Lowering Experience

HB Chris

HB Chris

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I was visiting with Peter this past Saturday and noticed his recent spring purchase from Carl. Since I think I have stock springs which were soft and Bilstein HDs with 35k miles and it has always sat a bit high I asked if he would like to do a little experiment. He agreed so on Monday we measured the car and his guys had the front struts apart in about five minutes. Carl's springs dropped the front about 3/4 inch according to Erik and I took it for a drive. Felt very nice, no more bounce and a very good ride, coupe looked good too. Since I had already bought a set of B&G lowering springs they went in next. These only fit the front but we got the same drop, about 3/4 inch. With stock springs in the rear it sat too high. Off came one coil and now it sits like it should have from the factory. I also added Carl's fixed camber plates up front. I haven't been exploring the limits like Arde but I am pleased with the results. Maybe up next will be a larger sway bar.

A big thank you to Peter. I had hesitated for quite a while not knowing what the results would be and in the end I trusted the experts and couldn't be happier.

Chris
 
I must have just missed you on Saturday. Good news that the new batch of springs lower the ride. Did you have to roll the front fenders ?
 
David, fenders were rolled two months ago.

Pamp, I wasn't there but I have done it by hitting with a mallet, they just pop out.
 
"Off came one coil"

Hi Chris,
interesting work at Peter and Erik´s place. The sort of work that I have done on my cars.
I agree that stock rear springs, even with the thinnest rubber pads (one dot) makes the car about an inch too high. I have the CSL springs from W&N on most cars and this makes the rear about 3/4 inch too low, even with the highest pads (three dots). And if you put a passenger in the car or some heavy stuff in the trunk it definitely sits too low.
My next test was to cut off part of one coil on the stock springs, and now I read what you did... So I might as well go for one full coil ?!?!

At the front I find that the CSL springs, with the thinnest top rubber plates is perfect. One mark pads are OK as well. Makes rolling the fenders redundant.

I have Carl´s front springs one one car, and they make the height perfect as well, esp on a car with power steering, AC and other weight increasing devices.
I find his rear springs make the rear too high (dragster look if I exaggerate).

Cheers,
Peder
 
So Chris what you have now is lowering springs front and rear with camber plates?

I should have my sway bars installed soon and retest body roll. Still surprised by the 12 degrees and 17 degrees of roll at 75 and 85 mph respectively. I am not sure what to expect, I am guessing that the stock bars had to contribute at least 10% of the force (otherwise why bother have the part at all) so with a 6x higher torsion I would have 1.5 the total force, or a 50% improvement.
 
Arde,

Lowering springs and camber plate up front, stock spring with one coil removed with thicker 3 dot spring pad in back.
 
Chris
Your pushing the boundaries of a stock coupe more and more these days. Welcome to the dark side. If your going to change out the front springs, might as well do all 4 corners. That way spring age, rates and stiffness are equal. And yes the big sway bars make a huge difference. Consider power coating parts before install.

Gary
 
HB Chris said:
Arde,

Lowering springs and camber plate up front, stock spring with one coil removed with thicker 3 dot spring pad in back.
Click to expand...

Does one coil removed mean you cut it short by one turn? That does not change the stiffness of the spring but lowers the stance I guess. The shock being more compressed may behave as a harder shock, but I am not sure.
 
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