View Full Version : Lowering the pikey way...tech opinions?
Got some 55mm shocks and springs on route for the runabout RT.
It was the best drop i could get without spending silly money HOWEVER (and i know this isn't recommended), can i chop the springs in a safe manner to drop it a bit more?
I'd only be taking 1/4 to 1/2 a coil out and only have an angle grinder tool wise.
Doable?
Advice please... :)
do it, bit pikey but in the end it'll just knacker ur shocks quicker thats all
Why do you want it scraping on the floor and an MOT failable car (spring chopping is illegal I believe)?
Want it lower... just add some more weight :wink:
Matthew
Well I don't want it completely scrapping the floor, just lower than an RT setup would normally go.
16v 55mm ride height is what i'd ideally like so we're talking a max of 1/0.5 of a coil of them...nothing silly/nothing thats going to cause them to rattle (as i'll have shortened shocks too). I'm fairly certain that come MOT time its not going to be noticeable as it'd be new springs chopped then the bear metal painted over.
Just want to know a safe way...i read one site that if you're going to do it, you have to bathe the rest of the spring in water while cutting to stop them heating to fracturing point via an angle grinder?
The point here is i know its not going to be recommended but is there a safest way to do it?
The springs are meant to be progressive windings, by removing coils or.part coils you are altering this, and risk causing handling issues.
Can you put up a picture of how it currently looks height wise?
Matthew
Like a monster truck! lol
Only picked the car up on sunday so the shocks and springs are still on route so not fitted yet. I'm just asking this as based on a lot of the pics i've seen non 16v -55 isn't a lot really.
Whats the reason you've chosen an RT rather than a valver or williams?
Matthew
AndyFielder
04-09-2007, 11:57
i got some -55mm springs for sale if you want them!
Whats the reason you've chosen an RT rather than a valver or williams?
Matthew
Because i needed a cheap runabout/second car.
There are no 16vs for sale up here and i needed something thats bombproof. The 16v i had a few years back was great but put me in debt...thats not what i want to happen again.
i got some -55mm springs for sale if you want them!
thanks matey but i've got the springs already...just need them shorter!
Use a few jubilee clips or tie wraps to hold the coils closer together :shock: ;) (Just to make it clear Don't do this I am joking )
A cheap runaround would save you more money if you didn't buy lowering stuff. Your gonna wear out your tyres quicker (costing you more money) as well unless you've spent money on alignment parts. Your insurance will now cost you more as you should legally declare all your mods (and will be invalidated in the event of a claim/accident and it's inspected).
I think a more sensible option would be to get cheap bigger alloys, that way the gap 'looks' less as the focus is on the alloy and not the gap.
Matthew
How do you know what it is gonna look like until you get them on the car anyway?
Matthew
Well i'll fit the springs when i get them to see what its like but from all the pics on cliosport its not going to be as low as i'd like.
Its is a cheap runabout but i've given the girlfriend my other car so want to at least have something that look vaguely purposeful...hence lowering/not slapping big wheels on.
r.e. insurance...i'll see what it adds but TBH i doubt its worth mentioning.
Well i'll fit the springs when i get them to see what its like but from all the pics on cliosport its not going to be as low as i'd like.
Its is a cheap runabout but i've given the girlfriend my other car so want to at least have something that look vaguely purposeful...hence lowering/not slapping big wheels on.
You seem to have a conflict of interest... cheap runaround or a little project ;) I think the line here is don't chop the springs if you value your life or your girlfriends (or indeed other road users). It 'might' be ok, but do you really want to take the risk?
r.e. insurance...I'll see what it adds but TBH i doubt its worth mentioning.
Your insurance can be invalidated if you fail to mention factory spec 'option' alloys for example, even if you didn't even know they were optional extras when you buy a car 2nd hand. So yes, it is worth mentioning. A severe height drop will be hugely obvious to any damage assesor.
You say your gonna reduce the height of the dampers to compensate. Surely that implies that will cost you more money for a damper rebuild as well?
Going beyond topic here: Why did you valver get you in debt?
Matthew
Where is your thread on cliosport?
Matthew
think valvers are 10mm lower as standard so will drop 65mm on a 1.4
Think I found your thread, and you got told a resounding no on there as well. Didn't see any pictures however.
That 700 runaround sounds like it's gonna turn into a 700 death trap.
Matthew
Think I found your thread, and you got told a resounding no on there as well. Didn't see any pictures however.
That 700 runaround sounds like it's gonna turn into a 700 death trap.
Matthew
Which thread is that m8, id din't post anything up on CS about this car? :?
think valvers are 10mm lower as standard so will drop 65mm on a 1.4
Nope, tried that on the last car: The lesser spec clios don't drop any further using 16v springs. Poundage i guess.
Well i'll fit the springs when i get them to see what its like but from all the pics on cliosport its not going to be as low as i'd like.
Its is a cheap runabout but i've given the girlfriend my other car so want to at least have something that look vaguely purposeful...hence lowering/not slapping big wheels on.
You seem to have a conflict of interest... cheap runaround or a little project ;) I think the line here is don't chop the springs if you value your life or your girlfriends (or indeed other road users). It 'might' be ok, but do you really want to take the risk?
r.e. insurance...I'll see what it adds but TBH i doubt its worth mentioning.
Your insurance can be invalidated if you fail to mention factory spec 'option' alloys for example, even if you didn't even know they were optional extras when you buy a car 2nd hand. So yes, it is worth mentioning. A severe height drop will be hugely obvious to any damage assesor.
You say your gonna reduce the height of the dampers to compensate. Surely that implies that will cost you more money for a damper rebuild as well?
Going beyond topic here: Why did you valver get you in debt?
Matthew
It is a bit of a conflict on interest i agree! ;)
The main thing i asked about is there a relatively safe way to chop them or not. Theres a few people i know who've done it so i'm guessing like anything, if you go at it with a bit of sense you're less likely to to turn into street grease. If no-one knows then fair enough.
16v got me in debt because i bought a bad one then tried to put it right plus modify it...a.k.a twice the expense most people get!
The main thing i asked about is there a relatively safe way to chop them or not. Theres a few people i know who've done it so i'm guessing like anything, if you go at it with a bit of sense you're less likely to to turn into street grease. If no-one knows then fair enough.
Honestly, I wouldn't do it. What happens if you sell the car on, and the new buyer doesn't know you've chopped the springs? You'll be endangering other peeps lives as well. I would be more than happy with a 55mm drop. It's that, or sell the springs and dampers and buy some 2nd hand fully adjustable coil-overs.
16v got me in debt because i bought a bad one then tried to put it right plus modify it...a.k.a twice the expense most people get!
lol... I so know the feeling. You should see me list of things to do!!!
If your gonna do a job do it safely and properly. I can tellyou about mates that have locktighted up bolts into the differential casing on powerful RWD cars after they stripped threads, then blown the diff apart, all because they didn't do it properly (and many other non-proper job stories).
Matthew
My escort turbo cab, (chav i know) was on gmax shocks and chopped standard springs, handled fine but they were chopped and then heated and bent so they fitted in the spring retainers better, i was having arch rubbing issues even with just 30mm gmax springs on that and we cut one ring off the standard ones, perfect!!
Like someone has pointed out, completly illegal and if your involved in an accident your insurance will be void
Dave
Btw the person who suggested i did it had been a mechanic for years and he wouldnt have even suggested it if he thought it would be dangerous did it on his wifes own cabriolet too
rob-legend
05-09-2007, 19:29
speaking about knackering shocks, is replacing standard springs with lowering springs a fairly safe thing to do over a long time or not? i'll settle a debate with this one. 8)
Depends on the car...std 16v shocks and lowering springs are fine
rob-legend
06-09-2007, 11:35
what about lowering springs on willy shocks?
i've got a couple of rusty williams springs both with half a coil missing if you like? :wink:
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