I have a '97 1.6 GL. I can feel a fair bit of body roll in the car, anyone lowered theirs? has it changed the ride for better or for worse? or not atall?
Also, if anyone could tell me how much it would cost, this would be much appreciated. I have seen some clamps at Halfords which clamp your springs shorter for just £35. Don't think you can go more than about 20mm lower on them though.
Any help fellas?
Anyone lowered their mk4?
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Tim_GTi
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I'm sure most 6N owners have lowered their cars on here.
Those clamps sound ridiculously unsafe and bodgy, i wouldnt go anywhere near them!
You can lower your car a number of ways, the 3 most popular methods are:
Uprated springs.
Springs and shocks.
Coilovers.
Generally, lowering your car improves your handling and reduces body roll. Each method and kit is different though.
You can get a decent pair of springs for £40. Uprated springs on standard shocks will allow you to lower the car by up to 30mm, which isn't alot for the 6N. the standard shocks will not take alot more than a 30mm drop. This is a really cheap option, and most users will find themselves buying better kits that give you a lower ride height, in the long run anyway. So they are often considered a waste of time and money,
Changing the springs and shocks is more versatile. Kits vary from 30-60mm, with the rear kits going up to 80mm (I think?). these can cost anything from £80-200. Even more if you want, but there really is no point. Shocks and springs are a good method if your satisfied with stock ride height the kit gives you (although the backs are adjustable on some kits).
Coilovers are probably the more popular option. For they are fully adjustable and can give you a ride height from 30-120mm. kits can cost anything from £200-700, top range kits offers damping settings, and are the method I'd recommend
.
There's alot more to each method, this is simply a two minute look at them. Do some more research and see which one suits you best
Those clamps sound ridiculously unsafe and bodgy, i wouldnt go anywhere near them!
You can lower your car a number of ways, the 3 most popular methods are:
Uprated springs.
Springs and shocks.
Coilovers.
Generally, lowering your car improves your handling and reduces body roll. Each method and kit is different though.
You can get a decent pair of springs for £40. Uprated springs on standard shocks will allow you to lower the car by up to 30mm, which isn't alot for the 6N. the standard shocks will not take alot more than a 30mm drop. This is a really cheap option, and most users will find themselves buying better kits that give you a lower ride height, in the long run anyway. So they are often considered a waste of time and money,
Changing the springs and shocks is more versatile. Kits vary from 30-60mm, with the rear kits going up to 80mm (I think?). these can cost anything from £80-200. Even more if you want, but there really is no point. Shocks and springs are a good method if your satisfied with stock ride height the kit gives you (although the backs are adjustable on some kits).
Coilovers are probably the more popular option. For they are fully adjustable and can give you a ride height from 30-120mm. kits can cost anything from £200-700, top range kits offers damping settings, and are the method I'd recommend
.There's alot more to each method, this is simply a two minute look at them. Do some more research and see which one suits you best
The clamps sound like a pikey mod, abit like cutting springs. I imagine they would make the suspension stiffer (as the springs would be pushed closer together), making the performance terrible and a far bumpy ride. I'd go for the better options tim suggested, have a look. It also depends on what your after, whether it be handling or the low look.
haha i saw those clamps at halfords, they look so gypsy. it basically clamps two of the coils together using an m5 bolt, i have to imagine what would happen when (not if) this sheers in half whilst your going round a corner. probably involves a ditch/tree/other car.
worst idea ive ever seen,
Id go for coilovers everytime, so you can get the ride height exactly right. as far as im aware, upreated springs and shocks are a set height that you specify when you buy, so dont allow any real adjustment.
Coilovers come with a variety of different features, the cheap ones tend to corrode into the position you set them at, as the actual threaded bodys are made of steel, more expensive ones are zinc or chrome plated, so theoretically dont corrode and can be adjusted even after a winter of not cleaning them..
Then you enter the realms of adjustable damping... which probably isnt that neccisary just for road use, unless your pretty fussy about your handling or going to be using your car on the track.
That last point is just my opinion, so please dont bite my head off anyone lol.
Im not sure i was right about the uprated springs and shocks part either, im sure someone will correct me if i was mistaken
worst idea ive ever seen,
Id go for coilovers everytime, so you can get the ride height exactly right. as far as im aware, upreated springs and shocks are a set height that you specify when you buy, so dont allow any real adjustment.
Coilovers come with a variety of different features, the cheap ones tend to corrode into the position you set them at, as the actual threaded bodys are made of steel, more expensive ones are zinc or chrome plated, so theoretically dont corrode and can be adjusted even after a winter of not cleaning them..
Then you enter the realms of adjustable damping... which probably isnt that neccisary just for road use, unless your pretty fussy about your handling or going to be using your car on the track.
That last point is just my opinion, so please dont bite my head off anyone lol.
Im not sure i was right about the uprated springs and shocks part either, im sure someone will correct me if i was mistaken
Think with only an M5 bolt holding it together, it wouln't be long before it came apart!Rupie wrote:haha i saw those clamps at halfords, they look so gypsy. it basically clamps two of the coils together using an m5 bolt, i have to imagine what would happen when (not if) this sheers in half whilst your going round a corner. probably involves a ditch/tree/other car.
worst idea ive ever seen,
Id go for coilovers everytime, so you can get the ride height exactly right. as far as im aware, upreated springs and shocks are a set height that you specify when you buy, so dont allow any real adjustment.
Coilovers come with a variety of different features, the cheap ones tend to corrode into the position you set them at, as the actual threaded bodys are made of steel, more expensive ones are zinc or chrome plated, so theoretically dont corrode and can be adjusted even after a winter of not cleaning them..
Then you enter the realms of adjustable damping... which probably isnt that neccisary just for road use, unless your pretty fussy about your handling or going to be using your car on the track.
That last point is just my opinion, so please dont bite my head off anyone lol.
Im not sure i was right about the uprated springs and shocks part either, im sure someone will correct me if i was mistaken
Coilovers vs. Springs/Shox is going to be one of those discussions like 'Whats better a mk1 golf gti or escort xr3'. (obviously mk1 golf!)
Everyone has their preferenceI've noticed quite a few people start with cheaper springs & shox, then move on to coilovers. Personally i'm happy to go along with a cheap fixed height set up, as I don't want the ultra low stance, although in the future I may go for a better quality adjustable damper set to give that 'tunability' in the shox.
As I said, everyone has a preference!
