Granadaman72
Part of things
I likes Granada's, Cortina's, Sierra's, Viva's, Marina's....................
Posts: 483
|
|
Apr 13, 2012 15:43:09 GMT
|
Hi all, in the not to distant future id like to drop the Sierra estate a bit (1989 1.6l), about 40-50mm hopefully. Do i need to use estate springs or are hatch/saloons the same and is there any tricks to do it on the cheap i,e shorted springs off a different make or even cutting? Its a povo spec laser if that makes a difference (its riding quite high at the mo) I know i can buy springs off the shelf but budget is an issue and i got my fingers burnt on my last Granada i lowered, i had some Lesjofors -30 fitted that didnt lower the car at all just made the ride rock hard so they was replaced with some Spax that lowered it about 10mm and they were nearly as hard too  That was a povo spec car too if it makes any difference. All the other higher spec models ive lowered in the past have been fine |
| |
|
|
|
|
bortaf
Posted a lot
Posts: 4,549
|
|
Apr 13, 2012 20:23:12 GMT
|
Has to be estate specific springs i'm affraid, saloons are differant  The thing with lowerd springs is you are usually replacing saggy already low springs with new low springs so the height stays the same you just get a stiffer ride. |
| |
R.I.P photobucket
|
|
dowot
Part of things
Posts: 105
|
|
Apr 13, 2012 20:45:23 GMT
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 13, 2012 22:09:06 GMT
|
|
Everybody keeps going on about them being different, i'm guessing the trailing arms are the same, so the difference would be in length and spring rate, and aren't these supposed to be changed anyway? ;D
|
| |
|
|
stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 14,840
Club RR Member Number: 174
|
Lowering Sierra estates?stealthstylz
@stealthstylz
Club Retro Rides Member 174
|
Apr 13, 2012 22:27:31 GMT
|
|
Estate (with trailing arm IRS) springs are usually shorter than on saloons becuause the flat estate floor gives less room to fit them.
|
| |
|
|
dowot
Part of things
Posts: 105
|
|
|
|
arms are different , shocks are different, springs are...well springs but the rates take into account the difference in weight the estate has over the rear end.......... as for the shape, i've not seen a hatch or saloon spring for a while...  |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Well I researched this a bit, and the trailing arms are different, at least they got the damper inside the spring instead of at the back.
And the spring seems to have a slightly larger diameter.
But I would still be tempted to just cut a set of stiff normal sierra springs to fit, or, if you're bothered about "going to stiff" cut the stock ones.
Also some of these came with self adjusting suspension, if your's got it you have to get standard dampers, or possibly mod the self adjusting suspension to lower the car.
|
| |
Last Edit: Apr 14, 2012 8:27:34 GMT by dude
|
|
|
|
|
Apr 14, 2012 18:59:18 GMT
|
carefull about the load valve on the rear brakes as lowering the car without some mods makes the back end come round very quickly:) just chop a coil and a half out of the springs ,its easiest but you will need a set of camber plates or some washers for the rear hubs as it will eat tyres and i mean eat 2 thou miles if your lucky |
| |
|
|
Granadaman72
Part of things
I likes Granada's, Cortina's, Sierra's, Viva's, Marina's....................
Posts: 483
|
|
Apr 15, 2012 19:15:32 GMT
|
Thanks for the input guys, i appreciate it It will be a little while yet but ill get pics up when its done. don't think there will be a load valve because its a very basic spec car but ill check, thanks for the warning. Yeah, I'm expecting tyre wear on the back, the Granada eats them too and thats lowered 40mm, I'm hoping the sierra wont be so bad cos its only a 1.6 carb whereas the Granada's a 2.9i manual and i have been known to have a heavy right foot at times ;D |
| |
|
|
That was a povo spec car too if it makes any difference. All the other higher spec models ive lowered in the past have been fine
