[fozworth]

Ive got a mini cooper s ,that has had the BBR power grip suspension modification but is still running on std springs .While it handles realy well the ride height is a bit of an eye saw.I would like to drop approx 30mm but ive heard from differnt people that changing the springs without the shocks will ruin the ride/handleing.Has anyone tried and tested a set of lowering springs with std shocks and felt an improvement.eventualy i will change to shorter shocks but cant afford the hit at the moment.Hope someone has sound advice.

[GCoopS]

Would not mind being updated on this was a question I was going to ask myself

[Haggi]

normaly i would say lower away but having o knowlage of the BBR set up i would ask them

[S33BBY]

I want to lower for the same reason, but don't want to spend a fortune. What concerns me about lowering with springs is the camber and the wearing of the tyres as a result.

[Haggi]

Quote: Originally Posted by S33BBY (original)

I want to lower for the same reason, but don't want to spend a fortune. What concerns me about lowering with springs is the camber and the wearing of the tyres as a result.

you only need worry about that if a muppet dose it and then doenst corret the alingment properly after lohen or GTT would see you right

[fozworth]

I was on the American site and they recon i have to buy adjustable lower rear control arms to compensate for the loss of negative camber at the rear end ,is this correct if so how much for the arms?

[Haggi]

Quote: Originally Posted by fozworth (original)

I was on the American site and they recon i have to buy adjustable lower rear control arms to compensate for the loss of negative camber at the rear end ,is this correct if so how much for the arms?

ive seen them on the lohen site made by eibach there about 215 quid i think

[roland2003]

Hi Guys, we regularly fit Eibach lowering springs with excellent results . The stock camber hardly changes at all ( very marginal increase in neg camber ).IMO this gives better results than many of the 'half baked' suspension kits on the market including many with adjustable height & damping. Only PSS9 (complete with 40mm stanchions whereas everybody else uses puny 22mm stock diameter stanchions) offer realy worthwhile improvement over the (actually pretty good) stock MCS dampers. Even brands like Leda which you 'expect to be of high spec' only have 22mm stanchions.
As your car has the BBR 'cut & shut' lower wishbones mod ,you will already have alot (IMO too nuch) neg camber which with or without lowering ,I would suspect wear the front tyres out on the inner edges first anyway.
Best Regards Roland GTT

[fozworth]

So basicaly if i fit eibach springs this will only help matters ,is that correct roland.As for the BBR job,well it was done before i got the car so its a free job,but not one i would of paid for.

[LeighSue]

Just out of interest, what tyres are you running? I changed the run-flats for Eagle F1's and it transformed the way the car handles in a very good way.

If you reduced the profile just a bit, it could have the effect you want?

E.g. if you're running standard 17" wheels and tyres, slip on some 215/40/17's or something? It'll reduce the height marginally, and give a better drive without needing to adjust the springs/dampers..

[fozworth]

Im running 17" r50 split rims with 215/40/17.Toyo proxi's handles and grips great just looks a little high.But BBR recon i have to buy there lowering springs in order to not mess up there power grip mod.There springs lower the car by 20mm so they recon it wont alter the camber theve set.I dont see why other springs could do the same with out ruining there work.but im no expert.I realy didnt think it would be so much of a head f-ck

[Richard Crofts]

Just fitting springs on the normal S shocks is fine, if good quality. The S shocks are a pretty good piece of kit (for a standard factory item). 30mm will cause some changes to camber but they are resonably small and if you drive quite hard the scrubbing you cause to the outside of the tyre will cause the tyre to wear evenly as the camber adjustments wear the inside if you drive gentle. BUT if you have some strange changes made on your suspension then you need to ask BBR about the 30mm thing...it may negate any camber changes they made to give you this strange 'power grip' set-up ??! What exactly does it consist of.

Oh BTW minisport do a 20mm lower spring thats made by eibach specially for them. Eibachs normal spring is about 30mm drop. It might be cheaper than BBRs springs and its from Eibach so a reasonable piece of kit....in theory

R

[fozworth]

Thanks for that Check The BBR web site for the Power grip suspension mod .And see if you understand the mod.Also are you saying BBR get the 20mm eibach springs from minisport if so i'll just go directly to minisport.Basicaly as far as i can gather BBR give you more front negative camber .And they do something to the rear control arms as well ..

[roland2003]

The difference in neg camber from fitting -20mm or -30mm springs would be almost non existent. Also bear in mind most springs lower by less than that quoted. One reason is the 'drop' is based on a comparison with a brand new car where the stock springs have not settled. An 'average' mcs will drop circa 5 -10 mm less than quoted for this reason (ie its already down 5-10mm and the quoted drop is NOT in addition to this ). IMO if you put the -20mm springs on it will drop at most 15mm which is visually hardly noticable. I have measured before & after with Eibachs '-30mm springs' and it goes down approx 25mm. -Looks right (but not boy racer) handles well,camber is perfect, and the shocks dont' bottom out.
Make sure whoever fits it knows what they are doing. Eg do they bother to copperslip all your wheel bolts? Do they use threadlock where applicable? Do they reset the front tracking correctly? is the steering wheel still upright in the straight ahead position? Is everything torqued properly? Everone will tell you yes but many in reality don't.- We see it all the time.
Best Regards Roland GTT

[S33BBY]

Roland, when I get around to getting the springs, there's no one else I'd trust as much as you.

[roland2003]

Thanks se33by, btw guys Im not saying we are the only ones who can do it right, its not particularly difficult, but just that theres lots of small 'corner cutting' that we see.
The' GTT Good Handling Recipe' (without going mad )
-Eibach -30mm Lowering Springs on stock shocks with reset front tracking.
- GTT Aerobox upper strutbrace
-17" Lightweight Alloys + non runflat tyres.

-No knocking, no rubbing, nice & comfortable , looks good, good handling, & good grip.
Best Regards Roland GTT


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[S33BBY]

How much would I be looking for Eibachs fitted to my 2006, and how about with the strutbrace too?

[fozworth]

Hi Roland ,jamie here,I think what i need to do is drive down and see you ,as im not sure what BBR have exactly done to my suspension with there power grip mod.As they seem to think lowering it will ruin there camber .but im sure your know what i can get away with lowering wise without messing the already good handleing.up.cheers jamie.ps what do you charge for lowering springs fitted

[roland2003]

Hi Guys ,lowering all round with Eibachs + before& after camber checks,and front wheel(& steering wheel) alignment is £379+vat . The GTT Aerobox Strutbrace would be free fit (stock airbox) the brace is £209+vat.(silver)
Best Regards Roland GTT