stupid question about springs

[Great White Versa]

So, Urq's post about the springs that he just had installed reminded me of a question that i've been wanting a good answer to.

What exactly does a "lowering spring" do? And how is that different (if it is) from what Urq's people did?

Thanks in advance.

[bulld0g]

they lower the center of gravity of your car giving it better handling in the corners and gets rid of the wheel well gap

[gotak]

Or in Canada it makes your car a snow plow.

And in some case when done wrong it makes the car looks like a pogo stick on the road. The number of times I have seen an Integra pogo stick...



On a serious note it can cause extra wear on your shocks and tires. On tires because your camber will be off and parts of the tire might wear quicker as a result.

Oh and to your actual question. It's basically a shorter spring then stock which means your car is sitting lower. The springs are usually stiffer as well to cope with the shorter travel avaliable in the suspension as a result.

[Ever Victorious]

And in some case when done wrong it makes the car looks like a pogo stick on the road. The number of times I have seen an Integra pogo stick...

Two possibilities with this.

1) Cheap Fleabay coilovers2) Someone just cut the stock springs

Quote »On a serious note it can cause extra wear on your shocks and tires. On tires because your camber will be off and parts of the tire might wear quicker as a result.[/quote]Tire wear is an easy fix... always get your car aligned after the springs are installed.

Struts/shocks WILL wear faster because they were designed with the original springs in mind. You're now asking them to perform with shorter travels and quicker rebound times than stock springs. The way to combat this is to use aftermarket struts/shocks that are designed tougher. Since the Versa is so new, these don't yet exist.

[lain]

Springs will float.

Coilovers will bounce.

If you are just looking for looks get the springs. If you want to do some performance to your car and actually take it for autocorssing I would sujest get coilovers. They look nicer too and you can always adjust the height. Unlike springs where it only gives you 1 height.

[Ever Victorious]

If you want to do some performance to your car and actually take it for autocorssing I would sujest get coilovers. They look nicer too and you can always adjust the height. Unlike springs where it only gives you 1 height.

That depends on what class you are trying to run in. You usually don't jump straight to coilovers unless there's another reason for it. Lowering springs will but you in SP/ST class (classes of bolt-on mods only). Coilovers will shove you straight into Prepared class... a class that allows mods to engine internals.

And lowering springs will give you improved handling and cornering over stock springs. It may not be as MUCH of an improvement as coilovers, but they're legal everywhere and affect the ride of the car only minimally. I'd never use a car with coilovers as a DD.

[lain]

I'd never use a car with coilovers as a DD.

Lol if I had that choice I would. I remember one time me and a friend in the pasenger seat were driving on the freeway, and there is this bump on the freeway. Well usually nothing happens with a regular car you just float over it. Well in my 240 we need that bump and both of our heads smashed against the ceiling. It was funny but ya coilovers are fun if you are the only one in the car, unless you gf likes racing and cars she will probaby never rid with you.

[Great White Versa]

So, a lowering spring replaces the stock springs? Does it replace the entire unit, or just the spring?

How is that different than what a coilover does?

[Urq]

The springs replace just the springs and the coilovers replace springs and struts or shocks.

[Great White Versa]

So, the result of lowering springs would be a lower, slightly stiffer ride. With added stress to my strut towers as a side effect? Would a strut bar compensate for all of the added stress?

[Urq]

So, the result of lowering springs would be a lower, slightly stiffer ride. With added stress to my strut towers as a side effect? Would a strut bar compensate for all of the added stress?

Yes you would get a lower car.If you get a quality set of springs your ride will remain the same but in handling it will be more responsive and a bit more stiff.There will be no added stress to your strut towers.

When you would get added stress to a shock or strut is when the spring is not right for the car.That means if you are bouncing a lot and you are bottoming out the shock it puts alot of stress on the shock because it makes the shock work harder and the shock cant keep up with the abuse you are giving the car.

[Ever Victorious]

There will be no added stress to your strut towers.

First, we're talking about the struts themselves, not the strut towers (which are part of the body).

Also, this is an incorrect statement if you apply it to the struts themselves. With a good set of lowering springs you can MINIMIZE the amount of extra stress, but you cannot ELIMINATE it entirely.

Your car's suspension is designed to work optimally when all parts are stock and properly adjusted. If you drop the car, you're changing dimensions of the suspension (shortening the average and maximum ride heights) and as such your "suspension geometry" is changed.

The two worst things you can do for your FACTORY struts is to either cut the springs, or use an extreme drop kit.

Ever wonder why the "top" spring manufacturers usually don't drop a car more than 3/4" to 1?

If you don't believe me, go log onto an Autocrosser's forum... ask about lowering with stock struts... and ignore those Honda boys, they don't know what they're talking about unless it's 2Fast 2Furious, yo. (besides, the Honda guys often think it's a good idea to cut stock springs. That should tell you a lot right there.)

Now, I wouldn't think twice about sticking lowering springs on a good set of KYB or Tokico struts... but they're not made yet.

[Great White Versa]

And by "struts" you are referring to the bar that the spring surrounds, correct?

Quality lowering spring + upgraded strut would result in no stress to the body?

I'm not sure from your response if you are saying that there would not be any additional stress to the strut towers.

[NY.AD.MAN]

The lowering springs will only add stress as much as the spring rate is increased, i.e. the higher the percentage of increased spring rate, the more that the shock has to compensate for the spring. If you go for the Tanabe springs, they add 5% and ride like stock, but handle like crazy!

Even a 1.5" drop will not change your camber angle by more than .3 degrees, which Nissan has listed as within the stock allowance, so you can safely place a lowering spring UP TO, but not more than that amount without incurring complications.

A benefit that others have not mentioned is that, in highway driving, the car feels less like a sail and actually allows for better gas mileage at higher speeds due to less drag from wind below the vehicle. I'm not talking about more than 1 or 2, but...

All in all, I wouldn't ever be able to drive without the springs now that I've had the pleasure of owning.

[Sapphire]

Kudos to a really informative thread everybody. I'm a on the depressed side though. I tried to install my DC Sports Strut Bar but they sent the wrong hardware. <sigh>

[Great White Versa]

I saw a set of coilovers for the Versa on tanabe's website [1]. What's the benefit that you get over the lowering springs and does it really justify the extra $800?

What implications to the longevity of the vehicle would there be?

1 - http://www.tanabe-usa.com/coil...?id=8

[Urq]

I saw a set of coilovers for the Versa on tanabe's website [1]. What's the benefit that you get over the lowering springs and does it really justify the extra $800?

What implications to the longevity of the vehicle would there be?

1 - http://www.tanabe-usa.com/coil...?id=8

You get adjustable ride hight and most likely a stiffer ride all around.

What are you wanting to do with your car?