Options,Options..........there must be some???

[jakblade]

Yet another suspension question..........I want to change my suspension, the cars done 90k and after doing work around the front it all looks original so update is required.

My dilema, every set that I have looked at lowers the Zed to a degree. I am one of the strange folk that don't really want to lower my Zed any(loads of rather large sleeping bobbies around my area) What I hear you say??You don't want it lowered??

Well, no not really, so the question is ....What are my options????

Any pearls of wisdom greatly appreciated from this veritable font of knowledge.

 

[GaryT]

So what exactly is wrong with your suspension? If your looking to replace tired dampers, you could buy standard replacement struts and use your old springs

 

[jakblade]

It was just after 90k I wouldn't think that the suspension was in tip top condition thats all and would like to swap it out. But it looks as though if you want after market and not OEM then lowered is the only way(or so it would seem)..Just wondering if anyone out there had replaced theirs with non OEM stuff without lowering.

 

[jan_tekin]

B6s with your current springs or a set of coilovers, Im running the latter with them set little higher then lowering springs so bumps are not as much of an issue. :rofl:

At least with coilovers you get to choose your ride height so you could match your current height no problem

 

[Midhurstman]

It is the springs which determine the ride height and these would only usually be replaced if broken, or lowering is desired by fitting replacement springs designed to lower the ride height. When you talk of suspension renewal at 90k it would usually be the shock absorbers which are tired (leaky) by this this time and would benefit from renewal. Plenty of non OEM makes are available and, if correctly specified, ie for standard suspension or M-sport, shocks do not effect the ride height.

 

[jakblade]

I understand what you are saying Midhurstman but coming from an Engineering background just because a spring isn't broken doesn't mean it is ok. Things fatigue over time and lose some of their original design properties. Irrelevant as to whether my suspension "needs" changing, I was asking for info on what aftermarket parts, if any, were out there as replacements that didn't lower the suspension. I have been looking at coilovers but all I have seen lower the car.

I see Jan says he is running coilovers that do this, which one's have you got Jan?? The smallest amount of lowering I have found was 15mm rear and 20mm front.

 

[Chrissyg]

Why not buy some new aftermarket dampers (Bilstein B6's as mentioned above) and some new OEM springs, doesn't that cover you for both instances? You keep your desired ride height, replace your springs with new, good units, and have updated your dampers.. :?

 

[paul s]

you will not be able to tell the difference between 90k springs and new ones on the road .the difference in used springs and new will be so minimal that weather conditions will make more of a difference. new shocks ball joints and bushes is the way to go to freshen up suspension

 

[Midhurstman]

you will not be able to tell the difference between 90k springs and new ones on the road .the difference in used springs and new will be so minimal that weather conditions will make more of a difference. new shocks ball joints and bushes is the way to go to freshen up suspension

+1, of course springs take on a set after prolonged use but I doubt it would be significant or even noticeable.
I am also from an engineering background and I must admit I don't understand how an adjustable coilover would mean that the car must then be lower than when standard, surely it would depend on the adjustment. As I am on Bilstein B8's and never used adjustable coilovers, I am happy to be educated on this, so if I have got it wrong I will appreciate learning something new (as ever).

 

[jakblade]

you will not be able to tell the difference between 90k springs and new ones on the road .the difference in used springs and new will be so minimal that weather conditions will make more of a difference. new shocks ball joints and bushes is the way to go to freshen up suspension

+1, of course springs take on a set after prolonged use but I doubt it would be significant or even noticeable.
I am also from an engineering background and I must admit I don't understand how an adjustable coilover would mean that the car must then be lower than when standard, surely it would depend on the adjustment. As I am on Bilstein B8's and never used adjustable coilovers, I am happy to be educated on this, so if I have got it wrong I will appreciate learning something new (as ever).

I'm only repeating what I have found mooching the interweb about coilovers. Every set I have found state that they lower the car. If this is not the case then why state the fact? Are these companies appeasing the boy racers?
It looks as though a decent set of shocks and oem springs is the way forward for me.
Many thanks for the input guys.

 

[tertius]

you will not be able to tell the difference between 90k springs and new ones on the road .the difference in used springs and new will be so minimal that weather conditions will make more of a difference. new shocks ball joints and bushes is the way to go to freshen up suspension

+1, of course springs take on a set after prolonged use but I doubt it would be significant or even noticeable.
I am also from an engineering background and I must admit I don't understand how an adjustable coilover would mean that the car must then be lower than when standard, surely it would depend on the adjustment. As I am on Bilstein B8's and never used adjustable coilovers, I am happy to be educated on this, so if I have got it wrong I will appreciate learning something new (as ever).

I'm only repeating what I have found mooching the interweb about coilovers. Every set I have found state that they lower the car. If this is not the case then why state the fact? Are these companies appeasing the boy racers?
It looks as though a decent set of shocks and oem springs is the way forward for me.
Many thanks for the input guys.

Coilovers are clearly adjustable, but only within limits - they only have so many turns on the spring perch! Every manufacturer needs to decide what they are aiming for/works best for their target market/setup/spring sizes/etc.. As a consequence you can easily have an adjustable coilover that will only adjust to a minimum drop vs stock of say 20mm.

 

[jakblade]

Cheers Tertius Just what I was thinking. So no coilovers for me.

 

[NeilP]

Cheers Tertius Just what I was thinking. So no coilovers for me.

Not quite. I'd argue the complete opposite. Some companies offer custom setups whereby it is all tailored to your needs (i.e. length of strut/damper, valving, spring rates, and more)

Ultimately though, the budget will be the limiting factor here.

May be worth getting in touch with a BC Coilover dealer and see what they can offer you. Failing that, Fortune Auto would also be able to build you something to your needs.

 

[tertius]

Cheers Tertius Just what I was thinking. So no coilovers for me.

Not quite. I'd argue the complete opposite. Some companies offer custom setups whereby it is all tailored to your needs (i.e. length of strut/damper, valving, spring rates, and more)

Ultimately though, the budget will be the limiting factor here.

May be worth getting in touch with a BC Coilover dealer and see what they can offer you. Failing that, Fortune Auto would also be able to build you something to your needs.

True of course, but the point stands - it will only have a limited range of adjustment.

Not really sure what the implications of changing a "standard" coilover in that way would be; the nearest I have experience is fitting S2 shocks to S1 Elises where the approach was to alter the pickup point rather than start building custom shocks.

 

[mike46]

I have BC coilovers, and i'm sure that if I ran them at maximum height it would look frankly ridiculous! So I'm not sure I see the issue!

If the only reason you dont want it lowered is becuase of speedbumps, then all I can say is they must be massive!!! Mine is fairly low, and I havent yet come accross a bump I cant get over.

 

[jakblade]

I have BC coilovers, and i'm sure that if I ran them at maximum height it would look frankly ridiculous! So I'm not sure I see the issue!

If the only reason you dont want it lowered is becuase of speedbumps, then all I can say is they must be massive!!! Mine is fairly low, and I havent yet come accross a bump I cant get over.

They're not actually speed bumps as such I think they were designed by Fritz Todt and resemble his WW2 bunkers along the Atlantic Coast of France. They are massive, I cycle down the road every day to work and the gutter is littered with a veritable plethora of broken springs and other bits of vehicles that have been dislodged. I myself have had 1 Mondeo and 1 Mazda spring fall victim to the "bunkers" in the road and don't plan on the Zed being their next victim.

All I'm after is a new set of suspension, that won't break the bank and won't lower the Zed. I must apologize for causing so much hassle over this one request. :?