Vicks vs Vogtland lowering springs

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

Vicks vs Vogtland lowering springs

Postby architect » Fri Nov 18, 2016 2:27 pm

Greetings -

I have been searching the forum, and was wondering who has had experience with one of the following springs. I would like to order some soon to accommodate my new tire set up (205 / 50 / 15). I'm looking for at least a 2" drop on my bumper less 78 1800.

I'm thinking that... because I'm bumperless, the claimed drop of these springs won't be as accurate right?

Does anyone have either set up with pics?

Are there better or other options out there?

Any advice would be awesome. Thank you

Vicks (1" only?)
http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/index. ... ts_id=3391

Vogtland (1 1/2"?)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/282083166472
78 Fiat 124

davery
Posts: 804
Joined: Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:51 pm
Your car is a: 1985 Spider
Location: Ohio

Re: Vicks vs Vogtland lowering springs

Postby davery » Sat Nov 19, 2016 7:10 am

architect wrote:Greetings -

I have been searching the forum, and was wondering who has had experience with one of the following springs. I would like to order some soon to accommodate my new tire set up (205 / 50 / 15). I'm looking for at least a 2" drop on my bumper less 78 1800.

I'm thinking that... because I'm bumperless, the claimed drop of these springs won't be as accurate right?

Does anyone have either set up with pics?

Are there better or other options out there?

Any advice would be awesome. Thank you

Vicks (1" only?)
http://www.vickauto.com/newstore/index. ... ts_id=3391

Vogtland (1 1/2"?)
https://www.ebay.com/itm/282083166472


I don't have any experience with either of these. I installed AR lowering springs with deleted OEM bumpers on my 85. I did not notice any lowering. Of course. I removed the bumpers at the same time as installing the lowering springs, maybe they offset each other? I have heard claims of saving a bunch of weight fro removing the OEM bumpers and the figure of 100 lbs is quoted. I'm pretty sure the OEM bumpers don;t weigh anything near 100 lbs. I didn't weigh them, but would guess around 40-50 lbs.
Don Avery
Dayton, OH/Sarasota,FL
1985 Pininfarina
2011 Eos
2012 Mercedes E550 Cabriolet

Smittyspider
Posts: 7
Joined: Mon Nov 07, 2016 8:58 pm
Your car is a: 1980 2000 Spider FI

Re: Vicks vs Vogtland lowering springs

Postby Smittyspider » Fri Nov 25, 2016 5:29 pm

I'm also interested in this thread... I just ordered Vick autosports 1" springs, but I also just changed over to early bumpers. I would guess the front came up at least an inch with the new bumpers. On the Vick site, they say that the springs will need to be trimmed to achieve a lowered height with early bumpers on a later car, so I'm wondering how much? Anyone have experience with how much to trim of the front and rear springs to achieve a roughly 1-1.5" drop?

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

Re: Vicks vs Vogtland lowering springs

Postby architect » Fri Nov 25, 2016 6:29 pm

So I took a recent trip to Vicks... and they made it very clear that there really is no way to predict the drop...

To put into perspective (somewhat quoted) your car over the years will settle, and eventually "lower" itself over time. So replacing the springs is very unpredictable and could possibly raise the car! Going bumperless def doesn't help :)

In the end, you may have to do some trimming. That's the route I'm going.


P.S. Matt over there at Vicks is an awesome dude!

*edited bc of autocorrect
Last edited by architect on Fri Nov 25, 2016 8:59 pm, edited 1 time in total.
78 Fiat 124

User avatar
So Cal Mark
Posts: 13839
Joined: Wed Jan 25, 2006 3:45 pm
Your car is a: Fiat
Location: upland, ca.

Re: Vicks vs Vogtland lowering springs

Postby So Cal Mark » Fri Nov 25, 2016 8:32 pm

the Vogtland springs are basically the euro springs but with a progressive rate. The euro cars did not have the large double tube US bumpers so the ride height will be what the euro cars had as delivered.
It's very basic to determine ride height with new springs, measuring from the ground to the wheel well opening and taking into account the tire diameter. I'm not surprised Vicks can't calculate that, they're not very technical
Mark Allison
allisonsautomotive.com Fiat and Alfa Romeo parts and service. Performance parts our specialty!
Headers, ignitions, wheels, cams, flywheels
starsmark@hotmail.com 909-981-3566

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

Re: Vicks vs Vogtland lowering springs

Postby Tom1B » Sat Dec 31, 2016 8:34 am

I have vogtland springs with Osrav shocks.
Pics : http://www.fiatspider.com/f15/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=33484&p=267907#p267907


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