shortening shocks

[l1ttle_d3vil]

simple question, probably be asked before but im in a hurry...

is it legal/certifiable to shorten shocks? and if it is, is there any lmiit to how much you can shorten them?

and can the springs be cut aslong as the shocks are shortened enough to keep them captured? (and the car is over 100mm or whatever off the ground) is this still legal?

[Dr-X]

Shortened shocks and cut springs need to be certified.

[pervert]

Shortened shocks need a cert, talk to a cert guy about how much you can shorten them by.

As far as I am aware, cut springs can no longer be certified, they used to be able to though, but I think that has changed. At any rate, it is cheap as $&#$% to get your springs compressed anyway.

[l1ttle_d3vil]

Shortened shocks and cut springs need to be certified.

what im asking is CAN shortened shocks be certified? or is shortening shocks no different to cutting springs from a certifiers point of view?

i'll probably be looking at shortening mine about 3", ive got some standard uncut springs so can get them compressed.
is there anyone in the tauranga/whakatane area that can do this?

[wde_bdy]

Best advice, ask a certifier.
Plenty of people have got shorten shocks and cut springs certified, but it comes down to what the individual certifier believes is safe.

Callum

[Dr-X]

Yes, shortened shocks can be certified, hence I said they need to be certified. 3" is quite a lot.

[Jebus]

Why 3"? A 50mm lowered spring might just be captive in standard shocks, so you only need to shortne them 1" to have 75mm lowered springs. If ya get my drift.

[1598cc]

you can get away with uncaptive springs by just putting a few tack weld on the spring and to the shock. sure it aint the best, but works

compressed springs suck also. wouldnt go that route.

[pervert]

you can get away with uncaptive springs by just putting a few tack weld on the spring and to the shock. sure it aint the best, but works

compressed springs suck also. wouldnt go that route.

Compressed springs are fine...
But tack welding springs to shock hats!!!

[CozmoNz]

you can get away with uncaptive springs by just putting a few tack weld on the spring and to the shock. sure it aint the best, but works

compressed springs suck also. wouldnt go that route.

Compressed springs are fine...
But tack welding springs to shock hats!!!

hes more dodgy than you are pervert!

[pervert]

hes more dodgy than you are pervert!

Haha, well its no worse than tying the springs captive with wire...

[TygerTung]

Nah you don't want to tack weld it, because it puts stresses onto the metal.

You can certify the springs by using clamps to hold them captive.

[rollas22]

Bro rember my little brothers rota Starlet? the maroon 1 from whakatane? well that had cut springs and shortened shocks! they had been certified too, and i swear that car was lower than 100mm off the ground

[pervert]

You can go lower than 100mm if it is certed.

That is a lot of the point of getting suspension certified, you can go lower than 100mm as long as it is safe.

[Santa'sBoostinSleigh]

but why bother going that low? its bad enuff how low my caldie is - scrapes on heaps of stuff, cant drive thru our parking building here in NP without exhaust scraping. and makes it a pain in the arse if i go up to my aunties farm - gravel driveways arent that friendly to my cars underbody

[pervert]

but why bother going that low?

Why do anything to a car?
Why put p/plates on yours, p/plates are one of the stupidest things you can ever do to a car (in my opinion), but I understand why people do it...it is their choice...

Its all about personal preference, some people think you can never have enough kW, some people think you can never have enough db's, I personally think you can never be too low...

[wde_bdy]

How low is reasonable to go depends alot on the car. A Starlet with short overhangs at each end can sit a lot lower than a Caldina before you scrape the shit out of everything. You still wan't to retain reasonable suspension travel though, no point bouncing off the bumpstops.
Callum

[Silvergun]

my rolla is lower than 100mm, and i have little problems with scraping, only scrapes on judder bars sometimes and down my girls driveway. guess the short wheel base and little overhang is best when going low.

how much does it generally cost to compress springs and shorten shocks?

is it worth just just to compress normal springs instead of buying lowered springs eg kingsprings?

[pervert]

Compressed standard springs are a lot softer than aftermarket springs, so its easy to hit the bumpstops...

Prices vary, Bellamy & East in Chch compress a full set of four for $120, thats the cheapest I know of.