i want new springs for christmas im sure my parents would love it. but wanted to know if they are legal on my stock wheels? any pics of ef/el's with stockies and superlows would also be greatlt appreicated.
shocks will come at a later date

thanks all.

Superlows and standard shocks, a not-so-good idea.
The shocks will lack the travel and damping force to properly control the springs, and it'll be 'hello bumpstops' at every bump.

I think you mean shocks!!

Yeah, as steady said, its not a good way to do it. anyway, shocks arent really all THAT expensive anyway.

Do it properly first time

My amte has super lows in the frona dn ultra lowsin the rear of his fairmont ghia, with stock rims and standard shocks, and the car handels really well, and over the bumps its really good, its not stiff as anything and its not soft,it give it the perfect ride.

cheers

Anyone got any ideas of what an EL mont with King lows and stock shockies would be like?

hey rusty got any pics of your mates ghis? is the ultra there so it is even?

hey rusty got any pics of your mates ghis? is the ultra there so it is even?

Do you drive it every day?
It's an impossiblity for standard dampers to exert enough damping force over extremely lowered springs.
I'll now school you all

A spring's job, is to keep the tyres contacting the road.
No more, no less.
You hit a bump, the springs contract, them retract.
However, without dampers, this spring would keep contracting, and retracting (bouncing) until the stored energy from the bump was completely dissipated.

The dampers job is to absorb this stored energy from the spring, and 'dampen' the springs motion, therefore preventing the 'bouncing' feeling.

A 'lower' spring, which will have a stiffer rate, will absorb the same amount of energy as a normal spring, except in less travel.
Therefore, they must be matched with a 'shortened' shock, which can provide the same damping force as a normal shock, over this shortened travel.

THIS is also the reason why it's better to buy 'matched' suspension kits, so the rate of spring and damper can correspond, providing not only handling (although they are only a small part of this equation, I won't go into that yet), but a comfortable ride.

SO your mate with ultra lows and standard shocks would be bouncing around like a pogo stick, and shortened springs does not a handling car make.

Unless you 'need' your car as low as possible, so the size of your head doesn't affect the centre of gravity, do it properly for f**k sake.

Well he drive it everyday, work and back i will post some pictures soon as possible, but im not to sure about it bouncing around, when i drive it, it handles like a race car, it doesnt lean around corner, the tires stick to the ground like its HOT TARE, but will post pics.

with a full tank it sits mega low. looks really good with body kit on it.


cheers!

It would bounce like a mofo.
get your mates in the back and go for a drive.
They will be screaming for head protection.

I have superlows all round, and had standard shocks for 4 days before i threw them out and replaced them with short travel shocks..

I'm gonna let you in on a little secret.
Putting the lowest possible springs into your car, is NOT, I repeat NOT, going to help your handling.
Springs are NOT designed to resist roll around corners, that is the job of 'anti-roll' or 'sway' bars.

'Race cars' run stiff springs and dampers, because they can. They have ultra smooth roads, and don't have to worry about hitting a bump mid corner.
YOU do.
If, like you say, your mates lowered springs are actually preventing roll around a corner, they must be compressed enough that they can't compress anymore (binding).
So if you hit a bump mid corner, you will come very close, or possibly even actually, lose control.

For a comparison.
My ED XR8 Sprint runs factory springs, swaybars, and dampers.
The 'Mont is running all Whiteline gear.
The 'Mont has softer dampers, and bigger bars then the Sprint.

Forgetting the massive power deficit, the manual v auto factor, and the weight distro, the 'Mont will eat the Sprint on your typical, not quite perfect surface, twisty backroad.

Put them on a track however, and it would more then likely be reversed.
The tighter dampers that kill the Sprint on bumpy backroads, will provide it with awesome response on a smooth track.

I am more then willing to take you for a spin in the 'Mont, over my local backroads, and show you that handling is more then taking a roundabout faster then the volvo next to you.

All is true, but it handles alot better than the standard shocks, it doesnt lean aorund corners, unlike my car at the moment, which goes up on 2 Fu*kn wheels around every corner, but will be fixed pritty soon.

im not saying its just as good as a race car, but handles really well!

it was his desicion to put ultra lows on the back and supers on front with no shorten struts, ive tried to convince him its not the best methord of doing it, i cant talk him out of it, or into buying new shocks,

but thankz for commoneting

cheers kyle

What I read is that you are asking if lowered springs are legal with you stock 15" wheels. They should be OK as long as you are using the recommended profile tyres. When you increase your wheel size ie: 15" to 17" you use lower profile tyres therfore giving you approx the same outside diamater.

But as the others have said you need to use shocks and struts suitable for the springs you are going to fit. Using standard shocks on super lows will see the shockies destroyed in no time and give you avery unstable ride. Some people say that you can use standard shocks with Lows (3cm lower) but not Superlows (5-6cm lower). Low or Superlows will still see you legal, Ultra lows won't.

You will also need to fit a camber kit when you fit the springs as you will wear out you front tyres in record time. Not cheap with 15", bloody expensive with 17".

Hope that helps.