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Apr 14, 2010 11:31:42 GMT
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chaps, who has lowered a LS400?
I see inexpensive coilovers, but thats too much for me. I don't see lowered springs anywhere - am I just looking in the wrong places? My last resort is the nun and kitten killing approach, but I am concerned about ride quality and I've found chopped springs often lead to a choppy ride.
I know there have been a few LS400s with altitude correction on the forum before, so who chopped 'em and how did she ride and handle after?
Some of you may recall me swearing I would not modify this car in any way, but I'm getting nose bleeds being so high up, yah.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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ThePollitt
Posted a lot
Fix up, look... at that car on eBay!
Posts: 4,696
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Apr 14, 2010 11:37:08 GMT
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Coilovers too much in what way? If you're going to take it all apart to change/cut springs then you may as well opt for those. Unless of course, they have a fixed re-bound rate which could harm the ride. If you can run-em soft though, that's got to be your main method of getting more intimate with Terra Firma.
Plus, you retain the stock suspension then, allowing it to be bolted back on should you ever sell.
Chris
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Apr 14, 2010 11:38:09 GMT
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Lowered LS's always look the cats ass.
Good luck in your quest.
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rysz
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 2,558
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Apr 14, 2010 12:20:22 GMT
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Nightmares' was on the floor and looked tres awesome.
I am sure that he just chopped the springs...
Rysz.
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Apr 14, 2010 13:20:25 GMT
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Coilovers too much in what way? In the cost too much way. With a LS its best to buy new springs and cut them as they take a right pounding on these cars (cracked coils are quite common) so I'd still have the existing springs to refit for resale if needed. Rysz - I've seen a few slammed on cut springs but not having ridden in one I dunno what the ride is lie and this is the daily so I want it to still be smooth.
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Last Edit: Apr 14, 2010 13:24:37 GMT by akku
1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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ThePollitt
Posted a lot
Fix up, look... at that car on eBay!
Posts: 4,696
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Apr 14, 2010 13:24:37 GMT
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Coilovers too much in what way? In the cost too much way. With a LS its best to buy new springs and cut them as they take a right pounding on these cars (cracked coils are quite common) so I'd still have the existing springs to refit for resale if needed. Ah, sorry. As you said they were inexpensive I thought the 'too much' was in ref to a potential hard ride. New springs and cut then I guess. Nightmares is your man, but from what I recall he said it still drove like a honey-covered cloud. Despite the fact it had no-profile 19's on it. Chris
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Nathan
Club Retro Rides Member
Posts: 5,649
Club RR Member Number: 1
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lower my Lexus...Nathan
@bgtmidget7476
Club Retro Rides Member 1
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Apr 14, 2010 14:27:03 GMT
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Kill the Nuns fella
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Apr 14, 2010 14:49:10 GMT
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he cut his down to match a broken one on it i think he said, on a low and slow cruiser i might take that risk, but i'd be worried that if one had broken the others were past it and not try throwing it around at all, ever.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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lower my Lexus...BenzBoy
@benzboy
Club Retro Rides Member 7
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Apr 14, 2010 14:56:18 GMT
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I reckon with standard diameter wheels there would be enough sidewall deflection not to affect the ride all that much with a coil or two off. I've found it's the combination of low-pro tyres and extremely shortened springs that give the choppyness. No experience with Lexusususes though. I'd have thought that you wouldn't be wanting to slam it on its backside being a daily, so a few coils would just firm up the ride a little bit.
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Carter
Posted a lot
Posts: 1,535
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Apr 14, 2010 17:12:31 GMT
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Cut 2 coils front and back on mine. IMO it improved its ride quality and road handling immensly, only a hint of bump-steer, and took away the boat-like roll on cornering. Front springs were easy of course, the rears were a little trickier to get out. Only got these pics to hand..
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'77 Chevy G20
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Apr 14, 2010 17:31:02 GMT
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bet you wish you had my lexus air suspension mate
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lizardking
Part of things
'zon the revelator
Posts: 502
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Apr 14, 2010 18:24:36 GMT
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I'M SO RETRO , I SH1T SPANGLES
'68 Amazon,97 x300 jaaaaaaag,96 Mx-5,86 1300 mg Trike
L300 Delica ex MM
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Apr 14, 2010 20:44:51 GMT
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thats an offer I cannot refuse. I'll have those off you at the next FUCEM meet up. aux, thats the kind of thing I need to know.
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1941 Wolseley Not Rod - 1956 Humber Hawk - 1957 Daimler Conquest - 1966 Buick LeSabre - 1968 Plymouth Sport Fury - 1968 Ford Galaxie - 1969 Ford Country Squire - 1969 Mercury Marquis - 1970 Morris Minor - 1970 Buick Skylark - 1970 Ford Galaxie - 1971 Ford Galaxie - 1976 Continental Mark IV - 1976 Ford Capri - 1994 Ford Fiesta
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Tim
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,340
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Apr 15, 2010 13:02:29 GMT
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I like those - i assume they sit on the regular spring platform under compression, and the grub screws stop them from moving/bouncing up the leg? Wonder if they would/you can get them to fit a polo? :-)
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VIP
South East
Posts: 8,293
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Apr 15, 2010 15:43:21 GMT
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I like those - I assume they sit on the regular spring platform under compression, and the grub screws stop them from moving/bouncing up the leg? Wonder if they would/you can get them to fit a polo? :-) They are pretty much 'universal' and come in different diameters to suit different struts. Don't forget you'll need to take account of your existing struts stroke length. You don't want your shocks bottoming out before full drop occurs.
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Tim
Posted a lot
Posts: 3,340
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Apr 15, 2010 15:59:51 GMT
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I like those - I assume they sit on the regular spring platform under compression, and the grub screws stop them from moving/bouncing up the leg? Wonder if they would/you can get them to fit a polo? :-) They are pretty much 'universal' and come in different diameters to suit different struts. Don't forget you'll need to take account of your existing struts stroke length. You don't want your shocks bottoming out before full drop occurs. Being dumb - how could that occur? Surely its no different to lowering springs or am i getting confused? Shorter spring but you can wind the spring back up to raise the car if needed?
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lower my Lexus...retrowagen1234
@GUEST
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Apr 15, 2010 16:16:23 GMT
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yeah standard polo (mk1,2,3) will have enough travel in the shock to put the wheel up inside the arch and make it undriveable... so theres not a problem there... Only one you might have is that the oil dampers that were sometimes fitted have a tendancy to explode... , the cartridge standard monroe ones are great and will take the punishment
anyway... just realised I'm talking bout a polo in a thread about alistairs lexi
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Apr 15, 2010 17:05:29 GMT
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mine was cut by about 3 coils mainly due to getting the car with one broken spring and just cut the others to match the height of that one. it did make it a little stiff on the bumpiest of roads but in general it was fine seats I found were the biggest problem due to them being so wide because the car goes round corners so much better you do find yourself sliding about on them ;D..
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Last Edit: Apr 15, 2010 17:23:01 GMT by Deleted
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fredje8v
Part of things
96 Daihatsu Atrai
Posts: 186
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Apr 15, 2010 20:45:33 GMT
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Just a quick question about that coil over kit. Does it have to be welded on your shock absorber?? Or is the top closed, so that it just "leans" on the top of the shocker???
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Apr 15, 2010 20:50:20 GMT
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I've got to be honest and say I would rather chop the springs than go for the 'faux' coilovers.
I have heard that the springs are incredibly hard and short, at least with chopping you know that the spring rate is going to be close?
J
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