started lowering need help!!!

[jayl645]

ive left the car up on axle stands so quick replys if poss,please,

ive removed the rear shocks and springs and started putting the springs back in and they dont fit properly,

where the rubber bump stops go in to the top of the spring the new ones dont fit very well,the springs to big for the rubbers so the spring just moves around and i dont think its very safe,

is this normal on lowering springs?,
and arnt lowering springs ment to be shorter than the standard ones?,


the red ones in the pics are pi and a 35mm drop the black ones are the standard ones(they have a yellow sticker saying 'FS") if thats any help
i think there standard ones because there black,



thanks jay

[AndiSe5]

that doesnt look rite. but the red ones do have slightly less coils.

i would ask the supplyer if they have given you the correct kit.

[Chavtastic]

Don't look right to me either. The top coils should be similar so they can locate properly.

Check the part number with the supplier.

[Leigh]

Those red springs look much wider than the black ones !

Slightly OT, but something I keep asking about..

exactly where do you put the axle stands? I know that may sound stupid, but I'm always worried I'll put them somewhere 'soft' and damage the floorpan.

If theres anyone who'se got a pic or diagram of where underneath is best for them I'd really appreciate it

[jayl645]

ill post a pic up tomorrow as its dark now but ive found the perfect place,
very safe

i got the springs 2nd hand so no part numbers,

they are wider and about 6-7mm longer

cheers jay

[Chavtastic]

If the springs definitely won't locate then do not fit them. Put your old ones back on [img]/sad.gif[/img]

Perhaps they are for a similar Vauxhall (ie Cavalier) but for a non-IRS model. So somebody presumed they would fit a Calibra.

As for axle stands, on the rear I put mine either under the trailing arms where the bolt to the chassis, or just one under the rear diff (great when u got a turbo [img]/wink.gif[/img] )

At the front, either under the crossmember/subframe joint or under the normal jacking points on the sills.

[Leigh]

Pics would be great Jay...

I'm just wary of thinking "oh, that's the right spot" .. even when someone tells me where to put them, without a pic I think I'll get the wrong place and damage something.
CT99 .. I think I've seen the local Budjet centre put thm in the place your referring to, but it was a good while ago and would rather be safe than sorry..

Annoying that the haynes has underbody shots of everything but the 8V..

[Chavtastic]

8v, 16v and V6 underbodies are almost identical. It's only the 4x4 that has the extra rear transmission to worry about.

But yes you're right... better safe than sorry eh?

[TommyC]

Don't worry about the fact that the lower springs are longer at rest. As soon as the weight of the car is on them they'll compress further cos there's less coils. When the weight is on them two or three of them will probably be touching.....

The thickness of the coils makes them stiffer though (dont ask me why cos i don't really understand myself, it just does...)

As for the locating issue, if you're not happy the dont fit them! However when you lift the trailing arm up to bolt the shock on you'll prob find you'll end up compressing the spring a bit to get the bolt in. This will pinch it in place and stop it slopping around until the weight is back on the wheels, by which time it deffo won't be able to move around!!!

I'd get some pic's of mine but it's dark and raining.......

[jayl645]

if it was just me in the car i would fit them but as i have got 2 little girls in the car almose every day im thinking twice,im on the look out for some new onew that fit propperly so theres no chance of it popping out if i hit a bump,

cheers
any 1 selling any for a 8v theres none on ebay at the mo,and dont realy want to pay 150 quid for a decent set when i can get them off ebay for half the price,

ive noticed a big difference with just the lowering shocks on tho much stiffer

[TommyC]

Belive me mate, they won't pop out if you hit a bump!! The shock absorber would have to un-bolt it's self first (you'd know about that cos the back would go very bouncy), and it'd have to be a bloody big bump to lift the car up far enough for the spring to drop out!!!

I understand your concerns mate, but i'm also trying to save you buying some new springs and finding they're exactly the same, if not very similar!!

You would deffo see what i mean if you could see what the springs on mine (apex 35mm drop) look like.

[jayl645]

i know what your saying but ive been refunded the money and the springs are no longer mine,so thats why im on the look out for new 1's,