CSL Springs

[cal csl]

Hi,
I am wondering what the original springs were for the csl's (not the carbed ultralite).
I know the ultralites came with the tapered springs but did the others come like this as well?
The CSL's I know of in Melbourne don't have the tapered springs making me think that my springs are original.

Has anyone put a set of the La jolla springs in a CSL?
Peter at Coupe King seems to think they will sit to high and suggested cutting one coil off the spring or sourcing a set of tapered springs.

Any advice in this area would be appreciated

 

[pmansson]

I have them on several cars, CSLs and normal, heavier cars (I buy them at W&N and they are tapered or progressive as we call them in Europe).
They are fine on the heavier cars, but make the rear end very low when you load the trunk (even with just at 40 pound suitcase). They are also good on CSLs. They lower the car by about 2" front and back. At the rear I use the triple dimple pads.

I have Carl Nelson´s front springs on a heavy car (CSi with AC and PS and all the normal stuff). Great in the front, but I personally find his rear springs make the rear end too high. Yes, I could cut off a bit of the rear springs. The formula seems to be: cut off half the vertical distance that you want the car lowered by.

I measure height from the ground to the bottom of the alu surround, just forward of the front wheelarches and just behind the rear wheelarches. I do it in cm and can give you the figures if wanted. It is not 100% scientific, but good enough for comparing with other cars.
Peder

 

[cal csl]

Hi Peder,

cheers for the reply and info.
The car i need the springs for is a csl
I cant seem to find the progressive springs on the W+N website but i have sent them an email.

Do you run larger diametre sway bars on the CSL?
Do you use the HD bilstein shocks?

triple dimple pads? are these the rubber pads on the top of the rear springs? are they different to the stock ones?

thanks

 

[pmansson]

Progressive springs

W&N definitely have them. They require triple dimple rear pads (it´s only 5mm between 1 and 2, and 2 and 3 dimples).
I go with the later stock, 23mm stabilizers, but you could put the US made ones (ST is the make). You know that the early, carb CSL, cars had no stabilizers...!!
I use yellow Bilstein HD on all cars.

On one car, sitting almost 15mm higher on the front right than front left, I changed the upper rubber seal between spring and strut, hoping it would bring that side down by those 15mm that the rubber seal was thinner by. Unfortunately this did not happen. It might have come down 5mm after a few days or driving and sitting, but not more. In fact I have this issue on several cars. Perhaps it just shows the precision of the jigs at Karmann.
OR it is a case of badly fitted replacement front left fenders, which I know have been replaced on several cars.

 

[cal csl]

Found out the progressive springs from W+N delivered to australia will be about $700 aud. Bit our of my price range at the moment.

Interested in shortening the springs but as it is just a rolling shell i dont know how much i need to take of each spring as i dont have an acurate existing height.

Pedder could you please tell me what height your csl with progressive springs sits at? When shortening did you have to shorten each end so that the spring still lined up when fitted?

ie, if wanting to lower by 2" divide by 2 ( general rule mentioned) = 1" then divide by 2 again = cut 1/2" total height at each end of spring?

Do you just use an angle grinder to do this?

In regards to sway bars i can get a 23mm sway bar from and E3 loacally that apparently fit. Not to sure what to do in the rear.

cheers

 

[cal csl]

Its crazy that the ultralites did not have sway bars, was amazed when i spotted this on one in coupe kings workshop.

 

[pmansson]

No cutting of springs

I have not cut any springs on Coupes (just on a heavy 60s Jaguar).
The height of the original CSL was about 75cm back and front, perhaps even 76cm as measured from the ground to the bottom of the beltline trim just forward of the front wheelarch, and rearward of the rear wheelarch.
With CSL springs and medium rubber pads I get it down to about 72 which looks and performs much better.