Safe lenghts for shorter coilover springs?

[Matej]

To get to the point, I've done all the common things to my coilovers to make them go as low as possible, yet I'd still like to go lower, so I've been looking at shorter springs.

The stock springs are 180.8 front, and 200.6 rear. First number being the length in mm, and the second the rate in kg.

Here is a list of available springs I could possibly use.
Front:
150.8
135.10 (too crazy?)

Rear:
180.6
180.8 (swap the fronts to the rear and save money, but the car would sit slightly higher than with the 180.6, which would bug me forever)
150.8 (too crazy?)

I'm sure I'll most likely end up going with the 150.8 front and 180.6 rear. The only thing that somewhat bothers me about this setup is that I already have a very noticeable "raked" look going on, and this will only increase it.

However, it's really tempting to do something like 135.10 front and 150.8 rear or 150.8 all around, although I'm sure those sizes are way too crazy, and I need some to talk me out of it, haha.

That's why I made this thread. What do you consider an acceptable length for shorter springs?
Is 5cm difference too much, especially since my rears are already drooped? I'm guessing the shock would most likely bottom out and blow very soon, as I'd be ramming metal into metal.

By the way, yes I acknowledge that no shorter spring is good for the coilover.

One last question.
Which companies make separately sold springs for coilovers? These are just Megans I'm looking at since my coilovers are Megan. I know there are other brands, which are also most likely more reputable, I just can't think of any right now. I'd like to see what lengths and rates are offered by other brands, maybe I'll find something more suitable.

Thanks for any info!

[Matej]

The Megan springs have a diameter of 62mm. I just looked up Swift springs, which are offered in 60mm, 65mm, and 70mm diameters.
I wonder if I could stuff the 60mm ones on...

[sultan]

my rears (single height :( ) have 2 inches of droop and handle great, you're running megans, just go for it. if you start noticing it bottom out just raise the perch a little.

[Matej]

Well, that's all the convincing I needed to actually do this, haha, thanks.

[sultan]

safety is my #1 concern.

http://img100.imageshack.us/img100/6231/dscf0584ii9.jpg

lol, i can't believe these things aren't blown yet.

[lflkajfj12123]

^ lol that is crazy

[LongGrain]

if you buy new springs i would go with swift.

[Matej]

The only thing that sucks is that I already have about 5-6cm of clearance from the ground to the cabin floor. So if I drop it another 5cm, it will be... AWESOME.

[luftrofl]

To get to the point, I've done all the common things to my coilovers to make them go as low as possible, yet I'd still like to go lower, so I've been looking at shorter springs.

The stock springs are 180.8 front, and 200.6 rear. First number being the length in mm, and the second the rate in kg.

Here is a list of available springs I could possibly use.
Front:
150.8
135.10 (too crazy?)

Rear:
180.6
180.8 (swap the fronts to the rear and save money, but the car would sit slightly higher than with the 180.6, which would bug me forever)
150.8 (too crazy?)

I'm sure I'll most likely end up going with the 150.8 front and 180.6 rear. The only thing that somewhat bothers me about this setup is that I already have a very noticeable "raked" look going on, and this will only increase it.

However, it's really tempting to do something like 135.10 front and 150.8 rear or 150.8 all around, although I'm sure those sizes are way too crazy, and I need some to talk me out of it, haha.

That's why I made this thread. What do you consider an acceptable length for shorter springs?
Is 5cm difference too much, especially since my rears are already drooped? I'm guessing the shock would most likely bottom out and blow very soon, as I'd be ramming metal into metal.

By the way, yes I acknowledge that no shorter spring is good for the coilover.

One last question.
Which companies make separately sold springs for coilovers? These are just Megans I'm looking at since my coilovers are Megan. I know there are other brands, which are also most likely more reputable, I just can't think of any right now. I'd like to see what lengths and rates are offered by other brands, maybe I'll find something more suitable.

Thanks for any info!

You need to give out more information if you want the best answer. "Safe" is a useless term without knowing more information.

How close do you come to bottoming out with your current setup?
What is the purpose of this car? (DD, track, etc.)

[bejota180sx]

swift makes separate springs and doesn't RS*R? but i don't know any spec on them...

[KiDyNomiTe]

I have STANCE coilovers and they sell springs of all sizes and spring rates. IIRC standard is 175/200 for s13 on STANCE. I am running 150/175 on my car now. I would probably never go lower than 150 in the front.

Now is it the front that you are trying to make lower or the rear? Or are both already bottomed out? Also is this an s14 or s13?

If its a front then remove a collar and put it on the bottom or something, that will give you something. If its the rear and its an s14 then you shouldnt be running into any cant lower enough situation... If its an s13 then you can droop if its bottoming out.

[Matej]

I have STANCE coilovers and they sell springs of all sizes and spring rates. IIRC standard is 175/200 for s13 on STANCE. I am running 150/175 on my car now. I would probably never go lower than 150 in the front.
Thanks. Stance's website doesn't seem to list the actual sizes and widths, I'll probably give them a call.

By the way it's an S13, and both bottom collars are removed already on all four corners, with the front slightly preloaded, and the rear all the way down and drooping.

[Matej]

What the heck fellers, I just measured and in the front my frame rails are less than 3cm off the ground. If I put even the 150's on the front, it'll be on the ground. My front strut towers are almost sitting on the tires already.
My car should look pretty low, right?

Why doesn't it look as low as some other S13's? I want to scrape my side steps on the ground and make pedestrians itchy. :(

In the rear the frame rails are about 5cm off the ground, so I'll probably just get the 180.6 for the rear. That will make the front bumper sit higher though.

Golly jee, maybe I just need lower aero...

[ericcastro]

is there a pic of your car??

and yes, everyone uses aero.
thats a no brainer dude.
c'mon.

[Matej]

is there a pic of your car??

and yes, everyone uses aero.
thats a no brainer dude.
c'mon.
Skyscraper.
http://www.matejblahut.com/photo/auto/garage/lolauto3.jpg

[ericcastro]

LMAO!!

dude, your car is plenty low!!
what size rims??
If you could tuck those rims.........


you would have to have then adjust the actual sleeve of the coil over so the wheels and the arms hook on up the sleeve more.

or look at what other cars have short springs in the same diameter and strength. just call em up and ask??

or cut a coil off :)

can you find shocks that are shorter than the onse you have that will work??
maybe a mild modification to them, like weld on a different mounting spot?

I think you are along the lines of machine and welding work to get lower.

Or, try your luck at fiber glass work and extend teh bottom of that kit another 1"


Besides the "sleepy eyes" making it look like the car is broke, shit looks really good.
love the rims.
I just just got rid of the knock off of that kit.

[lflkajfj12123]

sleeepy eyes are wiccckeed

i think mercer had a similar problem with this with the knockoff uras

real uras looks lower?? idk

[98koukile]

Get smaller tires? That way no clearance issue and it'll drop some. I'm guessing this is a hard parker and you don't have aftermarket LCAs? I think other cars look lower because they rock old 15 and 16s and those are what 18s?

[YoungGun]

Fuck your megans dude.

I hate you.

I want some of those shorter sprangs.

[lflkajfj12123]

Get smaller tires? That way no clearance issue and it'll drop some. I'm guessing this is a hard parker and you don't have aftermarket LCAs? I think other cars look lower because they rock old 15 and 16s and those are what 18s?

uhm

PLEASE TELL ME WHO HAS AFTERMARKET LCA'S HERE

[Sti_Guy]

Skyscraper.
http://www.matejblahut.com/photo/auto/garage/lolauto3.jpg

wow. that car is beautiful

[98koukile]

uhm

PLEASE TELL ME WHO HAS AFTERMARKET LCA'S HERE

Should I really make a list or do you already know? What I meant was, this car has no performance function so my recommendation doesn't account for proper suspension geometry

[240sxaddict]

Have you removed the coil over top mounts and bolted them on upside down yet?

[slo_slideways]

Just an FYI, there is a shop that is selling a bunch of coilover springs from Stance coilovers that were swapped out with custom spring rates. So they got a bunch of coilover spring replacements for dirt cheap.

Ranging from 4k up to like 12k I beleive? And you can pick different lengths.

I just bought a pair for my fronts in 9k and total was just over $40.00 with tax and shipping... Worth checking out at least.


A little off sunject, but not much... Anybody know what the spring length is on Ground Control coilover springs for the front on an S13?

4k-9k
eBay Motors: STANCE coilover springs 4k 5k 6k 7k 8k 9k (item 220344453512 end time Jan-23-09 16:35:25 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/STANCE-coilover-springs-4k-5k-6k-7k-8k-9k_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q 7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a 1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem2 20344453512QQitemZ220344453512QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5f TruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories)

10,11, 12k
eBay Motors: STANCE coilover springs 10k 11k 12k (item 220344453736 end time Jan-20-09 16:36:06 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/STANCE-coilover-springs-10k-11k-12k_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2 Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3 a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem 220344453736QQitemZ220344453736QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5 fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories)

Worth a lil look anyway!

[slider2828]

I really looked at those stance springs, but man, I will pass.... Rather get something really linear, well its for the track so.... eh something good...

[Matej]

Just an FYI, there is a shop that is selling a bunch of coilover springs from Stance coilovers that were swapped out with custom spring rates. So they got a bunch of coilover spring replacements for dirt cheap.

Ranging from 4k up to like 12k I beleive? And you can pick different lengths.

I just bought a pair for my fronts in 9k and total was just over $40.00 with tax and shipping... Worth checking out at least.


A little off sunject, but not much... Anybody know what the spring length is on Ground Control coilover springs for the front on an S13?

4k-9k
eBay Motors: STANCE coilover springs 4k 5k 6k 7k 8k 9k (item 220344453512 end time Jan-23-09 16:35:25 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/STANCE-coilover-springs-4k-5k-6k-7k-8k-9k_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2Q 7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3a 1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem2 20344453512QQitemZ220344453512QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5f TruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories)

10,11, 12k
eBay Motors: STANCE coilover springs 10k 11k 12k (item 220344453736 end time Jan-20-09 16:36:06 PST) (http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/STANCE-coilover-springs-10k-11k-12k_W0QQcmdZViewItemQQ_trkparmsZ72Q3a1205Q7c66Q3a2 Q7c65Q3a12Q7c39Q3a1Q7c240Q3a1318Q7c301Q3a1Q7c293Q3 a1Q7c294Q3a50QQ_trksidZp3286Q2ec0Q2em14QQhashZitem 220344453736QQitemZ220344453736QQptZMotorsQ5fCarQ5 fTruckQ5fPartsQ5fAccessories)

Worth a lil look anyway!
Dude if this was preschool I would totally share my crayons with you!

[lflkajfj12123]

Should I really make a list or do you already know? What I meant was, this car has no performance function so my recommendation doesn't account for proper suspension geometry

yes i want a list

[Matej]

Stance owners, can you please tell me if the Stance springs have the rates marked anywhere on them?
I know most coilover springs have them written on the coils in white, but I looked at some pictures of Stances and didn't see anything on any of them.
I want to order a few different pairs and experiment, but I don't know how I'll tell them apart, haha.

[superJoy]

The springs on my GR+ don't have any spring rates marked on them. Maybe ask the eBay seller if they can label them for you so you don't have any mix-ups?

[Matej]

Well, I did some very precise measuring, and came up with results indicating that in the front my frame rails are 31mm off the ground, while in the rear they are 45mm off the ground.

I ended up ordering just the 175.8 springs for the front, and I will swap the current 180.8 fronts to the rear.

Using very advanced mathematics, taking into account the way the frame rails pivot around the center of the axels, the front should be lowered to 26mm, while the rear, even though 20mm shorter, but taking into consideration the higher spring rate, the gravitational pull of the moon, and the velocity of the projectile, will be lowered to approximately 27mm.

Also, the stiff rear suspension will automatically render me the title of DK.

[slider2828]

Lol! Let me know how those coils feel

[d0pe240]

i know this is an old thread, but i am having the same problems. Matej how did it come out? i ordered some 150mm/8kg springs for the front, but it isnt were i want it to be, maybe something is wrong?? my old front springs were 200mm/7kg and i could fit one finger in the gap. now i have the 150mm in and there is a tiny gap from fender to tire. my question is why isnt the drop more drastic? im almost maxed out with the 150mm too, if i could get any help thanks. i'll try to get pictures later.

[Def]

If you have 2.5" ID springs(62.x mm), why not just get a new set of Eibachs or Hypercoils in whatever rate/length you could ever want?

[d0pe240]

would the damper length have something to do with the height?