lowering

[kirkp]

hi guys thinking about lowering my car its 1.6 8 valve should i go for 40 or 60 mm drop also is it going to be a hard job im a bit worried about startin the job so eney help thanks im not to bad at home mechanics have done the head gaskit on the wifes 1.4 and came belt also bit and pieces if thats eney thin to go by so eney advice guys also iv 17s on my car

 

[lmay01]

a job i still have to do on mine, but its a easy job mate aslong as you have some spring compressors for the front springs, i cant comment on the drop hight due to not done it yet on my astra, however on the back : put the car on stands, undo the damper bolts from the rear beam then you should have enough space ( my springs dropped out when i did the bush's before i got the disc setup still in my boot for when i have time lol. ovbiously reverse to fit. the fronts are a bit more complicated. whip the strut off then seperate " on the bench " but DON FORGET TO COMPRESS THE SPRING WITH COMPRESSORS! lol go from there mate and your sorted good luck

 

[kirkp]

nice one mate need to now a bit more about the drop hight get a bit more info. gettin the springs off ebay mate only£55. but if iv done a head gaskit im sure i can lower my car. o well happy days mate

 

[future_182]

its easy enough to lower the car, i wouldnt reccommend just shocks at that height as your car becomes a bonerattler, id get hold of a set of shortened shocks as well,

 

[Brick Driver]

One thing I had trouble with when I changed my front shocks and springs was getting the strut top nuts undone.
I've done them before but it was a while ago and I had forgotten how I did it.

If you don't have access to an air gun it's a bit difficult loosening the nut while holding the shock absorber piston still. Next time I do it I will slightly loosen the nuts while the car is on the ground. I have got one of those impact drivers (cant think of the proper name) and a few whacks loosened the nuts. Another bodge is to grip a socket with mole grips or similar and then hold the hex on the top of the piston still using a 1/4 drive socket set fed through the middle. I did have original Vauxhall shocks on my car but the new ones had allen key sockets on them.

 

[Mr Skint]

just use a pair of mole grips on the shock shaft below the top mount, if your keeping the shocks wrap them in a piece of rubber before you grip them to avoid scoring and tearing the seals

 

[djwilde69]

Il be doing my top mounts on sat, but iv got a hydrolic spring compressor, il be Useing a angle ring spanner (lost my vortex ratchet) for the nut

 

[Mr.Negative]

Next time I do it I will slightly loosen the nuts while the car is on the ground.

Exactly what I do mate

 

[kirkp]

thanks guys .should i go for the 40 or 60 drop with 17.s just wondering which ones would look the best