Lowering springs on rear

[henocsr]

I have put the lowering springs on to my maestro now. The fronts fitted no problems but the rears dont fit tightly in the cups. I have used the highest spring seat height 181mm, but still when fitted on the car, if the rear suspension is hanging off the ground (as in car jacked up on body), the shocks have too much travel allowing the springs to come out of the cups!!! I would say this is dangerous as this could happen on the road (like going over a humped bridge at speed)

Has anyone else fitted lowering springs to their montego/maestro and had the same problem?

[oseerees]

When you jack the car up they will drop out. The likelihood of it happening driving is very small unless you drive like a rally driver ie 'yumping'.
Best bet and easiest solution is to cable tie them ('decent' cable ties though not the ones bought in Poundland:laugh:)

Drill about 1/4 inch hole in lower spring pan seat (use a needle file to ensure no rough edges) and thread cable tie through pan and spring and pull tight.
I do top spring seat as well.

Never had one tie break in years. MOT is where it matters when they drop the suspension - holds perfect and never had a problem.

If your springs are not sitting in bottom seat pan properly can I take it you have KYB shocks? Grind a tiny amount from inside the seat - you can take some of the spring itself but personally I wouldn't although I have done that as well once:o.

I can get piccies if you wish off my turbo.

[E_T_V]

As above really. Just a note though that the MOT tester can no longer fail them if they jack the car up and they fall out of the cups. Its a fairly recent rule change but worth knowing if you get a tester who likes to pick fault.

As said cable tying them is the best option if you are planning on leaving the tarmac!

[oseerees]

So, they can't fail it anymore on that. Interesting.
I remember the first time years ago when I fitted lowered springs and they dropped out at MOT. One rear didn't seat properly and when the car was reversed off the ramp one of the mechanics ducked - as the spring seated it sounded like a gun shot! (Lol)

For henocsr
I stuck camera under car and you can 'just' see cable tie on bot seat.

2nd pic of top mount (cable tie is not visible, its round back, so I've done a crappy drawing:D showing where to drill and where cable tie goes roughly).
Hope this helps.

oh yeah, and my crappy drawn arrow is indicating handbrake cable connector which I think you're looking for in another thread on here.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/montybay/102_5002.jpg

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y148/montybay/102_4998.jpg

[malpas820@hotmail.co]

:laugh: nice drawings,but

very efficient,and well done!!;):D

[E_T_V]

Yes thats the ones in both respects.

The MOT can't fail them anymore as when jacking up the car you are putting it into an un-natural position which it would never normally see on the road.

[Oli]

oseerees, that's quite clever.
Given me some ideas....

[henocsr]

Thanks for your help. I did put cable ties on them (only cheap ones and one broke) but then a though that it would fail MOT with ties there. Good to know they changed the rules. I will retie the springs i believe there are metal cable ties out there so will try them.

The shock i have got are Sachs super touring on front and rear.

And yes the handbrake cable clips circled are the ones. Has anyone got some?

Thanks again for your quick replys

[Peter J]

What is the point of lower springs if you don't mind me asking :confused:

(With all the the potholed roads and speed humps in Britain I would have thought more suspension travel is better.)

[MaestroTurbo]

What is the point of lower springs if you don't mind me asking :confused:

(With all the the potholed roads and speed humps in Britain I would have thought more suspension travel is better.)

:rolleyes: Some cars sit excessively high, the Maestro is one of them, a 1 inch drop works wonders for handling and doesnt affect the ride too much, and you can still get over potholes...

[Peter J]

:rolleyes: Some cars sit excessively high, the Maestro is one of them, a 1 inch drop works wonders for handling and doesnt affect the ride too much, and you can still get over potholes...

Thanks for the reply :) I'm sure the spring salesmen would agree with you, if not the Maestro designers. Public roads must be faster where you are than they are here ;)

[Beaker]

What is the point of lower springs if you don't mind me asking :confused:

(With all the the potholed roads and speed humps in Britain I would have thought more suspension travel is better.)

Some people like them. Improves handling, makes the car look better.

[MaestroTurbo]

Thanks for the reply :) I'm sure the spring salesmen would agree with you, if not the Maestro designers. Public roads must be faster where you are than they are here ;)

Speed has nothing to do with it.

[Peter J]

Speed has nothing to do with it.

Well if its not about speed, what is it about :confused:
Apart from possibly being able to corner slightly faster due to the slightly lower centre of gravity and less spring travel, (if our congested roads and speed limits permitted it) what other advantage could using shorter springs give?

I can see that shorter springs with less suspension travel might allow slightly higher cornering speed on a smooth racetrack, but the normal suspension travel calculated by the cars qualified designers after extensive tests, gives more cushioning on our bumpy roads, which is better for the car as well as the passengers. Increasing the suspension travel must add to the cost and weight, and the Maestro was an inexpensive car, so I can't see why the cars designers would build in more suspension travel than desirable :giveup:

[Oli]

:giveup: :worried: :rolleyes:

[henocsr]

Well if its not about speed, what is it about :confused:
Apart from possibly being able to corner slightly faster due to the slightly lower centre of gravity and less spring travel, (if our congested roads and speed limits permitted it) what other advantage could using shorter springs give?

I can see that shorter springs with less suspension travel might allow slightly higher cornering speed on a smooth racetrack, but the normal suspension travel calculated by the cars qualified designers after extensive tests, gives more cushioning on our bumpy roads, which is better for the car as well as the passengers. Increasing the suspension travel must add to the cost and weight, and the Maestro was an inexpensive car, so I can't see why the cars designers would build in more suspension travel than desirable :giveup:

The maestro was designed for comfortable family cruising on rough british roads. The springs and dampers on the maestro give excellant handling on 1.3 and 1.6 models. So far from being a cheap car

The MG models with there heavy o series engines suffer from understeer which is increased with long traveling springs, and dampers which struggle to control them.

The standard springs have about 6-7 inches travel and the lower and stiffer ones about 4-3 inches.

I am building a maestro with the o series turbo engine so am building the car with on road performance in mind. The only differents Austrin Rover made to the suspension on the MG models was to change to gas dampers on the front, and fit roll bars.

I have fitted uprated and stiffer suspension bushes as well as lower stiffer springs to give the car a more composed feel on the road. I have not lowered the car to the point it will hit the ground.

[MaestroTurbo]

Well if its not about speed, what is it about :confused:
Apart from possibly being able to corner slightly faster due to the slightly lower centre of gravity and less spring travel, (if our congested roads and speed limits permitted it) what other advantage could using shorter springs give?

I can see that shorter springs with less suspension travel might allow slightly higher cornering speed on a smooth racetrack, but the normal suspension travel calculated by the cars qualified designers after extensive tests, gives more cushioning on our bumpy roads, which is better for the car as well as the passengers. Increasing the suspension travel must add to the cost and weight, and the Maestro was an inexpensive car, so I can't see why the cars designers would build in more suspension travel than desirable :giveup:

I'm gonna put on my flat-cap for this one... As standard, although Maestro's handle quite well despite some alarming bodyroll at even low speeds, the benefit of shorter, slightly stiffer springs combined with new gas shocks is an improvement in feel and because the car doesnt roll so much, in my opinion is much nicer to drive on all roads within the legal limits.

I dont have to worry about all this these days, as my current car combines an excellent ride with only 0.5 degree bodyroll in corners. Only when you have experienced it do you realise just how uncomfortable excess body roll is.

[Dave]

Agreed, I've got a lowered MG now, and had a standard MG in the past, and a couple of 1300's... the lowered MG is by far the most comfortable due to the reduced roll (low and higher speed). The ride is a little harsh on really poorly maintained roads, but in general use not at all noticeable.

edit; forgot to mention, it looks great too!

Dave

[Jonathan]

Now I'm curious. The roll is quite pronounced in the standard car but I've yet to have the opportunity to drive one with this slightly firmer setup for the sake of comparison. I can't say I've had any issues with the standard height setup so far, but cornering could certainly be sharper.

I think it's one of those things that ultimately comes down to personal preference and what you want to use your car for.

[oseerees]

There is really only one issue with lowering which I'll get to in a mo. In standard set up (had loads of Montys but only one Maestro over the years) the car gives a comfortable ride and handles well, in fact, can be surprising and many road testers said so.

However, they always looked like they were on stilts (some models worse than others due the variety of spring height platforms and different height springs fitted) and this shows up immediately on cornering - even if not hard, the roll is b awful.

Lower a Monty by just one inch approx (ie 35mm short springs) and as said, fit some decent gas shox and the car is totally transformed. Just find a roundabout, put your foot down and you'll see the difference!:D The ride is a little firmer but that's all. I would say it transforms the car at little expense and it's 'very' easy to do.

That issue I mentioned is the height of the sump pan - certainly for 2 litre engined cars. Even in standard form I have seen plenty with dents in. Probably a reason Austin Rover didn't have the cars any lower - they built to a compromise. But if you stick with 35mm springs and fit gas shocks you will be ok.

[MaestroTurbo]

Now I'm curious. The roll is quite pronounced in the standard car but I've yet to have the opportunity to drive one with this slightly firmer setup for the sake of comparison. I can't say I've had any issues with the standard height setup so far, but cornering could certainly be sharper.

I think it's one of those things that ultimately comes down to personal preference and what you want to use your car for.


What are you a racing driver?! :p

[Jonathan]

I'm just curious as to how much of a difference it actually makes.

[MaestroTurbo]

I'm just curious as to how much of a difference it actually makes.

Quite a bit TBH. The ride is barely different between standard MG suspension and lowered springs but the lowered centre of gravity and better control makes it far more sporty.

[countrydude]

I can't say I've had any issues with the standard height setup so far, but cornering could certainly be sharper.
That is a serious issue in my book! and one improved with better suspension!