Custom coil springs

[Astron Boy]

Hi RVR'rs

Have been in talks with a company who can make springs for the RVR.
Now to begin with, I have used this company before, and they are tip top, no hassles, and the springs are quality. Made in Australia.

I have been in communication also with a number of other companies trying to convince them to make springs for the RVR, but they don't really want to have a stab at it, simply as they dont see a market.

This company however, makes springs to order, and can provide a multitude of modifications.
Spring rate, Spring height, special requirements, etc.

This will certainly make it easier than trying to import from Japan, or hunt around for suitable replacements.

It's possible from what I've read that Nimbus, Chariot fronts will work, and some model Triton rears will suit, but I dont have the income to keep buying different springs to check.

Also I want my springs slightly stiffer than what would be sold off the shelf for those vehicles anyway.

I wont release the company name just yet, as I dont have full confirmation, however to get these happening, I need either of two things.

1) 1 front coil and 1 rear coil, to send to the company... tricky.
2) full specifications of the springs with drawing and all measurements for them to re-create. (see below)

Specs required.
Material diameter
Inside/Outside diameter
Total number of coils
Free standing height
End Finish/Style, and end gaps
Any anomalies with coil.

If anyone can be of help of either 2 of the above, then we can get to work on these.
Prices would be standard cost for what you'd expect to pay, I'm willing to buy the first set, as they require a deposit, my springs are rooted.

So, what say you?

Edit: Also a possibility that HSG are different to SSG in height?... maybe.

 

[MattL]

I think I can get coils... depends if the guy who bought my car still has them, I doubt though.
I do have the pedders and KYB part numbers, so yeah.

 

[vr401]

Ive got Apexi yellow springs on my RVR. Front and rear 2" lower.
Also, a friend of mine had his stock springs compresed for couple houndred $ and the height is down 2" too.

 

[Astron Boy]

Yeah for lowering you could get away with using stock springs, but meanwhile I wish to retain my factory height for off-roading.
Can't seem to find factory height, only lowered.

If you could check it out Matt, that would be great.

 

[MattL]

I'll do what I can, and see how we go. Cheers

 

[abarthel]

Finally. I have the specs for a 93 FWD 3 door rear coil.

AWD is taller and has a higher spring rate.

Wire dia = 14.2 MM
I.D. 114.2 MM
free length 242.5 MM

I can get all the specs out of my service manual for all the springs, but i'm in my pj's and its in the car.
I don't like the camber issues with these cars when there lowered. My expo now has the rear cut 1/2 a coil.

The biggest issue on my car is chassis flex, I can feel it creaking over everything.

 

[Astron Boy]

Hi abarthel.

Cheers for th info.

If you could find out the specs from your manual, that would be great!

and yeah, the AWDs are slightly taller!

 

[SquattingDog]

Hey guys, been a while

For my N73W RVR X3 I looked into all sorts of options here in NZ, and they came up pretty dry. The options I had for lowering were:

1) All new Bilstein shocks (road-style) + lowering springs $1250 + GST through Autolign.
Advantages:
- Slightly lower than stock
- Slightly improved road handling, as stock shocks were pretty worn (130k)
- Firmer ride from harder springs
Disadvantages:
- Not a huge amount of lowering
- Not outstanding handling
- No adjustment (Camber, ride height etc)

2) All new custom-made adjustable Bilstein shocks (tracy-style) + lowering springs $1500 - 2000 + GST PER CORNER ($6000 - 8000 all up) through Autolign
Advantages:
- As low as it can go
- Greatly improved road and track handling - completely tuned re-valved shocks for better rebound response etc
- Ride firmness as firm as desired - can easily be changed moving forwards
Disadvantages:
- Bloody expensive

3) All new Tein Super Wagon Coil-over kit (4Kg fronts, 6Kg rears, damper adjustable) $2900 + GST for kit
Advantages:
- Height adjustable up to 65mm drop at the front, up to 40mm drop at rear in stock setup - one ring can be removed and the other ground down to allow ~55mm drop in rear if desired
- Greatly improved road and track handling - can be tuned with damper adjustment
- Ride firmness can be adjusted with damper settings - much firmer than stock even on lowest setting
- Springs can be changed with some tophat modification, pillowball (camber plates) can be added easily, provides a good base to work from at a reasonable price
Disadvantages:
- Relatively expensive vs standard Bilstein shocks and lowering springs
- Doesn't come with harder springs and camber plates stock

4) All new Tein Super Wagon GT Coil-over kit (6Kg fronts, 8Kg rears, damper and camber adjustable) $Unknown - wasn't offered this by Autolign, but could have got it through them - perhaps would have been the way to go.
Advantages:
- Full height and camber adjustable (65mm drop front, 40mm drop rear, can be modified as above)
- Greatly improved road and track handling - can be tuned with damper adjustment
- Ride firmness adjustable as above
- Springs can be changed, as above
Disadvantages:
- More expensive than the Super Wagon kit (how much, I do not know)
- Springs could be harder stock

I am running the Super Wagon coilover kit - it is mint. I do quite a few track days now here in NZ, and it holds up well. I need to look at getting camber plates too, so that I can camber in the wheels when I fit up the EVO VI Brembos I have bought (needs new 0.5" wider wheels with 3P less offset 35P vs 38P) - got to get a new clutch and sort out my oil cooler leaking issues first

 

[warbo]

front camber

please let me know if you find adjustable top hats for your rvr that are not attached to the strut. Have located K-mac in sydney but for $480AU was trying to locate something that will adjust the camber (from the top....not camber bolts in the strut clevis!!!!!) for a few dollars less. seemed a bit pricey.:huh:

 

[abarthel]

Hi abarthel.

Cheers for th info.

If you could find out the specs from your manual, that would be great!

and yeah, the AWDs are slightly taller!

REAR: FWD 3 door

Wire dia: 12.2 MM
I.D. 114.2 MM
Free length: 242.5 MM
Spring constant (N/mm) 67

REAR: FWD 4 door

Wire dia: 15.2 MM
I.D. 115.2 MM
Free Length 263.5
Spring constant 67-80

REAR: AWD 3 door

Wire dia: 14.5MM
I.D. 114.5MM
Free length: 257MM
Spring constant (n/mm) 67

Rear: AWD 4 Door

Wire dia: 15.5 mm
I.d. 115.5mm
free length 278.5mm
Spring constant (n/mm) 67-80

 

[abarthel]

The front is a little more tricky, I'm better off scanning it

LRV is three door
Expo is 4 door

 

[Astron Boy]

the book fold is just masking the last digits unreadable.

2nd scan page, Expo LRV front coils, last number looks like 342.? ) i think 0.
Also numbers below looks like 13.? 455?

thanks heaps for doing this by the way.

 

[abarthel]

My bad, but your very close

342.0
13.465

I've tried for a while to find a rear lowering spring.

I'm thinking about a ground control set up with Koni yellows for the front.

For the rear I'm thinking about welding the pocket on the rear arms and designing a rear coilover style spring and Evo MR Bilsteins. I'm just going off what this guy said,

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3117423/2

The rear end on these cars are kinda retarded, Its funny because I'm a member of about 9 different forums just looking for info on these little vans.

 

[93'ColtTsi]

im also looking for a way to lower the rear on my awd wagon... I have H&R springs in the front... they work great but i havn't found anything for the rear.

Ill look into getting my stock springs compressed... that sounds easy!

 

[to4garret]

Astron Boy,

i would be in for some harder stock height springs.

 

[Astron Boy]

I'm at the current problem of needing to remove my springs to get them cloned.
The information graciously provided by abarthel is missing a few key pieces of info.

Currently I'm looking at getting new front springs from MMC themselves and will then send down the fronts to be remade for others, both lowered and raised variants.

 

[to4garret]

What key bits of information do you need?

I cant have the car off the road for too long, but i can pop a spring out and measure stuff if thats all thats needed.

 

[Astron Boy]

all the info I need is in the first post.
I do have some off it, as can be seen from the scans above.
But things like free standing height, how the coils end and begin, number of runs etc


Rears are easy to do, jack the car up, coil compressor, remove, measure, put back

Fronts, I hate removing macpherson fronts.

 

[CLuTZ]

No springs FTW

 

[tborvr]

stock springs compressed. does not sit that low anymore :unsure:



and didn't scrub at all