Hi there my car is a 20vt with standard suspension,can i put a set of lowering springs on standard shocks,if so how much and what make to recomend Thanks.

Hi Sully. Yes you can put lowering springs on standard shocks. I'd recommend Eibach springs which can be bought new for about 200 quid.

Hi,

Sorry to rail road this thread....but i've got a similar question to ask.

I've just had 18" alloys fitted and after researching the site I'm looking to replace the standard springs with Eibachs (and eventuallty the dampners with Blisteins) to lower the car onto the 18's slightly....and make me coupe look...well awesome.

But before ordering......I just want to be sure that the coupe won't bottom out/hit the arches...and won't effect the turning circle even more(???) with this set up.

Also does anyone know the approx cost of getting the springs fitted?.....

Sorry.... I also realise that this thread should also probably be posted under the handling section. But reckon me Sully should get away with this as newbies

Many thanks

Standard shocks and lowered eibach springs, do the job (of lowering the car) but in my opinion cock the ride quality up. But perhaps I am too old. On mine it was rock hard and as I have lots of speed bumps where I live it want long before the dash started squeaking etc. I have always loved driving the coupe, and I ended up getting very fed up with it after 6 months and we often opted to take the focus as it was a more pleasant if somewhat slower place to be down the country roads...which is just wrong.

That said, I am the wrong side of 35 and perhaps getting to old.... I once had one of the most highly tuned coupe's in the UK, now i am smitten with a bog standard one with minor engine mods up to 250 bhp.

In MY opinion it would be better to wait till you can afford to also buy some bilstein B6 shocks that have a shorter piston to accommodate lowered springs, so you get the the extra handling with out the crashy ride as the pistons ar not always squashed down onto the high load capacity even at stand still.

In the same way - the shocks have to be removed to fit the springs so by doing the two jobs at different times it will be more expensive.

Probably not the advice you wanted!

my opinion
forget the shock's just get some eibach lowering springs!
its way cheaper and I found the shocks make it more crashy and eibachs dont spoil the ride its a bit bumper and harder but to be expected in a performance car.

It's a shame the damper lower spring seat can't be lowered instead of fitting a shorter spring, that way you'd have a lower car with standard ride comfort.

The other way of course is spend £2K and buy a coilover with a set of almost standard rate springs

B8's will do that.

B16's however are still not 2K, and are certainly not standard setups!

They have 9 different comfort settings you can adjust while on the car for one thing!

B8's can't lower the spring platform, it's almost sitting on top of the wheel as it is!, you may get a cm lower but not the 3 or more cm's needed to make it look lowered.

Do they do a B16 for the coupe ?

Nope - no B16's for the coop

I understand the shortened piston inside the damper to cope with a lowered spring, but is the damper body actually shorter?
I've fitted billys with standard springs and it certainly not noticed it being any lower.

For 2 years I was driving what I thought was a lowered Coupe - when one of the front springs broke and both had to replaced, it turned out they were actually standard springs that were worn out.

Now with the fronts replaced my front looks high and the rear looks lowered.

I want to have my Coupe as low as possible, front and back.

What is the best, cheapest way to achieve this?

Also, will my ''intentionally lowered'' Coupe look as low as it did when it was ''worn out springs lowered'' ? I don't want to waste time and money just to have it not that much lower than what it is now.

Thanks.

cheapest way - lowering springs, probably H&R

Just not the best way

Steve why would this not be the best way?

because I am too old, in MY opinion which probably is in the minority it ruins the ride quality but does feel sharper, if a bit unrefined. Many would disagree...I will wind my neck in..

Ride height will be governed by the springs. The car sits on the springs, the dampers... well damp

Also which billies? before or B8?

With lowering + Bilsteins, don't forget to cut the bumpstops as the Bilstein cylinders are longer and the front bumpstops actually rest on the dampers.. Making the ride VERY firm indeed.

I've bought a set of Apex Loweting springs and have a set of 18's to fit next week.

I'm going to see how they look without fitting the springs first and also check the ride quality.

quick question though. Does the make of the lowering spring make a big difference on the ride quality? I know the damper make will (i.e. Bilsteins)......

well I guess so. Novitec were evil, eibachs better

Novitec lower by 40mm so will be stiffer than the 30mm lowering Eibachs.

I read mixed reviews on Apex springs

Yes I have a set of Apex springs at hone, so would welcome your thoughts on them once fitted tonyd..

I have had apex and eibachs recomend them both.

Eibachs slightly SLIGHTLY better ride
Apex seem to perform better strangely
Apex did sqeek for about 3 months on the front spring dont know why but doesn't do it anymore.
Eibachs used to scrub with my 18s on going over bumps
Apex never have

I think they are very similar but the Eibachs are progresivly wound which will explain the slight extra comfort.

This is how i found them both fitted as new but eibachs on my old 20vt and Apex on my current 20vt which may be a big factor in the diffrence's as not fitted to exactly the same car.

hmmmm. Well i'll report back. May not be for a while though. Need to find the time to fit them.

I have had Billies + Eibachs for 6 years now and last week now changed to FCSS springs offered in the Group Buy.

Found the ride crashy with lowered Eibachs, but much improved handling. FCSS springs are actually 35mm and ride is more comfortable.

In any case lowering the coop has caused other issues such as speed bumps scraping my exhaust, which eventually broke my exhaust backbox, and more recently cracked my springs. Sports springs such as Eibach are set to a specific torsion setting, and what speedbumps do is compress them beyond the expected ratio; which in my case was bad news.

It all depends where you live, how many potholes, speedbumps you will go over on a regular basis.

Positive side is looks fab, much better handling (with the bille dampers) and you can live with the ride.

A better setup would involve OSRAV dampers.

Sorry Nazo but I disagree, a spring is designed to operate much further than the travel given by the damper.
A speed bump doesn't make your suspension travel any further than it's designed to do.

Which springs have cracked, Eibach or FCSS ?

Eibachs have cracked.

Depends on how you drive over the speed bumps, and on occasions I didnt slow right down. Excessive strain and wear will reduce the operating life-cycle of any product.

I have to pass over at least 6 speed bumps to work and 6 more on exit. The bumps are quite high, as it is a business park. Furthermore potholes have caused no end of pain. Surprised my wheels havent buckled.

The damage effected ball joints, top mounts, bushes and put a lot of play in the engine area. Now shes got all new suspension bit and pieces, I plan to drive my other car to work.