Lowering issues

[oranger]

Okay so I have KYB GR-2 struts and I just bought Megan Racing lowering springs. The fronts I got in no problem, but the rears, the springs are too short to touch the bottom mount they just dangle around. How have other people dealt with this, because I can't be the first. Can the strut rod be lowered down or do they just have to get installed like that. That doesn't seem right to me...

[Akira_kj]

you have the wrong springs for your car. you need to compress springs to get them into the strut assymbly. Even with lowering springs and race springs... they need to be compressed just to get into the assymbly. They only springs are dont need to be compressed are coilovers... just because they are a shorter spring. Sounds strongly like you have the wrong springs for the backend.

[King James]

I didnt need to compress my neuspeed races and I know they were for our car as I bought them from a member on here.

[bruno8747]

You dont absolutely need to compress the rear springs. I pushed them down by hand when I put my top hat on. And my S-tech's did dangle a bit on the rear. But nothing too serious. When the car was back on the ground everything was smooth again with no problems to this day.

[wed3k]

you have the wrong springs for your car. you need to compress springs to get them into the strut assymbly. Even with lowering springs and race springs... they need to be compressed just to get into the assymbly. They only springs are dont need to be compressed are coilovers... just because they are a shorter spring. Sounds strongly like you have the wrong springs for the backend.

because thats how i got springs off a junk yard car without the spring compressor tool right?

[Akira_kj]

Even if all you do is press down on the top hat your still compressing them.

If after the top hat is on you need to torq the bolt on top down to spec.

They should not be loose. Otherwise every time you hit a bump or pot hole they are gunna be loose in your suspention and damage something.

[gloryaccordy]

Even if all you do is press down on the top hat your still compressing them.

If after the top hat is on you need to torq the bolt on top down to spec.

They should not be loose. Otherwise every time you hit a bump or pot hole they are gunna be loose in your suspention and damage something.

Wrong-o

Unless the springs are 6" tall when the car is on the ground they will be compressed.

Lowering springs are shorter than shock, the spring dangling around is just because of the length of the shaft when the shock is at full height.

Go ahead and install the springs.

[Akira_kj]

so when you max out your suspention travel your springs what... magicaly stay in the correct place?

If your springs are installed correctly and you lift your car off the tires the springs should still be in the correct place with NO play. If yours are loose in the seats someone cut a few turns out of them or they are so old they have settled to a point where they are dangerious.

Lowering springs are not always shorter. Look up progressive spring rates. That is how a spring can be the same lenght and your car ride lower. Neuspeed sports have near a 2 inch drop but are the same lenght as stock. Cheap ebay lowering springs are shorter, so are cut springs... and they dangle around and fall outta place and damage your struts in the process. Go ahead and install them... either drive very slow and never hit unexpected bumps or expect to buy new struts soon.

[oranger]

Mmmm....interesting debate. I picked up some Tokico blues, I was running GR-2...not strong enough. These springs are 2" shorter than stock and the verdict is almost 50/50 as to whether or not to install them. I'm nervous because it doesn't seem right, but many people have said not a problem. The springs arent settled or chopped, they are NIB megan racing lower springs...help any...im in a wierd predicament.

[gloryaccordy]

so when you max out your suspention travel your springs what... magicaly stay in the correct place?

If your springs are installed correctly and you lift your car off the tires the springs should still be in the correct place with NO play. If yours are loose in the seats someone cut a few turns out of them or they are so old they have settled to a point where they are dangerious.

Lowering springs are not always shorter. Look up progressive spring rates. That is how a spring can be the same lenght and your car ride lower. Neuspeed sports have near a 2 inch drop but are the same lenght as stock. Cheap ebay lowering springs are shorter, so are cut springs... and they dangle around and fall outta place and damage your struts in the process. Go ahead and install them... either drive very slow and never hit unexpected bumps or expect to buy new struts soon.

Unless you take 'sweet jumps' all the time I don't see how dude could completely unload his suspension. I had my car lowered on 12 year old struts with Ebay coils in front and cut lowering springs in the back (just dead coils it didn't affect the rate) and my shocks were fine until I upgraded to Neuspeed/Konis.

Yes it's good to have your springs always be in compression but in this case that's not possible for dude. Again unless he is driving the car off of ramps I don't think there will be a problem. If it helps any I'm a mechanical engineer who studied suspensions and second order diff. equations for 2 years in school.

[Shadow1]

ive taken my suspension apart plenty of times. yeah the spring is going to dangle a little bit. but once you put the car back on the ground itll be ok. if you lift the car back up in a couple of weeks the spring will stay in place. you humans...lol


i even have EBAY coilovers(freakin bouncy) that were freakin short but they still stayed in place after a couple of weeks of drving.


to the OP go ahead and install the springs. what yor seeing is normal. ive taken apart my rear suspension more times than my front suspension. 1st when i installed my coilovers, then when i tried to replace a strut(got it all off the car but it didnt want to come apart), then when i replaced the strut, then when i installed my Dropzones. once the springs settle in they wont have any play in them. calm down everyone.

[Shadow1]

If it helps any I'm a mechanical engineer who studied suspensions and second order diff. equations for 2 years in school.

ha ha ha....PWNED!!!!!! lol

[oranger]

Ya'll right. I talked to my dad who's been a mechanic for 20+ years, and he said lowered cars are often like that. While it is possible to make lowering springs that are the same height as stock, they don't have ideal spring rates for the handling we want, with ideal spring rates the springs will be shorter. Its normal its ok, I just logically thought that it didn't look right. So sometime this week I'm finally gunna get low, Megan springs on Tokico blues!!!! Woohoo.....

[Shadow1]

Ya'll right. I talked to my dad who's been a mechanic for 20+ years, and he said lowered cars are often like that. While it is possible to make lowering springs that are the same height as stock, they don't have ideal spring rates for the handling we want, with ideal spring rates the springs will be shorter. Its normal its ok, I just logically thought that it didn't look right. So sometime this week I'm finally gunna get low, Megan springs on Tokico blues!!!! Woohoo.....

i know i thought that when i 1st put my springs one. but when they settled in they didnt dangle like they did at 1st. so they were ok.

[Akira_kj]

Yah its safe if after acouple weeks you jack you car up and they stay.

I dont drive like a retard or anything but I know there are times where my suspension has been at both maxes. Im sure more bottom than at the top. But all it takes is one nasty pot hole or break in the road you hit wrong and your springs are gunna be angled off the mounts. Megan racing isnt the worst brand so I just dont get it as to why they would dangle. My neuspeeds fit like a glove just long enuf that I didnt need a spring compresser to get them on just alittle bit of elbow grease.