Amazon: Progressive Lowering Springs

[Bristol603]

Dear All,

I am new to Amazon ownership and I have been spending the last few months working on my 1966 122S. One of the jobs I have done is fitting lowering springs. The fronts are progressives and the rears are single rate. They are 40mm lower. I had previously fitted a Simonz sports exhaust and so I was a little concerned about ground clearance when lowered.

In case the information is of any use to others, I can report that after fitting the 40mm lowering springs the ground clearance is 19cm at the sills and 10cm at the lowest point of the exhaust (mid section). I have been driving on the lowered springs for about 600 miles now and I have not had any clearance issues even over the many local speed humps and pot holes.

I fitted new Bilsteins at the same time and I had previously polybushed the whole suspension. The car is running 5.5 inch Minilites and 195/65 15 tyres. The front antiroll bar is standard.

I am very impressed with the new springs and shocks. The ride is vastly improved and puts many modern cars to shame. Roll in the corners is also reduced. I have not yet been brave enough to get to the limit of the grip when cornering.

I was a bit concerned about how the car would look when lowered. I didn't want it to look silly. I attach a photo so you can judge for yourself.

Best Wishes,

Nigel.

[tom the teapot]

Hi,
I think your car looks great, I think much lower than that might look a bit silly but where its at now is prefect.

Tom

[Tail]

Looks excellent to me and timely as hopefully i will be starting on my suspension once the winter has decided to go again.

[Burdekin]

Very nice indeed, fine looking car you've got!!!

[heckflosse]

Originally Posted by Bristol603

Dear All,

I am new to Amazon ownership and I have been spending the last few months working on my 1966 122S. One of the jobs I have done is fitting lowering springs. The fronts are progressives and the rears are single rate. They are 40mm lower. I had previously fitted a Simonz sports exhaust and so I was a little concerned about ground clearance when lowered.

In case the information is of any use to others, I can report that after fitting the 40mm lowering springs the ground clearance is 19cm at the sills and 10cm at the lowest point of the exhaust (mid section). I have been driving on the lowered springs for about 600 miles now and I have not had any clearance issues even over the many local speed humps and pot holes.

I fitted new Bilsteins at the same time and I had previously polybushed the whole suspension. The car is running 5.5 inch Minilites and 195/65 15 tyres. The front antiroll bar is standard.

I am very impressed with the new springs and shocks. The ride is vastly improved and puts many modern cars to shame. Roll in the corners is also reduced. I have not yet been brave enough to get to the limit of the grip when cornering.

I was a bit concerned about how the car would look when lowered. I didn't want it to look silly. I attach a photo so you can judge for yourself.

Best Wishes,

Nigel.

do they do them for estates?

[222s]

Originally Posted by Bristol603

The car is running 5.5 inch Minilites and 195/65 15 tyres.

Do you know what offset the wheels are, and also, did the steering lock stops need adjusting to prevent scrubbing on full lock?

[Bristol603]

I got the springs and shocks from John Parker of Vintage Performance in the US. John was quick to answer my questions and so I suggest you email him. Before you do, you should read the notes on his website about emailing him to make sure your message doesn't get put in the spam pile. I believe he supplies a range of different spring heights and spring rates so he may have something that would work for an estate.

I bought John's revalved Bilsteins for the rear of my car as I had read several reports that the standard Bilsteins are too stiff for the rear of an Amazon. I don't have the standard ones to compare with my revalved ones, but I am happy with the ride and handling that the revalved ones are giving. I wanted Bilsteins as Tony Barrett recommended them for long term durability. I don't know whether the standard Bilsteins would be too stiff for the rear of an estate. I suggest you ask John.

[Bristol603]

I bought the wheels direct from Minilite and just told them they were for an Amazon. I have checked in the car park downstairs and all they say on them is 15*55. The chap I exchanged emails with at Minilite was helpful and friendly, so you could try sending them your question about offset.

I didn't have to adjust the steering lock stops and there is no rubbing on full lock either before or after lowering.

I was also concerned about rubbing as I had fitted a set of the plastic front wheel arch liners from Brookhouse - the front wings needed some rust repair when I got the car and I didn't want to repair them a second time. The wheel arch liners are a good fit, but not as snug as the factory ones on my wife's V70. It is too early to say how durable they will be or whether they do hold off rot in the front wings.

[222s]

Thanks - good to hear that with that tyre size the clearances are ok - most Amazons with wider wheels are running tyres of much smaller diameter than that of the original tyres (e.g. 195/60s, 185/65 etc).

Originally Posted by Bristol603

I bought the wheels direct from Minilite and just told them they were for an Amazon. I have checked in the car park downstairs and all they say on them is 15*55. The chap I exchanged emails with at Minilite was helpful and friendly, so you could try sending them your question about offset.

Already tried that, but sadly no luck - despite specifically asking about the offset, the only info they sent was the price.... I'm guessing it's somewhere between ET10 to ET20 (but most likely ET15, based on other Amazon 5.5J wheel fitments).

[Bristol603]

Let me know what to measure and I'll take one of my Minilites off and measure it for you.