VWDiesel.net The IDI, TDI, and mTDI source.
General Information => Upgrades (non engine related ) => Topic started by: spencebm on July 07, 2008, 09:41:36 am
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I have been fortunate in having a very dependable drivetrain so I started trying to clean up the inside and outside of my 90 jetta. I have a new rear bumper after someone rear ended me and have been trying to repaint the trim. I lowered the car by cutting two coils off the front springs which sets it pretty low in the front and was hooked up with some newspeed springs in the rear by the bro, sam. I drove 3 hours one way to Columbus, OH to get my corrado seats which are awesome by the way. I recommend them to everyone, easy to install, you just switch the seat belts from the old jetta seats. I also made a little center air vent delete panel for the boost and egt gauges so I can monitor them and not have them on one of those stupid pillar pods. I like the stiff ride and it handles well. thanks for looking guys and everyone keep up the good work on the forum!
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee236/spencebm/Obama-Indy004.jpg)
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee236/spencebm/Obama-Indy007.jpg)
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee236/spencebm/Obama-Indy008.jpg)
(http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee236/spencebm/Obama-Indy003.jpg)
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Looks good. Cut coils scare me though.
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Looks good. Cut coils scare me though.
yea... you might be better off just heating up the coils with a torch and making them shorter that way...
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i was too but i have no money for fancy springs or coilovers so this was the only option and heating them will change the spring rate and i might ruin them altogether. it turned out pretty good actually. a little bouncy and rough but not bad.
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i bought lowering springs for 100$ and i put them on the rear easy enough but the front is being a pain. How did you get your front shocks off? did you grind a socket on two sides and used a crecent (adjustable) wrench on it with an alan key in top?
the ride in the back seats i've been told is similar to a wooden rollar coaster so im slightly hesitant to do the front. it sits really flat now kinda cool worth it i think. the handling has gone through the roof
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i just lifted the car up and cut them like that a coil at a time. i stopped after 2 and i am happy, you just have to keep your hands outta there! i agree though the handling is good and the stance is worth the rough ride. i took out my back seat!! screw the comfort in my opinion. i like it stiff anyway.
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what springs did you buy and where? how much drop?
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RACE CAR!!!!
i like it stiff anyway. spencebm
Ha i knew it!
Why won't you drive to detroit to pick up me and sam?
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And where did that nice exhaust go?
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i wish you were not on this forum sometimes...haha...i might come take you guys if you are lucky, i have the only vehicle that will make it that far! sam had to have told you that i stole some of his pipe to make a 3" dp. but dont worry, i am sending him what i stole!
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use an impact to get the front struts off :wink: with my lowering springs i didn't need to use a strut compressor either 8)
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Well as of now i'm picking him up to make the trek. I heard your taking a woman! and you don't have the back seat in.
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I found coil overs for 100$ on craigs list!
the rears were SO easy but the front stuts are a PAIN to undo if you don't have impact tools.
i put 165/65/r15s on it too so they completely fill the fender now in the back you can't see the tread of the tire anywhere unless you lie with your face on the ground. big euro bumpers really make it look slammed too
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I found coil overs for 100$ on craigs list!
the rears were SO easy but the front stuts are a PAIN to undo if you don't have impact tools.
i put 165/65/r15s on it too so they completely fill the fender now in the back you can't see the tread of the tire anywhere unless you lie with your face on the ground. big euro bumpers really make it look slammed too
thats awesome, you should post some pics of your flat blackness! i have 195/50/r15s on mine so i dont think i can go any lower! i like the short sidewalls, i used to have 175/70/r14s on mine and i hated them because when i would take a turn hard they would feel like the car was going to flip over. what coilovers did you get and have you been able to get them on the front? good luck!
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cutting coils is fine if done correctly. even the racer-types cut coils to achieve exactly what they want if not commercially available. the idea is to know what you're trying to achieve, then cut the spring to suit that height or whatever it is.
the important thing is heat. you don't want to heat up the coils since they are almost always heat treated to achieve the desired properties of the spring. you are changing the properties of the metal by heating it up. this would be heating with torch, cutting with plasma, cut-off disk, etc.
one way to properly cut coils, is to submerge the spring in water up to the point where you want to cut. the chunk you are cutting comes off... the good part stays cool... car gets lower, safely, life is good :mrgreen:
car looks good like that, i like the red on black wheels.
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cutting coils is fine if done correctly. even the racer-types cut coils to achieve exactly what they want if not commercially available. the idea is to know what you're trying to achieve, then cut the spring to suit that height or whatever it is.
the important thing is heat. you don't want to heat up the coils since they are almost always heat treated to achieve the desired properties of the spring. you are changing the properties of the metal by heating it up. this would be heating with torch, cutting with plasma, cut-off disk, etc.
one way to properly cut coils, is to submerge the spring in water up to the point where you want to cut. the chunk you are cutting comes off... the good part stays cool... car gets lower, safely, life is good :mrgreen:
car looks good like that, i like the red on black wheels.
thanks man, i really appreciate the kind words, i used the air grinder to cut them so i don't think they got really hot but thanks for the imput. i wish i would see more diesels being lowered a little.
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IF you still browse the forum, :P i never replied to your request! I'm still having a hard time getting the front struts apart. I gotta mutilate a socket first.
I found coil overs for 100$ on craigs list!
the rears were SO easy but the front stuts are a PAIN to undo if you don't have impact tools.
i put 165/65/r15s on it too so they completely fill the fender now in the back you can't see the tread of the tire anywhere unless you lie with your face on the ground. big euro bumpers really make it look slammed too
thats awesome, you should post some pics of your flat blackness! i have 195/50/r15s on mine so i dont think i can go any lower! i like the short sidewalls, i used to have 175/70/r14s on mine and i hated them because when i would take a turn hard they would feel like the car was going to flip over. what coilovers did you get and have you been able to get them on the front? good luck!
I got no name coil overs (as far as i can tell) Sorry this pic is without the coils on or the bumpers. I'll get some pics when it's on the road again.
(http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f279/edmcclung/Car%20Stuff/SSPX0039.jpg)
That's primed with Tremclad rust paint. I'm spraying it in the spring when it gets hot again (unless i find heaters to heat my garage.)
Wish i had 50 series.
I haven't been able to get the front struts apart yet. There is a weird disk like nut on them that you need a special tool and an impact gun to get it off.
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nice bro, keep me updated on the paint and lowering, i would love to paint a car too but it gets too cold here