The use of lowering springs on a shock which was not designed to use them in the first place inevitably means you are compromising the latter's performance. The piston stroke is restricted below it's designed operating range which, without changes to the valving, means impaired operation. You are very likely to hit the bump stops on poorly surfaced roads. My original red Rev 3 tubby had had -40mm springs (make unknown) fitted to the stock black Bilsteins by the previous owner. The result in short order was totally knackered shocks. The ride comfort was appalling and the car skittered on bumpy B roads. I got shot of them and replaced them with BC coilovers which are now on my Rev 4.Woody928 wrote:The car is used as a toy, albeit that it is my only car, I have only covered around 4000 miles or so in the last year (likely the same annual mileage going forward)....The car is used as a fast road car, doing some long distance trips and very occasional track use.
What are my options? How do they compare? What do they cost? Whats the difference between getting Coilovers or Shocks and lowering springs bearing in mind the cars use?
@ Woody - if coilovers are not your thing I would go for Konis.MRturboTom wrote:Eibach is trd, but they do proline and sportline if I remember correctly, one is lower than the other i think.
Bilstein are non adjustable and full strut legs, where as Koni are adjustable and inserts, I like adjustable dampers personally.
I believe you can get trd topmounts, fensport i think or mr2 ben maybe.
Both the above mentioned dampers are suited to a shorter travel spring.
More initial outlay but a better investment.
Pillow ball topmounts are available i believe as another option.
Having a damper for twenty years at a certain ride height then some lower stiffer springs thrown on kills them. From new is very different.
I'd personally stick to a good branded spring like eibach or space, teins are more stance. Apex, jamex, piper are amongst a few of the cheap brands I'd avoid
Definitely the must have option back then. Also using pillowball front top mounts will allow camber adjustment. A definite plus imo.
Black bilstein aren't rebuildabledawesy wrote:+1. I used Koni's on the rolla and they are very good. Before buying though make sure you have the right shocks on now. You need to bs able to strip them to get the Koni inserts in. The correct stock type have a large nut at the top of the strut case. If you haven't got this then factor in buying a set of struts to strip.
I may pick some peoples brains at this upcoming Cotsworlds meet, try and get more pf a feel for things.
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