Lowering Springs

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Soldato
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Staffordshire
I've found a set of lowering springs for a MK1 ford focus estate on the bay.

I don't want to spend a fortune on modifying the focus but I think I can stretch to £25 for a used set of 4.

My question is, are the springs the same on the estate version of the MK1 focus as the hatchback?
 
I wasn't asking whether it was a good idea. FWIW they're Weitec springs, albeit used. Advertised in good condition, I emailed the seller about condition and fit - he said they were in very good condition with no evidence of damage. I have this in writing, if they're even remotely damaged I won't use them and reject them. He couldn't offer advice on whether they would fit my hatchback.

Googling would suggest not but that's based on companies selling different kits for each body style.
 
shoes said:
I've found a set of lowering springs for a MK1 ford focus estate on the bay.

I don't want to spend a fortune on modifying the focus but I think I can stretch to £25 for a used set of 4.

My question is, are the springs the same on the estate version of the MK1 focus as the hatchback?
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Recipe for disaster? A proper set of springs and struts is what you want... but why the hell would you (he) even consider it on an estate?
 
Fair point, it's something I've always wanted to do to the focus but never had the inclination to spend any more money than necessary on it - but £25 is not what I consider a massive amount for a small mod and I could do the work myself with the help of a good friend and his spring clamps. (another potential recipe for disaster :p )?

Really bored of the focus now and will be changing it as soon as this house deal goes through (it's dragging on way too long now:( ) but this should liven up the driving experience a little.

As for the estate.... meh, not my idea of fun but each to their own.
 
Seriously unless you are spending proper money (£1000+) never ever touch a cars suspension.

Nothing will be remotely close to the handling the OE setup for a few hundred quid.
For the "I'm so cool with my lowered Focus" look it's not worth the cost of potentially killing yourself due to a badly handling car.

I will guarantee you that your dampers will not match the spring rates or cope well with the shorter travel of these new springs, and to make it worse you are buying second hand.

Don't be a plum.
 
go to the manufacturer website and see what models those springs were applicable to

fit them with appropriate dampers, otherwise the whole lot will be naff
 
Hmmm as you can tell I know nothing about suspension systems - I think I'll leave it alone tbh.

The springs won't fit, just found a thread of FFOC which clarifies this.

Never mind - cheers for the input guys!
 
It won't be a problem. I doubt you'll even notice a slight mismatch in spring rate and damping. It's not a racing car at the end of the day, it's a Ford Focus hatchback.

The estate rears are probably a bit harder to deal with the added weight, which is how Ford have done their estates in the past. You might find it's a bit more tail happy with harder springs at the rear. Win, I say.
 
Jonny69 said:
It won't be a problem. I doubt you'll even notice a slight mismatch in spring rate and damping. It's not a racing car at the end of the day, it's a Ford Focus hatchback.

The estate rears are probably a bit harder to deal with the added weight, which is how Ford have done their estates in the past. You might find it's a bit more tail happy with harder springs at the rear. Win, I say.
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How much more tail happy? My mrs drives the car regularly and she's not one for driving pleasure.

Clarkey will testify actually, last night I went to top up her washer fluid only for her to tell me ''It won't take much". As I was filling it she told Clarkey that she doesn't really use it as it makes the dirt on the areas of the windscreen the wiper can't reach more prominent. Sums it up really :p
 
Might buy them anyway and if they don't fit the I'll give them to my mate dan for christmas, he has a MK1 estate.
 
MeEsH BaKkA said:
Seriously unless you are spending proper money (£1000+) never ever touch a cars suspension.

Nothing will be remotely close to the handling the OE setup for a few hundred quid.
For the "I'm so cool with my lowered Focus" look it's not worth the cost of potentially killing yourself due to a badly handling car.

I will guarantee you that your dampers will not match the spring rates or cope well with the shorter travel of these new springs, and to make it worse you are buying second hand.

Don't be a plum.
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-30mm springs (which they most likely are) are not going to kill the handling provided the spring rates are sensible and they'll be deigned with the OE dampers in mind. Plus Ford actually sell optional sports springs for their cars usually don't they, or at least they did in some cases IIRC.

£100 -30mm springs and a fast road setup on the EP3 Type-R makes a world of difference for the better. You can't blanket the same old twaddle on every car just because you don't like the kind of people that do it.

I've got £600 coilovers on my car with a £100 fast road setup. Not quite £1000 and I'm certainly not dead. I also look hella cool in my low as your grannies nipples GayMobile :p
 
Just lol at all the doom-mongery in here, 'OMG don't fit lowering springs you will die in a huge fireball!!!111'

Sensible lowering springs will not ruin the handling to the point of being dangerous. The worse that'll happen is the ride might be a bit more 'bouncy', but in reality you'll be hard pressed to tell much difference on a run of the mill every day car that isn't being driven to the edge of it's handling envelope on every corner.

Hell, I've been rolling on cheapo ebay coilovers for well over a year, and that includes several track sessions, and as far as I'm aware I haven't been killed to death yet.
 
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Lowering springs, what a stupid idea; you might end up with a car that isn't low enough, or is even too low.
Therefore a few exhaust U-clamps are a much better idea for a fully adjustable ride height. Of course this isn't a permanent solution. When you have decided on the ideal ride height, you can cut the springs down.

I am not serious!
 
MeEsH BaKkA said:
Seriously unless you are spending proper money (£1000+) never ever touch a cars suspension.

Nothing will be remotely close to the handling the OE setup for a few hundred quid.
For the "I'm so cool with my lowered Focus" look it's not worth the cost of potentially killing yourself due to a badly handling car.

I will guarantee you that your dampers will not match the spring rates or cope well with the shorter travel of these new springs, and to make it worse you are buying second hand.

Don't be a plum.
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My Focus handles a lot better on Eibach lowering springs, and Whiteline Anti-Roll Bars, when compared with the standard setup, and those cost less than £400.
 
its a mk1 focus, its going to be pretty old. the original dampers will be shot to death, fitting uprated springs will just be naff with no damping

i dont see the issue with second hand springs, why do you lot seem to think fitting uprated springs to knackered dampers is fine?

as fpr the type r, thats bound to work better if its newer and also it would come with far farder damping from the factory than the focus so would have a much better chance of controlling the new springs
 
Standard dampers (for the moment). Also forgot to mention it makes the car look a lot better aesthetically. The standard gap from wheel to arch is comical on the ST's, same for the RS's.
 
MeEsH BaKkA said:
Seriously unless you are spending proper money (£1000+) never ever touch a cars suspension.

Nothing will be remotely close to the handling the OE setup for a few hundred quid.
For the "I'm so cool with my lowered Focus" look it's not worth the cost of potentially killing yourself due to a badly handling car.

I will guarantee you that your dampers will not match the spring rates or cope well with the shorter travel of these new springs, and to make it worse you are buying second hand.

Don't be a plum.
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LOL what an absolute load of crap. My colt is down 50mm on springs near double the rate of stock ones. You know what, the handling/stability is improved almost beyond measure, compromise being the ride quality is terrible.
 
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