Question regarding lowering/coilovers

[jonisginger]

Hi people,

I'm going to try and phrase this as best as possible,

I really like the ride in my Leon S when I'm not driving quickly, it gives a lovely smooth ride. I have 18" RS4 alloys which give great traction, and good grip in the corners.

I want to lower my car for a pretty low (excuse the pun) price. The suspension stays fairly flat in corners when driving it smooth, but squirms under braking, and flops if you have to chuck it in the other direction quickly.

I *think* that the dampers are stiff enough for me, so do you think that just a set of 35/40mm springs would lower it enough and stiffen it and stop it flopping about in corners, but still give a *similar* low speed ride? I don't want to be crashing about when I'm just driving slowly.

I think I've phrased my problem ok. Any questions please ask.

I'd really like some people who have got new shocks and springs, coilovers and just new springs to comment.

Thanks people,

Jon

 

[cupra_matt86]

Well i thought the same thing and bought G-max susension and shocks for around £200 i think from larkspeed it only lowered it by by 20mm but its stiffer when u chuck it about but still gives a nice smooth ride driving slowly, if u want smooth and not really stiff then dont even think bout coilovers, plus they will cost loads more

 

[Jirwin]

Don't know if this will help you but I have an SX. I imagine the standard suspension is fairly similar if not identical to yours.

I recently lowered mine 35/40mm on a cheap shock/spring kit. It does feel stiffer but the ride is still fairly good when driving smoothly, just try and avoid any potholes! I'm running 17" starfish wheels with that so not sure how it would compare to the 18s though

I don't really chuck mine about through the corners a lot but on the odd occasions I do body roll seems to have been reduced by a small margin. Not sure about the squirming under braking though as I've never really noticed it either before or after

 

[cupra_matt86]

i have 18" on my leon and is still really comfortable, stops alot of skwirmig under braking but happens alot less as you need to be braking really hard for it to do it

 

[jonisginger]

OK so coilies are pretty much out of the question. My shocks seem to stop the body roll pretty quick when it happens you see, I just think the springs give way muchhhhhh too easily.

 

[Rocky Rocastle]

i think a set of Koni STR's would suit for the amount you want to lower, plus not too pricey. Thats a spring with shortened damper set up

 

[jonisginger]

Ahh ok I'll look. Any ideas on the cheapest place?

 

[Rocky Rocastle]

https://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/seat-leon-1m-c-2376_2530_2574.html

few on there mate, as you can se the JOM's are cheaper but maybe too low and unsure of quality. There are more than likely more in betweens but again price / quality. Gmax and Janspeed or other options.

 

[Jirwin]

I've got the JOM shock and spring kit from there and find them fine, like I said before I don't really thrash my car around though. The ride height seems fine, looks good on the car and only scraped a couple of times due to being a bit careless with the speed mountains round my girlfriends!

When I was looking I asked the difference between the Koni and JOMs, I was told that the quality was similar and it wasn't until you started moving up the price range that you noticed a difference. Maybe send Damien @ dpm a PM? He seemed to give me fairly honest advice

 

[cupra_matt86]

the only thing you have to worry about with just buying springs is that the standard shocks wont respond correctly with the lowered springs and run the risk of the shocks bottoming out alot because they are not firm enough to cope with the shorter movements from the suspension

 

[jonisginger]

Ahh, Hmm i see. thanks