which means you're be taking corners at the limit slower and NOT faster).

30mm drop is minimal though and many report good results with Eibach (y)
 
Depending on what engine you have determines which springs you should get really.

1.2/1.4 and 1.6 you should get sportlines and anything above i think you should get the 30mm ones. If neither, coilovers ;)
 
thanks for the suggestions. I think i'm going to just go for the eibach springs then. mostly because i have realised that the FK setup isn't adjustable height, by 30-75mm drop it means that the shocks are capable of taking springs which allow that kind of drop.... misleading.
 
Are you going for Eibach sportline springs then with the 45mil front/30mil rear drop? Can you post back on how they handle?

I want to upgrade my suspension but more because it's far too soft for my liking but personally I think lower springs on the stock dampers will just make things worse and I'd be worried about clearance.
 
I looked into doing this on my 1.6. Basically the non main branded coilovers were rubish. To do it properly you looking in excess of £800 fitted. I sold my car accepted the loss of my modifications and bought a Schumacher with the GP upgrade kit which is far superior to anything out there.
 
Just get the sportlines dude, its an even 40mm drop all around and the dampers will be able to take it dont worry. Make sure you post some before and after pics!!!
 
Does anyone know if Eibach still do the Springs and Dampers kit? I can't seem to find it...

I still think personally you should use the whole kit as a pose to just the springs. I mean, after all, the original dampers were made to take the OEM springs and not any aftermarket ones. So in time, they aren't going to like it much, so cut out the later life issues and go for the full upgrade.
 
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