Lowering springs

Mitch · Motorer

RE: Lowering springs

TrixieinNY · Motorer

Sounds like a sweet deal to me! I think we payed $250 for the H&R's.

Mitch · Motorer

Ya I think the vogtland aren't as awesome as the H&R's but they would be a cheap way to get rid of wheel gap until I can get coil overs. I get my wheels today so we will see what it looks like before maybe I won't want to drop it right now anyway.

Do you drive Trixie much in the winter? If you do, did you have any problems with the snow and it being lowered?

Venno · Motorer

SPDinNY wrote:
oh Venno dont be jealous of my $14.99 harbor freight spring compressor. It was really made easier by using the impact gun to tighten the clamps down

Yeah...that woulda made life easier...but we had a can of Liquid wrench which helped loosen some of the bolts....

TrixieinNY · Motorer

Mitch wrote:

Ya I think the vogtland aren't as awesome as the H&R's but they would be a cheap way to get rid of wheel gap until I can get coil overs. I get my wheels today so we will see what it looks like before maybe I won't want to drop it right now anyway.

Do you drive Bruto much in the winter? If you do, did you have any problems with the snow and it being lowered?

I didn't drive the lowered car in the snow because there is so little ground clearance and we were worried about damaging the car. It's part of the reason why I'm so excited about the adjustable coilovers, I have really missed my MINI these past few months!

SPDinNY · Motorer

one thing about the coilovers (I picked them up today) Check and see if there is a spanner wrench in the box, mine was missing it so they are mailing me one. It is needed to adjust the coilovers.

Mitch · Motorer

Now do you have to have an alignment done every time you adjust the coil-overs?

SPDinNY · Motorer

probably should but I will mark them and have them aligned for lowered , then just chew up the winters and just rotate them

VeganBrian · Motorer

http://www.stratmosphere.com/mini_drivetrain.htm

They have a sale on their coilovers till april 7th for only 520$!!!

Im gettin me some of them i hope.

Mitch · Motorer

Ya it is a great deal, just don't think I can swing it right now.

SPDinNY · Motorer

we purchased ours I think about a month ago from Stratmosphere. They gave me a tour of their facilities, really nice. I plan to install ours sometime this month

VeganBrian · Motorer

I would love to get coilovers but i cant afford them haha. I have to many other bills. i am buying my springs tonight i think though. I dunno how to install though haha.

SPDinNY · Motorer

Brian, I will sell you our springs for $125 when we remove them. They have only been on for about 1500 miles or so. They are H&R's

TrixieinNY · Motorer

Maybe we do need to have a suspension party...

SPDinNY · Motorer

It would be easy enough, we could just pull the whole assembly out of bruto and put them in Brians car without even having to disassemble the coilsprings

VeganBrian · Motorer

that would be cool, but if you pulled out the whole assembly wouldnt i be getting old parts?
And also would i need a new alignment and how far is the drop with those springs?

SPDinNY · Motorer

our car has 16k on it, I guess if those are old parts then yes LOL

Anytime you lower or raise a vehicle you should get an alignment

The H&R Springs dropped her car about an inch and a half

VeganBrian · Motorer

16k isnt bad. Do you have pics of the car with them i can see, just wanna imagine how low my car would look. I am super down for this. When could this happen? also do you think i could fit 18s on my car being lowered?

SPDinNY · Motorer

I imagine 18's will fit as long as the tire is proportional. You want to maintain close to stock tire height anyways. I will see if she can snag a pic of it today and post it.

-- Edited by SPDinNY on Sunday 5th of April 2009 08:39:48 AM

TrixieinNY · Motorer

Before:

After:

-- Edited by TrixieinNY on Sunday 5th of April 2009 02:01:15 PM

VeganBrian · Motorer

ok sweet, thanks. Where can i get my car aligned and how much is it usually?

SPDinNY · Motorer

well there is a place here that will do it for about 65ish called Craigs Autometrics. They have top of the line machines. The other option would be a little over $100 at Towne Mini

VeganBrian · Motorer

eek, nope cheap is good. haha. would i have to make an appt to get that done there? when do you wanna do this?

Are wednesdays good for you?

-- Edited by VeganBrian on Monday 6th of April 2009 09:53:55 AM

TINMAN · Motorist

If someone needs a lift, I have a 4 post lift at my house in Lockport. It has a rolling jack platform so you can jack up the wheels. It really works good for oil changes and exhaust work.

SPDinNY · Motorer

man that would be sweet to use, I just wish I knew exactly what tools I would need.

TINMAN · Motorist

I wish I could help you with that. I'm not sure what specialty tools you would need for the springs. I do have a lot of tools and an air compressor. If you want to use the lift sometime let me know. Maybe I can help and learn something in the process. This applies to others in the club too.

SPDinNY · Motorer

hell since I only have done mine (and mostly was just helping) I would be learning too. But it wasn't too bad from what I remember of it. I will see what tools I will need and maybe I can convince the guy who helped me to come out =)

tedscar · Motorer

Sounds like a party in progress! I was looking at springs the other night; had me sorta tempted for a while but I don't want to mess with the winter issue. So the coilovers are adjustable? Hmmm. I'll be curious how your MINIs ride after coilover installation. Big noticeable difference? I probably won't make the leap for tedscar, but I am curious.

Tinman, sounds like you've got a great setup in your garage. I just changed the oil in the MINI yesterday--not bad but your lift must make that about a 10-minute job (other than draining the oil itself)!

TINMAN · Motorist

When we built our house I had the garage built for the lift. It is a 3 bay with the center bay having a 15' ceiling. I have a roll around oil catch can so changing the oil is very easy. The lift is made by backyard buddy out of ohio. It will lift a car up to 6000 lbs. It does make working underneath a lot easier and a whole lot more comfortable.

SPDinNY · Motorer

Tinman are there any houses around you for sale cuz I want you to be my neighbor.....