mr. fez finally lowered

[zetec jim]

Just an update... more pics and measurements etc... to come but just drove the fez home from getting lowered on Kings Springs.

first impressions (20min drive)....GREAT! takes corners a lot better, and looks meaner...especially from the back :evil3:

I reckon the Kings i think aren't that bumpy or crashy at all, and thats driving home on all the crappy tram tracks etc... still to take it up to the Dandenongs for a run (also to visit the old man whos just bought a Pirelli GTI : )

will post up more specifics (ride drop and photos) later after it has a wash

[Argh-Ess]

I got my WQ on king springs at the moment, not too bumpy but still a bit of body roll though. Have you still got the standard shocks? Im keen to upgrade but dunno what to go for.

[Twinpiston]

Wow what a coincidence, just done mine, how much has yours dropped by?

I think I dropped about 35mm rear and 40 oddmm front, looks hot on the stockie 15" pursuit rims!!!!

On the rear, are the progressive sections at the bottom or the top on yours?

Cheers

[bru20vt]

Originally Posted by Twinpiston

Wow what a coincidence, just done mine, how much has yours dropped by?

I think I dropped about 35mm rear and 40 oddmm front, looks hot on the stockie 15" pursuit rims!!!!

On the rear, are the progressive sections at the bottom or the top on yours?

Cheers

Assuming you are using Eibach springs.

Interested in this also - I have been told that if they are installed correctly the bottom 4 coils are completely compressed. The other signs are that the plastic sleeve should be on the bottom coils and that the writing on the springs should be legible ie not upside down. Is this how yours are?.

If you can, I wouldnt mind knowing what numbers are on the rear coils.

dom

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by bru20vt

Interested in this also - I have been told that if they are installed correctly the bottom 4 coils are completely compressed.

Correct .. whether you have Kings, Eibach's, Spax .. whatever, the progressive springs should be compressed at the bottom to make them work properly.

The plastic sleeving is to help stop the springs "clanking" together and making you wonder what the hell is wrong with your car ..

If you have the progressive springs compressed at the top rather than the bottom they are not installed correctly ... "Ya Doing It Wrong!"

[Ben85]

Originally Posted by Twinpiston

On the rear, are the progressive sections at the bottom or the top on yours?

Cheers

Well heres the answer guys. I emailed king springs and the progressive (bunched up) coils on the rear of the car should be at the top, not the bottom. Hope that helps

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by Ben85

Well heres the answer guys. I emailed king springs and the progressive (bunched up) coils on the rear of the car should be at the top, not the bottom. Hope that helps

Obviously your email was opened by the snotty nosed 17 year old sales cadet who at the time was helping the girls out with a bit of filing in the office and thought he'd help himself to a little bit of a tamper with the computer.

[Vision Zetec]

Pics!!!

[Twinpiston]

I got Kings as well.

The writing is correct way up, but my springs are compressed on the bottom, which looks cool and according to Kings themselves, is ok to have this way.

Their is no sleeve on the spring in the rear (not sure about the front I didn't do them), just the rubber mount on top and plate on the bottom...

Pics to come soon.

[Fled74]

Pics please!

I almost had some King springs fitted as well (I had some extra cash), but had second thoughts. The roads I regularly drive on can be a bit on the rough side so firmer springs would have made the ride too uncomfortable.

[Twinpiston]

Here they, terrible quality, bloody Blackberry.

I will try and get some more when the rain stops and I can clean the 2 cars.









17" MP3s are going on after I get back from O/S....

I will also finish colour coding the car. (washer jets, mirror caps and boot strip currently done.)

[Argh-Ess]

haha, looks cool on the steelies. Here is mine - King Springs with XR4 rims...

[zetec jim]

Righto... some pics (be they of an unwashed fez) now its lowered.

previous ride height
(middle of centre cap to wheel arch exterior):

Front - 350mm
Back - 355mm

Current Ride Height

Front - 310mm
Back - 320mm

I think my springs have the compresses section at the top : !
Is this worth changing, or will they work alright as is? I think i'm hearing that clank as well... although they same work fine.

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by zetec jim

I think my springs have the compresses section at the top : !
Is this worth changing, or will they work alright as is? I think i'm hearing that clank as well... although they same work fine.

I would mate, it's not a difficult job to take the rear springs out on the Fez

Just jack it up at the back, put in a couple of axle stands to support the car and the rear springs can be compressed by hand and lifted out.

[kiwijohn42]

Nice, there's only one thing missing...

[Twinpiston]

????????????

[kiwijohn42]

The side skirts for the body kit are still in his garage

[Twinpiston]

Aaahhhhhh,

If only I could find some cheap enough, and may be only in Panther Black.

[Twinpiston]

I'll second that, I did the rear springs myself.

Getting the originals out was slightly harder, with out spring compressors.

But if I had to turn them around again it wouldn't be that hard, maybe 30 minutes...

Hopefully getting clean shots up this afternoon.

[zetec jim]

thanks guys, its due for a service soon, so i'll get my mechanic to do it.

haha Kiwijohn.... You know too much.....

Might get them done soon. I would spray them and put them on myself, but they are an aftermarket skirt, and are for a 5 door model, so need some cutting to make them fit. one day...... thinking bout a strut-brace and rear-sway-bar first though... :eclipsee_

[Twinpiston]

Ok, I have deleted the other files cause they were just wrong..

Here goes









And my special S

[zetec jim]

thanks for that ben, one less thing to worry bout

[dannyhilton]

Looks hot Zetec Jim. You've certinly got a tidy peice there! My Diamond White Zetec looks almost bland when compared to your model. The colour coding does no end of good for the look of the car. The back, with the color coding, dual pipes and body kit looks absolutly horn. The only advantage mine has over your one is it has the side skirt, which I think would top your model off nicley. Would it fit with the lowering though, or would it scrape too much?

[zetec jim]

Originally Posted by RapidTyphoon

Looks hot Zetec Jim. You've certinly got a tidy peice there! My Diamond White Zetec looks almost bland when compared to your model. The colour coding does no end of good for the look of the car. The back, with the color coding, dual pipes and body kit looks absolutly horn. The only advantage mine has over your one is it has the side skirt, which I think would top your model off nicley. Would it fit with the lowering though, or would it scrape too much?

thanks man, yeah, still iffy about putting the side skirts on, i think to get em' painted and fitted would be money well spent on other things (strut-brace, rear sway-bar, better tyres when it comes round....maybe even some 17"s,... plus i'm thinking bout changing the front seats to something more hugging... IE Sparco/Recaro/OMP/Bride... I really want some mid-corner bolstering (Iwant the Sparco's) :evil3: ) :

[chinw3e]

Haha twinpiston, my fiesta is pretty much a replica of yours. just a bit dirtier, and my astra wiper broke. :( but I agree, they look stealthy lowered on the stickies ;)

[Twinpiston]

Yep got the MP3's waiting to go on, got a bargain with the tyres, so soon.

I too rang kings and talked with their engineer and he said the only reason they put them on the top is to stop dirt and gunk getting stuck in the progressive section.

I said mine were installed with this section at the bottom and said thats fine....

Personal choice I suppose

[Ben85]

As im not a mechanic i just emailed the company that i bought the springs from, they have informed me that this is the correct way to fit these springs. I have no idea where your getting your information from. So im inclined to believe King Springs.

[robjh80]

Originally Posted by Ben85

As im not a mechanic i just emailed the company that i bought the springs from, they have informed me that this is the correct way to fit these springs. I have no idea where your getting your information from. So im inclined to believe King Springs.

King Springs themselves on the Gold Coast installed their springs in my Zetec a couple of years ago and the progressive springs were at the bottom ... now their telling you they should be at the top? ... to keep the dirt out .. : ..... Yea!, that makes sense?

I now have Eibach's in the XR4 and they recommend the progressive springs sit at the bottom ... my Brother-in-Law who has been an A-Grade Mechanic for over 30 years also said that's the way they should be.

If you have them the other way around and your happy with the car, (keeping all that dirt out and all) ... then leave them like that.

[Ben85]

Originally Posted by robjh80

King Springs themselves on the Gold Coast installed their springs in my Zetec a couple of years ago and the progressive springs were at the bottom ... now their telling you they should be at the top? ... to keep the dirt out .. : ..... Yea!, that makes sense?

I now have Eibach's in the XR4 and they recommend the progressive springs sit at the bottom ... my Brother-in-Law who has been an A-Grade Mechanic for over 30 years also said that's the way they should be.

If you have them the other way around and your happy with the car, (keeping all that dirt out and all) ... then leave them like that.

Geez man, remind me next time not to try and help people around here. Because i dont particular enjoy getting into ****ing matches. I emailed King Springs and thats the answer i got.

[Twinpiston]

I guess it comes down to who you spoke to.

I got a different answer...thats all