lowering springs - ground clearance

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
Tom1B
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2015 12:45 am
Your car is a: 1981 spider

lowering springs - ground clearance

Postby Tom1B » Wed Jun 01, 2016 3:42 pm

I installed Vogtland lowerings prings on my '81 spider.

Ground clearance is very little now. Oil pan is about 10cm (3,9 inches) and exhaust downpipe at 9cm (3,5inches) from the ground. The oil pan I can protect with a guard, but what about the downpipe?

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yBWdmp76guMvunkD9EZTkBrbPlPG9vUTqg/view?usp=sharing


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joelittel
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Posts: 1013
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 6:53 pm
Your car is a: 1980 Spider 2000 FI
Location: Evanston, IL

Re: lowering springs - ground clearance

Postby joelittel » Thu Jun 02, 2016 9:47 am

Wow, that is low. Did you cut the springs or is that their intended height?

Could you fabricate a downpipe guard from thick gauge sheet metal?

Tom1B
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2015 12:45 am
Your car is a: 1981 spider

Re: lowering springs - ground clearance

Postby Tom1B » Thu Jun 02, 2016 5:19 pm

I didn't cut the springs, I used the Vogtland lowering springs. The car is a lower than I intended, the ride is OK though, not too harsh. But I'm worried about hitting the downpipe. Is it normal that it is lower than the oil pan? Has anywone made a downpipe guard?

picture of the car on original springs
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz17so ... sp=sharing

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divace73
Posts: 1380
Joined: Sun Oct 17, 2010 5:59 am
Your car is a: 1980 Fiat 124 Spider Silver
Location: Sydney, Australia

Re: lowering springs - ground clearance

Postby divace73 » Fri Jun 03, 2016 9:44 am

That may be too low.

From the front the bottom wishbones should be a close as parallel to the ground.
With those springs I predict

1. You will damage the innerside of the engine bay just on the other side of the shock tower, this will also crack the rail above the shock tower.
2. the bushes will wear out much quicker
3. You may damage the lower wishbone where the bush is housed.
4. You may hit you sump and damage it.

As a side effect you may also find the suspension is very harsh


Ask me how I know.......... 1-3 happened and 4 didn't as I had a winged sump
Cheers David
-=1980 silver Fiat 124 Spider=-
If you want to see pics of my car (and other random stuff) >>click here<< OR
see my >>You tube channel<<

architect
Posts: 321
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 9:48 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat Spider
Location: Austin, Texas

Re: lowering springs - ground clearance

Postby architect » Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:07 pm

Just curious - what size tires are you running?
78 Fiat 124

architect
Posts: 321
Joined: Thu Jul 21, 2016 9:48 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat Spider
Location: Austin, Texas

Re: lowering springs - ground clearance

Postby architect » Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:10 pm

Also - are these the springs you installed? I actually like the stance of your car and looking for the same without having to cut coils.

Any updates?
78 Fiat 124

klweimer
Posts: 550
Joined: Tue Mar 27, 2012 7:45 am
Your car is a: 1982 Spider 2000
Location: Arvada, Colorado

Re: lowering springs - ground clearance

Postby klweimer » Sat Nov 19, 2016 8:25 am

I assume you have the rubber spring seats in place?

Tom1B
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2015 12:45 am
Your car is a: 1981 spider

Re: lowering springs - ground clearance

Postby Tom1B » Sat Dec 31, 2016 2:02 am

All spring seats are in place. Tires are 185/70R13
I drove about 2000miles this summer, it drives great. Hit the oil pan and exhaust about 2 or 3 times.

I would like to have the front 1-2cm higher so i'm thinking of installing other spring seats (where to find?) or an additional ring?

TwinFast
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Joined: Thu Oct 13, 2016 2:06 am
Your car is a: 1978 Fiat 124 Spider

Re: lowering springs - ground clearance

Postby TwinFast » Sat Dec 31, 2016 3:02 am

Tom1B wrote:All spring seats are in place. Tires are 185/70R13
I drove about 2000miles this summer, it drives great. Hit the oil pan and exhaust about 2 or 3 times.

I would like to have the front 1-2cm higher so i'm thinking of installing other spring seats (where to find?) or an additional ring?


I'm not sure that something like this is available. You have to customise the spring seats or add thick washers under theses seats.

(Replacing the US heavy bumpers with EU could also help :) )
Fiat 124 Spider 1.8L 1978
Jaguar XKR 4.2L 2009
Harley Davidson Fat Bob 96Ci 2011

Tom1B
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Aug 15, 2015 12:45 am
Your car is a: 1981 spider

Re: lowering springs - ground clearance

Postby Tom1B » Sat Dec 31, 2016 8:30 am

TwinFast wrote:
(Replacinig the US heavy bumpers with EU could also help :) )


Good point, i'll try removing the bumper to see how much I gain.
The few times I hit the ground is when wife and kids were with me in the car :D


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