guy
Part of things
Posts: 352
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Nov 21, 2006 14:06:10 GMT
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I'm starting to feel the need to slightly lower my 309, i would like to take about 3 inch from the back and about 2 inchs from the front, What is the easiest way of doing this?? The rear is torsion bars, but how easy is it to actually do this because i don't really know whats involved? The front is a simple spring swap. But will lowering springs from a 205/309 Gti work on my non Gti?  Or will i have to get some specific springs for it?? Many Thanks Guy |
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Mk1 Escort slowly rusting into nothing! But safely stored in a dry garage.
Mk2 Golf, Low n' Loud
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Nov 21, 2006 19:33:29 GMT
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I await a flaming, but you could use a haynes jokebook to figure out how to remove/refit the torsion bars. then you could just turn it a spline a time to see how far it drops. we did a spaxo at work, using the max power modding haynes book  it was actually useful, just didn't say 1 spline was like 2" or something  as for the front, gti's might be 1" lower as standard, meaning you'll only need 1" lower gti springs for a 2" drop. I don't know if they are lower or not, sorry. |
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racer86
Posted a lot
'72 BMW 2002 / '72 Alpine A110 Gordini
Posts: 2,184
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Nov 21, 2006 20:08:08 GMT
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Prepare for a world of pain if you are going to try and remove torsion bars that have been sat untouched under a car for 15 years. The only way is to drop the beam and do it off the car. luckily thats not a big deal. One spline will give you a nice sporty drop, 2 splines will be decked!!
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guy
Part of things
Posts: 352
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Nov 21, 2006 20:16:45 GMT
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Ummm but if i drop the beam, am i ryt in saying that the brake lines will have to come off?? Or is there a way of droping the drums off then dropin the beam out??
But how difficult would it be with it on the car?? What is actually involved in adjusting the splines??? Do i just pull the ends off the beam and rotate them 1 spline? Or is it harder than that?
Guy
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Mk1 Escort slowly rusting into nothing! But safely stored in a dry garage.
Mk2 Golf, Low n' Loud
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racer86
Posted a lot
'72 BMW 2002 / '72 Alpine A110 Gordini
Posts: 2,184
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Nov 21, 2006 22:20:55 GMT
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The torsion bars have to be removed and they will be seized solid. They are held in with torx bolts and elliptical washers and are a curse word/impossible to do on the car the first time they come out. (I'm basing this on my 106Xsi so your 309 might be slightly different)
To get the beam out should only need the brakes disconnecting and clamping (that way just a quick bleed will sort them out when you reconnect them), disconnect the handbrake and remove 4 bolts holding the beam to the body. Thats it. It will be quicker that doing it on the car if you can do it on the car at all. Its also easier to mark up the bars accurately as it pretty off pi55ing when you put it back together and its wonky!
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Lowering My Peugeot??rustingdeathtrap
@GUEST
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Nov 21, 2006 23:19:05 GMT
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Like racer says, six bolts to drop the rear beam, 4 16mm under the rear seat and 2 13mm on the rear shock mounts. Disconnect the brake lines and handbrake cables and take it out.
Your gonna need to heat on the torsion bar bolts to get them out without snapping them and probably a bit of heat on the arms to get the torsion bars out too, but try not to get the actual torsion bars too hot though as you'll risk making them brittle and they could snap up the road.
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Last Edit: Nov 21, 2006 23:20:33 GMT by rustingdeathtrap
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ishan
Part of things
Posts: 370
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Nov 21, 2006 23:30:45 GMT
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GTI springs work quite well on base models. I've had 4 base model 309's all been lowered on different make springs and they lower it as much or lower than stated. This shows some -30mm spax springs on my old 1.1 309  As said, beams can be a curse word due to their odd bolts and usually in most cases the bars are rusted in. I've had a few 309 beams done at garages and they charge £70 to £120 depending if its rusted or not. |
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Lowering My Peugeot??slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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I have a method for this. Ive done a couple and it was a bit of work but quite easy.
You have to put the car on axle stands and then prop the brake drum up with a bit of wood or something so you just support its weight and not the weight of the car, You then take out the torsion bar (big slide hammer is essential and some heat on it helps!), Then put another block in between the drum and whatever your propping it up with that is exactly the amount you want to lower the car, then put the torsion bar back in (you rotate it around to you find a place it fits) The bars splines are offsett so its not just a case of 1 or 2 splines. If you roatae it you can get quite fine adjustmant
It attulay tells you how to slam your car in the haynes manual btw!
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guy
Part of things
Posts: 352
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Nov 22, 2006 14:32:36 GMT
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Errm well i think i will drop the beam out then, i just need to wait until my christmas break from uni.
Guy
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Mk1 Escort slowly rusting into nothing! But safely stored in a dry garage.
Mk2 Golf, Low n' Loud
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slater
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 6,390
Club RR Member Number: 78
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Lowering My Peugeot??slater
@slater
Club Retro Rides Member 78
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Nov 22, 2006 16:58:35 GMT
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I don't get how dropping the beam helps? you still have to get the torsion bars out?
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Or will i have to get some specific springs for it??
it was actually useful, just didn't say 1 spline was like 2" or something 
