Postby Hasbeen » 26 Feb 2010 03:43
Yes Frank, any good spring shop, [make sure you check their
reputation], will be able to lower those springs free length for
you. Doing this also retempers the spring, back to close to
original rate. With these springs, heavy duty shocks, & poly
bushes, this car is a dream on our country back roads.
As stated earlier, I had to do this, on this 7, just to bring it
down to the same height as the other 2 I had at that time. The rear
bumper was so high, it looked silly. With a good look, but not
hours under there with a tape, my son, & I could not find a reason.
I would not like to go lower than that, on stock suspension. I did
have a set lowered another 5/8" lower, but when I put them in, I
was sure they would fall out, sooner or later.
I did not want to muck with spring retaining gear on this car, which
is a daily driver.
I have an 8, which is 1.5" lower all round. As I didn't like the
other options of spring retention, I got a set of repairable gas
shocks. I tried to get some, of suitable performance, with a
shorter length, on full extension.
I could not find any, so I took these apart, & fitted 1.5" of
internal rebound rubber stop. This goes around shaft, internally
above the piston, reducing the shock's full extension. Effectly,
the lower trailing arm can not drop so low, & the spring can not
become loose.
This was the only way I felt happy with, to lower the car, & retain
the spring. Other systoms did not appeal to me.
There is a funy side to this. If I park the 8, all lowered, with
it's big exhaust system, on the lawn, beside the shed, after a run,
the heat from the exhaust will burn the grass in 2 strips, 2 inches
wide, & about 2Ft long. I have to give it half an hour to cool down
on the drive, before parking there, if I want to keep the lawn.
Hasbeen
