Soldato
- Joined
- 13 Apr 2013
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- 13,608
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- La France
Save up for a newer car instead?
Lowering springs on factory shocks - a bad idea?
- Thread starter Akagi
- Start date
Soldato
- Joined
- 11 Sep 2009
- Posts
- 14,064
- Location
- France, Alsace
Guys, he drives a 2002 Polo. He's not looking for race spec suspension, he's looking for a lack of "get your head under the arch gap" solution. You may buy stuff... sure, but do they work? Sure, the JOM ones will work. Will the drop the car? Yes. Will they be TUV approved? Yes.
Will the ride suffer? Yes. Will they last a lifetime? No.
Will the ride suffer? Yes. Will they last a lifetime? No.
even if they are german made, that only removes 10% of the equation.
TUV approved or not, will you wish you had spent more when your £180 suspension fails at motorway speeds and sends your car into the armco?
the OP has a £200+ processor in his signature. why would you consider spending less than this on a product that is integral to your personal safety?
TUV approved or not, will you wish you had spent more when your £180 suspension fails at motorway speeds and sends your car into the armco?
the OP has a £200+ processor in his signature. why would you consider spending less than this on a product that is integral to your personal safety?
All in good time. Now is not the time. Thanks for the advice?
This is about all I'm looking for really. Most forums I've looked at regarding them say that they are cheap, but good for the money. A sort of "they do the job but don't expect the world"
Do I? Where?
You have a point but isn't it rather unlikely that will happen? Motorway speeds for a car that can go 95 flat out and is very noisy and inefficient at 80 won't be very quick. Probably the... the speed limit
Can you stick a link up? Bearing in mind the car is worth £1500 and I'm not made of money?
Can you stick a link up? Bearing in mind the car is worth £1500 and I'm not made of money?
Don't modify the car then, if you don't have the money to do it properly, then don't do it at all.
I've have Eibach springs on 2 Ford Focus' that I've owned, both have been on existing dampers. Through 6 years of ownership I've never had a problem.
50mm is too big a drop for standard shocks, 30mm drop on Eibach springs will do nicely.
I do have the money to do it properly but I don't see the sense in spending £500 on shocks for a £1500 1.2 Polo from 2002 when all I'm going to do is sell them at a loss of more than the JOM shocks cost in a couple of years!
Sorry, no ebay access at work.
the set were £300, but itll work well, but wont be 50mm
its all down to whether you want to just loose some ride height or do it properly.
Ive just put a full Koni adjustable kit on my 213k mile, 2000 Golf, my car will be worth less than yours, but I wanted to do it properly, i do a lot of miles in it.
My shady old BMW, thats on Konis and Eibachs. a decent aftermarket kit can often be better than OE
the set were £300, but itll work well, but wont be 50mm
its all down to whether you want to just loose some ride height or do it properly.
Ive just put a full Koni adjustable kit on my 213k mile, 2000 Golf, my car will be worth less than yours, but I wanted to do it properly, i do a lot of miles in it.
My shady old BMW, thats on Konis and Eibachs. a decent aftermarket kit can often be better than OE
The amount lowered isnt the only important factor. The damper has to control the spring rate. I worn out damper with an uprated spring is terrible becaus the damper cannot control it and the car is terrible over bumps, or anything that involves suspension movement
Bad idea? YES!
Your shocks will die far quicker than they would normally, they have to work a lot harder with lowering springs and won't match it properly. So whereas you will improve the looks, you will harm your shocks and probably worsen handling.
Lower the car properly and buy a package from a decent brand that includes both springs with matched shocks. Or go extreme and go coilover setup.
Your shocks will die far quicker than they would normally, they have to work a lot harder with lowering springs and won't match it properly. So whereas you will improve the looks, you will harm your shocks and probably worsen handling.
Lower the car properly and buy a package from a decent brand that includes both springs with matched shocks. Or go extreme and go coilover setup.
I put Teins on one of my cars. Great springs, but the rears were so soft that anyone who sat in the back then caused the rear to drop massively.
Get matched springs + shocks, or decent brand coil overs.
Putting lowering springs on standard shocks just doesn't seem to be worth it.
Get matched springs + shocks, or decent brand coil overs.
Putting lowering springs on standard shocks just doesn't seem to be worth it.
Thanks for all the feedback. I knew £80 lowering springs were too good to be true
I do still want a 50mm drop but it seems like I'm going to have to fork out a bucket load of money or compromise.
There are also £175 suspension kits on the bay, guessing they're crap too?
Also type Rs are already quite low whereas 9N's ride really quite high, I think 50mm suits them well.
Have a look on clubpolo.co.uk, a few members have shops and I'm sure one was selling suspension bits.
Soldato
- Joined
- 11 Sep 2009
- Posts
- 14,064
- Location
- France, Alsace
I'd love to see figures of cases where those coilovers have failed causing an accident like that.
The fact is, they will do the job you're looking to achieve on a budget.
Another fact is, they will probably be pretty crashed and harsh for ride.
APPARENTLY another fact (lol) is that they will kill you. They won't.
The fact is, they will do the job you're looking to achieve on a budget.
Another fact is, they will probably be pretty crashed and harsh for ride.
APPARENTLY another fact (lol) is that they will kill you. They won't.