Question on the safety of my lowered springs

[SkysTheLimit]

hey,

i bought myself some used lowered front suspension, off a half cut from Jap-Land, consisting of: unknown blue, very firm lowered springs (not stockies cut) and KYB shocks.

I went to a average mechanic, seemed he didnt know alot about sports cars or their suspension.

Anyways when we got the supsension all put on, he was worried about the safety of it all. Because while jacked up in the air, and with the shocks hanging down, the top of the springs sat so that there was about a 10cm gap between them and the top shock seat.

As he didnt work with sports cars, he said on normal everyday cars, that shouldnt be the case, he said that the springs should always have contact with the struts when they are fully extended.

I am really happy with the hight, and feel of them. So i was wondering if there are any legal or any safety probs with this? Maybe if i went over a big hump or something, is there a safety prob with maybe the springs somehow jumping up and not sitting right on landing?

cheers for any help or advice you can give me
STL

[Wojtek]

Hi,
Having a spring that is uncaptive on full droop by 10cm absolutely huge. Springs must be captive, no matter if it is a taxi or a sports car, for safety reasons and is also a legal requirement. Without knowing what car you have, I can't say how unsafe this is, the least bad thing that can happen is for the spring not seat properly on its platforms, and the worst thing that can happen is for the spring to completely come out of the car.
I strongly suggest that fix this asap.

Wojtek.

[Danish]

If they are blue coloured springs from Japan, they are possible the brand "kg/mm" springs like I have.

I have a set of these HD lowered springs in my Soarer. They are not "trapped" or "captive" and when on a lift there is a huge gap between the strut and the spring. This is normal for a standard strut/shock and a lowered spring that do not match.

You will only have problems if you go over big bumps and the car gets airborne. If you are really worried, get a nice set of coilovers.

[SkysTheLimit]

ok, thanks for the advice,

after doing some reasearch, and more driving in my car, i'm going to try and fix the prob asap.

The springs are also just too hard, they cause the car to jump around when i hit uneven bumps.

Anyone know if changing the springs to progressive ones be the best way to solve my problem?? Any reconmendations?

thanks,
cheers
STL

[Danish]

Again, get some adjustable coilovers that allow for suspension stifness variations and they are usually progressive these days.

Lowered springs have to be HD otherwise you'll be hitting the bump stops. So if you don't want it bumpy/hard then just put the stock springs back in.

[Wojtek]

Originally posted by SkysTheLimit
ok, thanks for the advice,

after doing some reasearch, and more driving in my car, i'm going to try and fix the prob asap.

The springs are also just too hard, they cause the car to jump around when i hit uneven bumps.

Anyone know if changing the springs to progressive ones be the best way to solve my problem?? Any reconmendations?

thanks,
cheers
STL
here's a link about progressive springs tghat you may find of some interest;
http://www.whiteline.com.au/faqsprings.htm#I want "progressive springs", but
If you'd like to email me direct with full details of your car, full specs of your shocks and springs and what you need done, we'll see what we can do.

Wojtek.
wojtek@whiteline.com.au