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LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:19 pm
by todda189
Hey guys
just wondering if anyone here has fitted springs themselves ? and if king springs fit the bilstein shocks ?
im pretty sure ive heard some where that some springs dont fit the bilstein ?
any pointers would be great thnx
cheers

Todd

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:32 pm
by teK--
i've never fitted springs by myself for the reason that DIY spring compressors are a pain to use imho, and some nuts such as strut bottoms are typcially done up so tight from factory that I'd rather pay a shop the $100 it takes to do it. The car needs to go into the shop for an alignment anyway.

Any spring that is listed as fitting the 4th gen will fit your car. Just get the right variant i.e. Sedan/wagon.

Be aware that any springs not modelled on the JDM Legacy GT (Bilsteins as standard) will result in less of a drop at the front than advertised, when fitted to your car.

From what I understand, Swift, TEIN are modelled on the JDM Legacy GT, but Eibach Pro are not.

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 6:45 pm
by nytrojen
teK-- wrote:i've never fitted springs by myself for the reason that DIY spring compressors are a pain to use imho, and some nuts such as strut bottoms are typcially done up so tight from factory that I'd rather pay a shop the $100 it takes to do it. The car needs to go into the shop for an alignment anyway.

Any spring that is listed as fitting the 4th gen will fit your car. Just get the right variant i.e. Sedan/wagon.

Be aware that any springs not modelled on the JDM Legacy GT (Bilsteins as standard) will result in less of a drop at the front than advertised, when fitted to your car.

From what I understand, Swift, TEIN are modelled on the JDM Legacy GT, but Eibach Pro are not.


This man knows his springs. Change your nick from tek to -springa-, hehehehe

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Mon Nov 02, 2009 7:22 pm
by todda189
teK-- wrote:i've never fitted springs by myself for the reason that DIY spring compressors are a pain to use imho, and some nuts such as strut bottoms are typcially done up so tight from factory that I'd rather pay a shop the $100 it takes to do it. The car needs to go into the shop for an alignment anyway.

Any spring that is listed as fitting the 4th gen will fit your car. Just get the right variant i.e. Sedan/wagon.

Be aware that any springs not modelled on the JDM Legacy GT (Bilsteins as standard) will result in less of a drop at the front than advertised, when fitted to your car.

From what I understand, Swift, TEIN are modelled on the JDM Legacy GT, but Eibach Pro are not.

ok thnx tek i work at a holden dealership so tools for fitting and hoists and wheel allignments are no problem !!
i ordered king springs for it today , was just hoping no one has had troubles with them on their libertys ?
or if anyone has fitted them if they had troubles ?

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:06 pm
by sh1ft
Hey mate,

I'm an x BMW tech, i lowered my lib and my mates 3.0r in the garage at home. nothing to it. Coil overs front and rear. Should take around 1-1.5hrs depends how fast u want to work! and that doing it on the ground so hoist will help heaps. i think the spring are the same size for bilstin and standard shocks as the strut and swivel plate are the same diameter. Only dif will be front spring kg rate to cope wif dif engine sizes 2.5i compered to 3.0r etc.

Wheel alignment optional i never did it as you dont change/undo any tie rods or camber links from factory spec. And the camber that you will gain is not great, i've done 20,000+k since lowing so far and tyres have no uneven ware and the car tracks true (tyre pressure f35psi & r36psi).
every1's different though

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:59 pm
by specbtommy
^^^ good info... thanks

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 7:59 pm
by specbtommy
is someone does this please put a DIY will be great especially on a 3.0r:)

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 8:20 pm
by teK--
There are heaps of DIY guides on various forums on how to change over struts. It is not a process unique to any particular model of car :)

Here's one for starters: http://legacygt.com/forums/showthread.php?t=38873

Also I would disagree with not needing a wheel alignment when lowering a car. When ride height changes, so does toe and camber. Even just removing and refitting the same strut without changing anything will change the alignment since you are disturbing things and may not bolt everything back up 100% the way it was. The latter is much less significant though.

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 03, 2009 9:40 pm
by specbtommy
thanks tek:)

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:42 pm
by todda189
specbtommy wrote:is someone does this please put a DIY will be great especially on a 3.0r:)

well im doing it on saturday mornin at work ill try get sum piks for a step by step or sumthin along those lines !!
as for wheel alignment i will b doing one as i need one anyway ,because i hit a fair size pot hole on way home from bathurst bent to rims and im sure the allignment is now out !!

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Wed Nov 04, 2009 7:49 pm
by teK--
For sure mate we love pics :D

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Sun Nov 08, 2009 4:31 pm
by specbtommy
todda189 wrote:
specbtommy wrote:is someone does this please put a DIY will be great especially on a 3.0r:)

well im doing it on saturday mornin at work ill try get sum piks for a step by step or sumthin along those lines !!
as for wheel alignment i will b doing one as i need one anyway ,because i hit a fair size pot hole on way home from bathurst bent to rims and im sure the allignment is now out !!



how did you go ?

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 5:52 pm
by todda189
specbtommy wrote:
todda189 wrote:
specbtommy wrote:is someone does this please put a DIY will be great especially on a 3.0r:)

well im doing it on saturday mornin at work ill try get sum piks for a step by step or sumthin along those lines !!
as for wheel alignment i will b doing one as i need one anyway ,because i hit a fair size pot hole on way home from bathurst bent to rims and im sure the allignment is now out !!



how did you go ?

springs are in, sorry didnt have time to get piks as i was in work time !!
it wasnt as hard as first thought , the bottom strut bolt was probably the hardest part of all as it is a very tight thread and getting all the boot lining out aswell !!
if u want an in depth of how it is all done let me know
my ride height didnt change much as the bilstein suspension is already reasonably low , i think i may b sitting about 15mm lower which is a little dissapointing but im not to worried as it already sat pretty nice and the drive also feels to be a bit better!!

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 6:59 pm
by 05GTLIBERTY
did you end up using kings? or did you find something else

Re: LOWERING !!

PostPosted: Tue Nov 10, 2009 7:19 pm
by todda189
05GTLIBERTY wrote:did you end up using kings? or did you find something else

ended up using the kings mate , got them for near half price but would much prefer coil overs !!