Why Shouldn't I Sag Springs? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

firelizard · 07-25-2008, 02:50 PM

Hey guys

I've been searching for the past 20 minutes and I haven't found quite the answer I've been looking for...

What I basically want to know is why I shouldn't sag springs on my coilovers?

The point of doing it obviously would be to get lower, but what are the downsides?

I'd like as much info as I can find before I tackle that (or not), just so I know what I'm looking at.

racepar1 · 07-25-2008, 02:54 PM

Because if you sag or "droop" the springs you have less compression travel, which is already very limited on the front struts especially.

SoSideways · 07-25-2008, 03:27 PM

Usually people only droop springs for the rear dampers.

The fronts usually allow for people to go pretty darn low, on most of the coilovers.

sultan · 07-25-2008, 03:44 PM

just do it, no worries

5t341tH · 07-25-2008, 04:49 PM

^^haha damn.
i drooped my rear springs by half an inch and i thot i was BA.

sldbyuramg · 07-25-2008, 04:54 PM

wow...not a good idea...when it comes to your safety on the track or street just deal with a half inch higher or as the pic given 2 inches (jeesh). when you sag your springs your coilovers may not react in the way they were intended creating a dangerous situation. also sagging your springs shortens the life of the strut.

unless your all about taking your car to a meet and just showing it off. but if you want some performance out of your coilovers...(thats why you got coilovers instead of lowering springs i would imagine) set them up and use them as intended

azndummie · 07-25-2008, 04:59 PM

shock can bottom out and make good things for your future!

essforteen · 07-25-2008, 05:00 PM

just install helper springs so the springs wont be loose when its at full extension

aznpoopy · 07-25-2008, 05:00 PM

there's nothing per se wrong with drooped spring. droop and preload merely allocate between droop and compression travel.

it becomes a problem when you've reduced compression travel so much ur bottoming out the shock. some shocks also have set ranges where they are supposed to operate and blow if you move it out of that range. final concern is a uncaptive spring when the corner is unloaded, in which case you could get helper springs.

firelizard · 07-25-2008, 05:08 PM

Thanks for the info guys, it's pretty much what I had gathered too, just from looking at other discussions, and a bit of common sense.

Based on this, I think I'll pass on daily driving like this, but it shouldn't be an issue for hard parking at weekend meets, right?

The car this is for is all about being low, no performance aspect at all, though the effects of the sag on performance I am duly noting.

Of course, the more info the better, so please, keep chiming in

sldbyuramg · 07-25-2008, 05:14 PM

if thats the look your going for i would suggest doing it right before you go and adjusting it right after. if your roads are nice and smooth then go for it but if your roads are anything like Highway 52 in san diego i wouldnt suggest it.

sultan · 07-25-2008, 06:39 PM

i had to pull the helpers off my tanabes and run that much droop to get them to be low (single height adjustable). mines a daily, spring never comes unseated on bumps and shit. the coilovers ride a lot better without the helpers, too.

spool_sample · 07-25-2008, 09:10 PM

Rear Koni Yellows w/ GC's 7" springs are the same way... the top hat doesn't touch the upper mount when the shock is at full length, i.e. off the car or when the car is jacked up.

Since the car's weight is always on the spring, you should be fine as long as you aren't getting significant air time, provided you are running stiff enough springs/bars to keep the rear planted. Also pay attention to shock travel.

kazuma · 07-25-2008, 10:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sldbyuramg

if thats the look your going for i would suggest doing it right before you go and adjusting it right after. if your roads are nice and smooth then go for it but if your roads are anything like Highway 52 in san diego i wouldnt suggest it.

lol the city we live in(same city

) is garbage for roads

half the roads have pot holes and going 2 inches is really pushing it so unless the car wasnt moving much(I.e not at all

) I agree with you it wouldnt be too smart.

Def · 07-25-2008, 11:00 PM

Hell, I have over 3" of "sag" on my front 8611's now. It's fine, just do it. The springs won't become unseated during normal driving.

McRussellPants · 07-26-2008, 08:13 AM

yeah, I've probably got about an inch and a half of droop on the rear.

gets twitchy when its really loaded down going over bumps because it'll make it to the bumpstop, but it doesn't really matter.

tt99ol · 07-26-2008, 09:58 AM

just do it
then if your still worried
put limit straps on the shock so the spring is always seated
then you can hit the jumps
no more worries

sldbyuramg · 07-26-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by McRussellPants

yeah, I've probably got about an inch and a half of droop on the rear.

gets twitchy when its really loaded down going over bumps because it'll make it to the bumpstop, but it doesn't really matter.

lol...so it doesnt matter when it is hitting the bumpstop?

EDacIouSX · 07-26-2008, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by essforteen

just install helper springs so the springs wont be loose when its at full extension

very good point.

!Zar! · 07-26-2008, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sldbyuramg

lol...so it doesnt matter when it is hitting the bumpstop?

He doesn't care.

But it's horrible on the shock.

07-25-2008, 02:50 PM	#1
firelizard Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Age: 36 Posts: 705 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: firelizard Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Why Shouldn't I Sag Springs? Hey guys I've been searching for the past 20 minutes and I haven't found quite the answer I've been looking for... What I basically want to know is why I shouldn't sag springs on my coilovers? The point of doing it obviously would be to get lower, but what are the downsides? I'd like as much info as I can find before I tackle that (or not), just so I know what I'm looking at. __________________

07-25-2008, 03:44 PM	#4
sultan Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 202 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	just do it, no worries __________________

07-25-2008, 04:49 PM	#5
5t341tH Post Whore! Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: socal (Huntington Beach) Age: 36 Posts: 2,787 Trader Rating: (14) Feedback Score: 14 reviews	^^haha damn. i drooped my rear springs by half an inch and i thot i was BA. __________________ lexus baby

07-25-2008, 04:59 PM	#7
azndummie Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: orange county Posts: 1,362 Trader Rating: (14) Feedback Score: 14 reviews	shock can bottom out and make good things for your future! __________________

07-25-2008, 05:08 PM	#10
firelizard Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba Age: 36 Posts: 705 Trader Rating: (1) Rides Gallery: firelizard Feedback Score: 1 reviews	Thanks for the info guys, it's pretty much what I had gathered too, just from looking at other discussions, and a bit of common sense. Based on this, I think I'll pass on daily driving like this, but it shouldn't be an issue for hard parking at weekend meets, right? The car this is for is all about being low, no performance aspect at all, though the effects of the sag on performance I am duly noting. Of course, the more info the better, so please, keep chiming in __________________

07-25-2008, 02:54 PM	#2
racepar1 Post Whore! Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Simi Valley, CA Age: 42 Posts: 9,006 Trader Rating: (106) Rides Gallery: racepar1 Feedback Score: 106 reviews	Because if you sag or "droop" the springs you have less compression travel, which is already very limited on the front struts especially.

07-25-2008, 03:27 PM	#3
SoSideways Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: 你老母 Posts: 4,371 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	Usually people only droop springs for the rear dampers. The fronts usually allow for people to go pretty darn low, on most of the coilovers.

07-25-2008, 04:54 PM	#6
sldbyuramg Zilvia Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: san diego Age: 43 Posts: 276 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	wow...not a good idea...when it comes to your safety on the track or street just deal with a half inch higher or as the pic given 2 inches (jeesh). when you sag your springs your coilovers may not react in the way they were intended creating a dangerous situation. also sagging your springs shortens the life of the strut. unless your all about taking your car to a meet and just showing it off. but if you want some performance out of your coilovers...(thats why you got coilovers instead of lowering springs i would imagine) set them up and use them as intended

07-25-2008, 05:00 PM	#8
essforteen Nissanaholic! Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: LAX Area (So CAL) Posts: 1,802 Trader Rating: (50) Rides Gallery: essforteen Feedback Score: 50 reviews	just install helper springs so the springs wont be loose when its at full extension

07-25-2008, 05:00 PM	#9
aznpoopy Post Whore! Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: New Jersey Age: 44 Posts: 5,013 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	there's nothing per se wrong with drooped spring. droop and preload merely allocate between droop and compression travel. it becomes a problem when you've reduced compression travel so much ur bottoming out the shock. some shocks also have set ranges where they are supposed to operate and blow if you move it out of that range. final concern is a uncaptive spring when the corner is unloaded, in which case you could get helper springs.

07-25-2008, 05:14 PM	#11
sldbyuramg Zilvia Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: san diego Age: 43 Posts: 276 Trader Rating: (1) Feedback Score: 1 reviews	if thats the look your going for i would suggest doing it right before you go and adjusting it right after. if your roads are nice and smooth then go for it but if your roads are anything like Highway 52 in san diego i wouldnt suggest it.

07-25-2008, 06:39 PM	#12
sultan Zilvia Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Allen, TX Posts: 202 Trader Rating: (4) Feedback Score: 4 reviews	i had to pull the helpers off my tanabes and run that much droop to get them to be low (single height adjustable). mines a daily, spring never comes unseated on bumps and shit. the coilovers ride a lot better without the helpers, too. __________________

07-25-2008, 09:10 PM	#13
spool_sample Zilvia Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: OH Age: 38 Posts: 269 Trader Rating: (0) Rides Gallery: spool_sample Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Rear Koni Yellows w/ GC's 7" springs are the same way... the top hat doesn't touch the upper mount when the shock is at full length, i.e. off the car or when the car is jacked up. Since the car's weight is always on the spring, you should be fine as long as you aren't getting significant air time, provided you are running stiff enough springs/bars to keep the rear planted. Also pay attention to shock travel.

07-25-2008, 11:00 PM	#15
Def Post Whore! Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 2,701 Trader Rating: (16) Feedback Score: 16 reviews	Hell, I have over 3" of "sag" on my front 8611's now. It's fine, just do it. The springs won't become unseated during normal driving.

07-26-2008, 08:13 AM	#16
McRussellPants Nissanaholic! Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Austin, Tx Posts: 2,168 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	yeah, I've probably got about an inch and a half of droop on the rear. gets twitchy when its really loaded down going over bumps because it'll make it to the bumpstop, but it doesn't really matter.

07-26-2008, 09:58 AM	#17
tt99ol Zilvia Addict Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: quartz hill CA Age: 38 Posts: 644 Trader Rating: (8) Feedback Score: 8 reviews	just do it then if your still worried put limit straps on the shock so the spring is always seated then you can hit the jumps no more worries __________________ Need automotive work done in the antelope valley? Ask me how i can help.