Compressing springs

[HZRDIZ]

Heres a stupid question...

How much drop in height do you get from compressing your standard springs?

I only wanna drop my car 50 odd mil so thinking i might just get the springs compressed instead of going and buying a new set.

[scope]

i (same story as my mate too) got my springs compressed 80mm but the car didn't go down 80mm as hoped (n00bz maybe?). so want to get it compressed bit more than how low you actually want the car to go. but that's just my experience, wouldn't have a clue if it's the same for everyone!

could always just finish off with an angle grinder tho

*waits for someone with a clue to correct him *

[pervert]

If you get them compressed 50mm, it won't nessessarily go down 50mm...

All it means is that if the spring is 300mm long to start with, they will heat and compress it to 250mm, how much drop this will actually give you depends on spring rate and things like that.

Talk to the place you choose to compress them, they might have an idea on how much compression would be needed to achieve a physical 50mm drop.

I got mine compressed 65mm, and it gave a good 65mm drop in all honesty...easy...but they still needed a coil chopped off each to finish the job...

[Mr Revhead]

as a matter of interest, what kinda car are we talking abotu here? 50mms is actually quite a drop....

[pervert]

as a matter of interest, what kinda car are we talking abotu here? 50mms is actually quite a drop....

Knew that was coming...people lower their cars 50mm all the time Revvy, don't stress...

[Mr Revhead]

yeah but 50mm on compressed stock springs is not the best way to do it.
and some cars will make them an evil riding POS. and on some cars 50mm is too much

[pervert]

50mm is always too much, chances are if someone wants to lower a car 50mm it's for looks only...

[bad20v]

Oh Oh Oh.... my turn! my turn!!!

Pervert's right in talking to the person who's compressing your springs about how low you wish to go and the vehicle you are lowering. But the springs wont do exactly want you want them to do half the time.

In my experience with compressed springs I have found them to be pretty unreliable in keep the height required of them. I have dealt with three different spring 'engineering' shops in the Auckland region and they all have different ways of completing the job, and give different results than the others.

I have had vehicles who have had their springs compressed 30mm and have dropped to 60mm in the space of a month. I have had another vehicle get a 50mm compression but the ride height was only 25mm lower. And the funniest on was a VR4 that was supose to be 60mm lower all round, but ended up with a 70mm drop in the rear and only 15mm in the front!!! Looked like it was about to launch itself skyward!!! Also the problem with some compressed springs is when they start sagging even more than their original compressed state, they will throw your wheel alignment out. You mite have to get an alignment every month or two.

My best advice is to go to a reputable spring engineer and have a really good talk to them about what you want done. Or just buy some proper aftermarket springs for your vehicle. They are really not that more expensive than getting your ones compressed, will last a hell of alot longer and due to the research done buy the supplier, will give you a better ride quality and will improve your handling.

Just my 5c worth but.... Price up some TRD springs through Mr Revhead. Good price, quality springs and excellent ride quality.

Cheers.

[AE85coupe]

compress springs? why bother when you have an angle grinder

Its also not a bad idea to get a good aftermarket spring ie: TRD then cut/compress that if you want it a bit lower

of course you may need shortened shocks... or just swap the springs back for a warrant

[pervert]

Just my 5c worth but.... Price up some TRD springs through Mr Revhead. Good price, quality springs and excellent ride quality.

Yeah, but piss all height drop...which once again is what a lot of people are after.

The only reason I chose to get my current springs compressed, is due to the lack of aftermarket spring options, it's really either compress, or cut...or stay standard height. If I could have done it my way I would have got superlow King's and then had them compressed another 30mm or so.

I've had mine in the car for well over a year, and around 10,000 km's, and they still sit the same height as the day I put them back into the car...so yes, individual cases do vary.

[pervert]

compress springs? why bother when you have an angle grinder

Its also not a bad idea to get a good aftermarket spring ie: TRD then cut/compress that if you want it a bit lower

Yup, taking a good brand and compressing them further is definately a good way of doing it...

As for compressing over cutting, the legality is the best reason, but also you still get to keep all your coils, instead of driving around on 3 coils...

Just got to watch for binding if you compress to much though.

[Mr Revhead]

you can ge brand new springs for DXs that will go lower than 50mm, and are a heap better than kings.

[pervert]

you can ge brand new springs for DXs that will go lower than 50mm, and are a heap better than kings.

For a KE70???

Tell me the brand and they'll be in my car in a few months...

[Mr Revhead]

they wont go as low as you want without seeing the car....
and they are in CHCH

[pervert]

they wont go as low as you want without seeing the car....
and they are in CHCH

So it's not just an off the shelf spring kit?

I've already looked into getting custom springs, but it was going to be too much $&#$% about for my liking, hence why I just mine compressed, it's not a price thing, it's an effort thing...

[Mr Revhead]

lazy ass!

cause the cost is pretty much the same as off the shelf

[pervert]

Yup, I got quoted $95 a corner for custom springs...

[RE20]

I've already looked into getting custom springs, but it was going to be too much $&#$% about for my liking, hence why I just mine compressed, it's not a price thing, it's an effort thing...

haha awesome

[pervert]

I've already looked into getting custom springs, but it was going to be too much $&#$% about for my liking, hence why I just mine compressed, it's not a price thing, it's an effort thing...

haha awesome

It's why I still run a K series motor, I can be mean to it all day every day, and it rarely even needs the oil checked...and when it does go bad, it's a couple of hours work and I have new motor...

[scope]

sooo slow though