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how low can you go before problems

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Old Dec 20, 2009 | 09:42 AM
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Default how low can you go before problems

ive had mk4 escorts before my focus and 60mm drop is not grate for an every day car doin alot of miles taking into account angel of drive shafts and all that,30 or 40 was awlays the max for a daily car.

is this the same on the focus????

Last edited by marky_g; Dec 20, 2009 at 09:43 AM.
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Old Dec 20, 2009 | 11:01 AM
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yes, -40mm is a max for daily drives, unless you want to worry about every bump and pothole
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Old Dec 20, 2009 | 04:53 PM
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Originally Posted by marky_g
ive had mk4 escorts before my focus and 60mm drop is not grate for an every day car doin alot of miles taking into account angel of drive shafts and all that,30 or 40 was awlays the max for a daily car.

is this the same on the focus????
mines drop 50mm erm i dont find the drive bad just that the driveshaft bearing wears quickly and makes a slight droaning noise, doesnt really bother me to much, looks better dropped!
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Old Dec 20, 2009 | 05:10 PM
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id say about 40mm, most cars are about 40mm befroe you sart to get a bit too low for everyday driving

just do what the chavs do round here and take the springs off bloody idiots
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Old Dec 20, 2009 | 11:02 PM
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thanks peeps 30/40mm it is then
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 05:57 AM
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get it decked!! my wifes focus is down 40mm on 17s, even she says it needs to be lower as there is still a fair gap in the arches......and she uses it every day for the school run and is most certainly not a boy racer.

anyone got 60mm srings for sale?

oh, good luck removing your standard height rear springs
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 12:18 PM
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Originally Posted by Turbo Al
oh, good luck removing your standard height rear springs
why?! easier than changing a headlight bulb
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Old Dec 22, 2009 | 09:01 PM
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surely just undo where the wishbone joins to the chasis job done?
im thinking about damage to cv joints not how low i can actually go ive seem them lowred over 100mm not grate for drive shafts but looks good

40mm sounds good to me
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 05:36 AM
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Originally Posted by MisiekT_PL
why?! easier than changing a headlight bulb
youve obviously never came across seized bolts in the rear sus arm bushes then?!
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 11:28 AM
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Originally Posted by Turbo Al
youve obviously never came across seized bolts in the rear sus arm bushes then?!



to get round this i cut the standard springs in half on mine and slotted the new ones in cause they were 60mm pi springs.


lowered the front end loads but not the back end,i had escort cosworth alloys on mine with 205/40/16 tyres but every pothole,bump etc u will feel going so low also we have speed humps round my way and honest to god after a week i wish i had never lowered it as it ruined the car.might look good but thats about it.as it drove like shit and every bump in road sounded like i hit a brick wall.the focus is the worst car i have every had for lowering as even the sills scrape on the speed humps


your choice but not recomended

Last edited by supertouring230; Dec 23, 2009 at 11:29 AM.
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 12:43 PM
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speed humps and poy holes are not my concern its the driveshaft angel
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Old Dec 23, 2009 | 03:28 PM
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as far as changing rear springs - if you compress them on the car you can take them out quite easily, I'm not a mechanic but I've seen the process on a couple of focis...
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Old Dec 24, 2009 | 06:01 AM
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not being smart or wanting to get into a debate but i cant see how you would or could get spring compressors into the rear springs. all the garages ive worked in all have the same type of compressors.

im sure marky will tell us how he gets on when he does it
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Old Dec 24, 2009 | 06:36 AM
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same was as a mk4 escort as far as i can see i'll just undo where the wishbone that holds the spring bolts to the chasis. if the bolts are sized ive got a nut splitter i'll just get some new bolts, got ait tools anmyway so cant see it bein a problem.

as turbo al says ur not likly to get compressors in there i dont think, ive certinly never used them on rears before

Last edited by marky_g; Dec 24, 2009 at 06:38 AM.
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Old Dec 24, 2009 | 06:41 PM
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i did mine and come across the seized bolts in the bushes, wot a nightmare! car was off the rad for week n half after that, my mate did his springs on his and just jacked it up and prised them out with crow bar, i thought it was a lil bit dangerous in my opinion, but he said it was peice off piss, wish i had done mine like that!
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