V8V springs

[Diablos-666]

I've put a deposit down on a Vantage. It's just had a service and the garage mentioned that one of the front springs has a slight crack.

They have suggested replacing both. I've been doing some research on parts and 2 new Aston Martin springs are coming in at £550 plus fitting.

However I've also found a website that sells a full set of H&R lowering springs for £420.

I've been quoted £120 per corner in labour, does that sound reasonable?

If I go with the H&R springs then I will also need to factor in the cost of a full geo alignment. Would I need this if I just replaced the front springs?

Thanks

[justin220]

In my opinion, regardless of which option you go for, I would get the Geo/alignment check done anyway. The Vantage seems very easily knocked out slightly.

Made a great difference to mine

[mikey k]

justin220 said:

In my opinion, regardless of which option you go for, I would get the Geo/alignment check done anyway. The Vantage seems very easily knocked out slightly.

Made a great difference to mine

Absolutely!
There are cheaper springs for the Vantage
Have a look at Eibach and RSC
You could try astonmartinbits for for some used ones

[BeauBee]

Personally I would go for the VelocityAP springs:
http://www.velocityap.com/Aston-Martin-V8-Vantage-....
Apparently, having done some research, they are much better than stock and the H&R springs.
...and definitely get the geo/alignment done.

[Diablos-666]

Thanks for the comments guys.

I'll get a geo done whatever option I take. I'm swaying towards replacing all 4 springs. It just seems a no brainer when you can swap all 4 for the price of 2.

[simonpa]

This is a timely post - I was showing my V8V to a local 911 owner and he commented on how stiff the springing was.
I find the springing unnecessarily harsh for the road, although it does work pretty well when you are pushing on, as longs as the road surface is good. Otherwise it is really not compliant enough.

Has anyone any experience of the VelocityAP springs?
Progressive units does make sense.

Diablos - whereabouts are you?
If you decide to go for the VelocityAP springs, I may go along with you.
I'd be changing them myself - it's only 3 nuts on the tower top and a big bolt at the bottom. £120 a corner for that sounds pretty steep - OK, you need to take off some trim in the boot at the same time, but not much...

I've new rear shocks and will be getting my fronts rebuilt by Bilstein at the same time.

Cheers - Simon

[Diablos-666]

simonpa said:

This is a timely post - I was showing my V8V to a local 911 owner and he commented on how stiff the springing was.
I find the springing unnecessarily harsh for the road, although it does work pretty well when you are pushing on, as longs as the road surface is good. Otherwise it is really not compliant enough.

Has anyone any experience of the VelocityAP springs?
Progressive units does make sense.

Diablos - whereabouts are you?
If you decide to go for the VelocityAP springs, I may go along with you.
I'd be changing them myself - it's only 3 nuts on the tower top and a big bolt at the bottom. £120 a corner for that sounds pretty steep - OK, you need to take off some trim in the boot at the same time, but not much...

I've new rear shocks and will be getting my fronts rebuilt by Bilstein at the same time.

Cheers - Simon

Hi Simon,

The Velocity AP springs do sound quite good although there doesn't seem to be a huge amount of detail / reviews on the net compared with the H&R springs. They are also slightly more expensive; Even if we both decided on the Velocity springs I doubt we'd get any discount by buying just 2 sets?

I'm still deciding which route to go down. I've also been offered a set of 2nd H&R springs for £200 which seems a good deal, although the seller has gone a bit quiet on me since I said I was interested.

[Diablos-666]

I've now bought the H&R springs and trying to decide who best to fit them.

Am I right in thinking that this is a pretty standard job that any decent garage can do? My local garage that I used to take my Porsche 993 to carry out some minor works has quoted me £45 per corner. I been quoted around £120 per corner from a couple of specialists.

[mikey k]

Diablos-666 said:

I've now bought the H&R springs and trying to decide who best to fit them.

Am I right in thinking that this is a pretty standard job that any decent garage can do? My local garage that I used to take my Porsche 993 to carry out some minor works has quoted me £45 per corner. I been quoted around £120 per corner from a couple of specialists.

Straight forward if they've done similar stuff before
Obviously get a geo done after!

[Johnny42]

I'd be interested in progressive rate, the ride could do with being more supple under normal driving conditions. But the Velocity springs are also lowering, I don't need the car any lower than stock. Any ideas?

[telum01]

Johnny42 said:

I'd be interested in progressive rate, the ride could do with being more supple under normal driving conditions. But the Velocity springs are also lowering, I don't need the car any lower than stock. Any ideas?

The VelocityAP springs don't lower the car nearly as much as the H&R ones. I've got H&R springs on my car and it's very, very low. I cringe quite often (my passengers even more so because they aren't used to hearing an Aston scrape!). And the ride isn't terribly comfortable. That said, they suit my needs just fine, but they're hard to recommend to others. The VelocityAP springs were developed specifically to be an alternative to people that don't want to be as low and harsh as H&R makes the car.

[Sump]

Diablos-666 said:

I've been quoted £120 per corner in labour, does that sound reasonable?

4 hours to change the springs? If that doesn't include the alignment then I'd love what they are smoking.

Any normal garage can do this job with their eyes shut in about 2 hours to 2 hours 30. 30-40 minutes per side is perfectly adequate.

Before anyone jumps on my I've done it on my DB9, I imagine the Vantage is very similar if not the same.

Edited by Sump on Friday 1st May 14:50

[Gavc]

I have replace mine with H&R spring. remember you will need spring compressors and it will take 1-2 hrs per corner on a DB9 you really need to remove wheel arch liners and also x brace @ front. Does lower the car by a good 1 1/2". So remember afterwards how crappy our roads are. I did the Geo done afterwards and this was out and mad a difference. Car now much better handling and looks. I had the same spring cracked and decided to change all 4 as not much in it regards price over OEM. if your handy with spanners its straight forward but remember some nuts/bolts will be pigs to remove and look carful where you jack up with jack and stands not much room.

[Johnny42]

telum01 said:

.... The VelocityAP springs were developed specifically to be an alternative to people that don't want to be as low and harsh as H&R makes the car.

Thanks, so do you think the Velocity springs will be more harsh than stock? I'm guessing yes, given that they lower the car 22mm and there isn't a lot of travel to begin with!

[telum01]

Johnny42 said:

Thanks, so do you think the Velocity springs will be more harsh than stock? I'm guessing yes, given that they lower the car 22mm and there isn't a lot of travel to begin with!

I've heard they're more comfortable than the H&R springs but I don't have any first-hand experience with them so I can't tell you how much of a difference there is between OEM, H&R, and VelocityAP aside from the H&R giving a rather harsh ride compared to OEM. I'd imagine they give a nice in-between.

[cookin ez]

I have the Velocity Springs on my V8VS Roadster and love them. Better stance and the ride is the same as the OEM springs. Yet a little stiffer in the corners which is nice.

[JS1500]

^^^ Looks superb. What wheels are those, please?
I think I'm going to go for the Velocity springs.

[cookin ez]

The 20" wheels are the Targa series with hardware hidden and a single dark tint custom made by Brixton Forged. Great company to work with!

[Harry Flashman]

Thread resurrection - but anyone recommend replacement springs? My V8V has a cracked spring and I am going to take the opportunity to replace them all.

That said, I live in London so do NOT want the car lowered as it makes speedbumps a pain. Anyone have any recommendations?

[leerandle]

Replacing the damper/springs is quite an easy task if you have the knowledge and tools. (NOTE: Even though I had some spring compressors, these would not fit around the springs 'safely', therefore I got a local garage to use their tooling to swap springs over)

I wouldn't pay £120 per corner, that's ridiculous. Any competent garage can perform this job and the £45 a corner sounds more reasonable.

I changed the rear damper assemblies myself, and other than removing wheel, wheel arch, couple of bolts, (fuel pipe for one side), disassembling a bit of the rear hub/arm it wasn't too difficult.