Lower suspension

[ChrisA]

Does anyone know if its possible to swap out the standard Bilstein shock springs and fit a shorter spring. I'd like to drop the ride height by approx 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch and I'd prefer not to spend several hundred £ on a set of Nitrons. If it is possible are there any recommendations of spring sizes and load capacities?

[rickprice]

Mine has fully adjustable Gaz Gold on them and the rear ride height is now exactly the same as the front - i.e. the gaps between the wheels and arches are the same all round.

Tends to bottom out quite a bit, though, and the exhaust has needed re-welding.

Rich

[Goaty Bill]

Not quite the answer you were looking for but...
Have you considered protech shocks?
Much cheaper than nitrons, and have pretty good feedback here generally.
And; they are ride height and damper adjustable.

They can be had for around £280.00 +vat / pair.

[phazed]

Why do you want to lower the ride height?

In my experience, the standard ride height for a chim with standard coil overs is usually a tad low due to wear and sag over 15 years plus.

If you lower further, you will be upsetting the suspension.

They are designed to run with the suspension wishbones level giving the car a slight nose down appearence.

When set up correctly, they rarely bottom out, if they do due to weight/crap roads, +20% poundage springs are the way forward.

[SILICONEKID350HP]

ChrisA said:

Does anyone know if its possible to swap out the standard Bilstein shock springs and fit a shorter spring. I'd like to drop the ride height by approx 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch and I'd prefer not to spend several hundred £ on a set of Nitrons. If it is possible are there any recommendations of spring sizes and load capacities?

Do you want to destroy the handling of your car .

[phazed]

SILICONEKID350HP said:

Do you want to destroy the handling of your car .

Wot e said much clearer then me!

[SILICONEKID350HP]

I`m sure the bottom wishbones need to be level,Mine are level on the spirit level so what ever height it comes out at that's it ..

[james280779]

mine never bottoms out and handles fantastically.

However I do have to park next to any drop kerb to open the doors as normal height kerb means I am stuck in the car!



I think mine are Gaz Golds but will have to check the paperwork

[KateV8]

james280779 said:

mine never bottoms out and handles fantastically.

However I do have to park next to any drop kerb to open the doors as normal height kerb means I am stuck in the car!



I think mine are Gaz Golds but will have to check the paperwork

Is that an Avenger in the background? Loving the 70's backdrop to the Chim!

[phazed]

james280779 said:

mine never bottoms out and handles fantastically.

However I do have to park next to any drop kerb to open the doors as normal height kerb means I am stuck in the car!



I think mine are Gaz Golds but will have to check the paperwork

If you were to measure the ride height, you would find that it is set a little low.

[ChrisA]

phazed said:

Why do you want to lower the ride height?

In my experience, the standard ride height for a chim with standard coil overs is usually a tad low due to wear and sag over 15 years plus.

If you lower further, you will be upsetting the suspension.

They are designed to run with the suspension wishbones level giving the car a slight nose down appearence.

When set up correctly, they rarely bottom out, if they do due to weight/crap roads, +20% poundage springs are the way forward.

Some good feedback here thanks. I'd prefer not to ruin the ride as its very good at the moment.

The reason I want to lower the car is because currently the nose appears higher than the rear. I'd like to drop the front about half an inch to balance the look out. All shocks and springs are currently standard. So lowering the car is not really the intention, leveling the car stance is more the aim.

Any other ways of achieving this? Or back to my original question: can the springs on the standard blistens be changed out for shorter/longer ones?

[SILICONEKID350HP]

ChrisA said:

Some good feedback here thanks. I'd prefer not to ruin the ride as its very good at the moment.

The reason I want to lower the car is because currently the nose appears higher than the rear. I'd like to drop the front about half an inch to balance the look out. All shocks and springs are currently standard. So lowering the car is not really the intention, leveling the car stance is more the aim.

Any other ways of achieving this? Or back to my original question: can the springs on the standard blistens be changed out for shorter/longer ones?

Replace the rear springs ,that would probably do the job ..

[phazed]

You would just mask the problem of sagging springs.

I believe you could get the Billies rebuilt with new springs or go for something like a set of Pro-Techs with standard +20% springs.

What you need to do is to raise the rear not lower the front otherwise you will upset the handling.

[Bassfiend229hp]

james280779 said:

<<SNIP>>

However I do have to park next to any drop kerb to open the doors as normal height kerb means I am stuck in the car!

<<SNIP>>

... erm ... that's quite normal! I've never been able to open my doors when parked next to a kerb.

Phil

[spend]

You may well just have the wrong tyres fitted....

[bobfather]

The Chim has uneven wishbones; this enables the alignment to change when the load on a wheel alters. If you lower the suspension by adjusting the preload rings you also alter the alignment. I see above that james280779 said his car handles fantastically. I can't see how that is possible; it would drive like a pig unless you re-set the alignment. Assuming you have re-done the alignment with the wishbones pointing up then as the load reduces the alignment will change in the wrong direction.

The wishbones are designed to be horizontal when under static load. If they are not horizontal then they won’t function as they were designed to.

[s p a c e m a n]

Put a set of 16 inch wheels on the front? I think that half of the weird looking stance is an optical illusion on the wheel/tyre size/arch gap.

[ChrisA]

I just think I have spring sag and need new rear springs now. Service history shows new fronts but no mention of new rears.

Just fitted (this weekend) new 17" all round with correct size tyres (circumference matched with original book tyre circumferences) so not an optical illusion. It's always looked nose light.

Thanks for all the help. £160 if for pair of new rear springs or do I just go all out and get a set of protechs all round?

[SILICONEKID350HP]

ChrisA said:

I just think I have spring sag and need new rear springs now. Service history shows new fronts but no mention of new rears.

Just fitted (this weekend) new 17" all round with correct size tyres (circumference matched with original book tyre circumferences) so not an optical illusion. It's always looked nose light.

Thanks for all the help. £160 if for pair of new rear springs or do I just go all out and get a set of protechs all round?

I would of thought new suspension before before splashing out on aesthetically pleasing fancy wheels..

[james280779]

bobfather said:

The Chim has uneven wishbones; this enables the alignment to change when the load on a wheel alters. If you lower the suspension by adjusting the preload rings you also alter the alignment. I see above that james280779 said his car handles fantastically. I can't see how that is possible; it would drive like a pig unless you re-set the alignment. Assuming you have re-done the alignment with the wishbones pointing up then as the load reduces the alignment will change in the wrong direction.

The wishbones are designed to be horizontal when under static load. If they are not horizontal then they won’t function as they were designed to.

I havent taken mine out on the track yet but for everyday use it handles exceptionally well, I have a sorted Esprit turbo and 911 as well as being an advanced driver. I can assure you it drives far better than the previous 4.0, 5.0, speed six cerb and TVR S I have owned and is in no way 'a pig to drive'. I also have no hesitation taking it out in the wet for some spirited driving.
I dont know what work was done to it as it was like it when I bought it, I have thought about raising it but as it handles well and doesnt bottom out I dont see the point. I will be putting some Estorils on soon but that shouldnt affect things too much.