Ok so i'd like to lower my car, I had 17's put on recently, so of course my car is sitting a bit higher now. Before I put them on my car scraped a little on the driveway if I wasn't too careful...I'd like to get lows all round, I'm afraid if I went SL I wouldn't have a front bar after too long :)

I've had a look around and read about the differences between kings and lovells. I was originally thinking about going for kings for the firmer handling, but after reading a few stories of some peoples cars pulling violently to one side at certain intervals, I'm not so sure about kings. So I might be heading for the softer ride, lovells. But then again people said these sag after a while...just trying to decide.

I hear it would be best to change the shocks at the same time, is that true ? a lot of people seem to like KYB, I don't know much about shocks so I was wondering if anyone could tell me a good combination of Lows/Shocks for my car, an 05 TW.

Thanks :D

http://a266.ac-images.myspacecdn.com/images01/54/l_53789d548b064045dab9d45fcc955531.jpg

17's with Kings Super Lows (front, Lows in rear), standard shocks. Ride isn't harsh at all (can't tell the difference from stock), and I've never had any clearance problems.

DO EEET!

i have super lows and i am taken them out. not because of scraping problems, but because i still have bump stops in there and it only sits 5mm off them. that is sitting 60mm lower than standard. i am going back to lows. had them on my last magna and it was much nicer. i think it also looked better height wise too. while the super lows make the wheels sit even in the arches, the front of the car itself looks too low, and in turn the **** looks massively high (the boot height i mean, not the height off the ground)

edit: frogi that is how high my last magna sat with the lows in the front, and how high my current one sat before i cut the bump stops down by 20mm.

Ok so i'd like to lower my car, I had 17's put on recently, so of course my car is sitting a bit higher now. Before I put them on my car scraped a little on the driveway if I wasn't too careful...I'd like to get lows all round, I'm afraid if I went SL I wouldn't have a front bar after too long :)

I've had a look around and read about the differences between kings and lovells. I was originally thinking about going for kings for the firmer handling, but after reading a few stories of some peoples cars pulling violently to one side at certain intervals, I'm not so sure about kings. So I might be heading for the softer ride, lovells. But then again people said these sag after a while...just trying to decide.

I hear it would be best to change the shocks at the same time, is that true ? a lot of people seem to like KYB, I don't know much about shocks so I was wondering if anyone could tell me a good combination of Lows/Shocks for my car, an 05 TW.

Thanks :D

I have Kings lows and adjustable Koni yellow dampers. This is an expensive combination, but you get what you pay for. I get occassional scrapes of mudflaps (which I plan on removing shortly). Ride height is interesting. Compare the place of the tyres in my guards and then look at frogis. I'm on std 16's which have about the same rolling radius as a 235/50/17. And yet I would say mine appears to sit lower. Hmmm.

I've had no issues with the springs affecting the car's tracking or 'tramlining' as it is better known. Tramlining is more typically a function of of poorly adjusted or excessive camber adjustments, rather than ride height.

Yes, you should bin your old dampers. Standard rule of thumb is std ones are knackered at 70,000km.

Yes, you should bin your old dampers. Standard rule of thumb is std ones are knackered at 70,000km.

They should be all good for now, my car just ticked over 37,000kms :D I talked to Phillcom earlier and they said don't worry about changing them yet.

I'd like to get lows all round, I'm afraid if I went SL I wouldn't have a front bar after too long

Smart move. I have Lows all around, and I don't have many clearance issues. However, I reckon the difference between Lows and Superlows in the front would be enough to cause some issues. And like mad082 said, Superlows do does make the bum poke up in the air a bit more. Most people don't mind this (especially since the wheel arches have similar clearance), but I personally am a fan of a "squat" looking back end.


I've had a look around and read about the differences between kings and lovells.

Keep in mind the differences in ride height. King Lows are closer to the Lovell Superlows height-wise (rather than their Lows).

I can't say that my car has ever pulled violently to one side. Like Schnell said, I don't think it can be blamed entirely on your springs.

The Lovell/King springs with a set of KYB shocks are a popular combination. I have them and would definitely recommend it.

some directional tyres can cause tramlining, as well as excessive toe out.

SL vs Lows argument can also depend entirely on the kit on the car. obviously vrx/ralliart owners or fakies (:P) wouldnt want it too low, as the kit already sits the car lower, but imo on an exec or a verada (where the kit doesnt sit overly low) SL easily alter the looks, without affecting usability (much hehe). as for those who want the combination of SL/Lows, i say just choose a drop and go for it, car looks odd with the diff spring heights

oh, and being that the OP has a TW, i wouldve said SL's all the way, but then theres the usability issues.

to the OP, have u also searched and read about the Kings SP Lows or whatever? cant remember if they drop more, but its a stiffer spring

as for those who want the combination of SL/Lows, i say just choose a drop and go for it, car looks odd with the diff spring heights

Bah! You don't notice it at all! :bowrofl:

Generally, for some reason, I reckon the gap between the arch and wheel is smaller on the rear than it is on the front, so if anything it looks more level (look at my pic... the gap is about the same...)

I would have got SL's all around, but Kings stopped doing rears for some reason.

that is because the rear wheel arch is lower to start with

that is because the rear wheel arch is lower to start with

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/104/captainobviouslb4.jpg

that is because the rear wheel arch is lower to start with

Actually because any shorter springs won't sit captive in the shock.

Lows all round is a good height, fixes a bit of body roll and looks level.

http://img134.imageshack.us/img134/104/captainobviouslb4.jpg

lol lol

to the OP, have u also searched and read about the Kings SP Lows or whatever? cant remember if they drop more, but its a stiffer spring

I've only recently started looking at springs so thats the first i've heard of the SP lows. I did find this from another thread...



As for the original question, stiffer springs reduce body roll but increase ride harshness, superlows and lows are better than stock, but if you want handling, king lows sp (stiffer spring, but only a 30mm drop compared to 45/60 for the lows/superlows) would be your best bet. Lows are probably a good comprimise between looks and handling, and then superlows i'm afraid are more for looks than handling.

the sp lows are only a 30mm drop (rather than the 45mm of the lows) and are a stiffer spring.

As for the original question, stiffer springs reduce body roll but increase ride harshness, superlows and lows are better than stock, but if you want handling, king lows sp (stiffer spring, but only a 30mm drop compared to 45/60 for the lows/superlows) would be your best bet. Lows are probably a good comprimise between looks and handling, and then superlows i'm afraid are more for looks than handling.


the sp lows are only a 30mm drop (rather than the 45mm of the lows) and are a stiffer spring.

*votes for mad082 magna to have user title "Captain Obvious" *

well actually i didn't notice about the sp lows up further, and as for frogi calling me captain obvious, i was simply giving a simple (and obvious) reply to what he said, which was


Generally, for some reason, I reckon the gap between the arch and wheel is smaller on the rear than it is on the front

well actually i didn't notice about the sp lows up further, and as for frogi calling me captain obvious, i was simply giving a simple (and obvious) reply to what he said, which was

See bold text.

:bowrofl:

Just messing around mate, we're all friends here.

:D

yeah i know

angle grinder!

cheap and great for the soggy pillow feel!

i mean dont we all want to be like the commodoreslol

I'm running KYB Excel-G shocks and Kings SL front/L rear. Have been on for about 4 months now I think.

It initially rode really nicely (considering it's height) but over time as the springs have settled in and dropped a bit, plus the nankangs probably hardened up a bit, the ride can be a bit uncomfortable in the front end over sudden sharp bumps in the road.

I'm not complaining though - you can't expect to remove ~50mm of shock travel and not affect the ride! Plus it's an AWD with a bit more sprung weight - which I guess might make it sit a tad lower than an FWD?

I would have gone lows on front, but with the sidewall of the 18's wanted the look of the SL - which I liked on Mohit's Rada. Mine looked like this when the springs first went in:

http://www.shoeys.com/jeff/after2.jpg

At the end of the day the important thing is it looks good lol

Yeah mines already pretty bumpy already, new tyres, so i'm thinking just Lovells Lows for now and i'll see what its like.

At the end of the day the important thing is it looks good lol

Yeah mines already pretty bumpy already, new tyres, so i'm thinking just Lovells Lows for now and i'll see what its like.

Look forward to seeing how yours sits with the LL's on it!

Yeah - if it was just looks I was after I would have put the rims up into the arches like the bad boys on here :cool:

But I just wanted a decent look to do the new wheels justice, whilst still keeping the car practical for most of the things we do with it. Still reckon we made the right decision.

As for reports of tram-lining and that sort of stuff on King springs - this car doesn't do anything like that. Apart from the vastly improved cornering (albeit on corners without sharp bumps mid-way) it drives really bloody nicely without a major sacrifice in comfort.

i've just got king lows and new KYB's going in all 4 corners of ym KJ verada.. also with some progressive bumpstops.. i didn't want really to go any lower cos i do have 20's under her now :)

Progressive bumpstops??? never heard of them, sound good though! :badgrin:

Im still not sure if I want to go KYB's on my 2nd gen Rada wagon, scared it will be too uncomfortable when Im not really gonna use the cornering potential much, and that even with the KYB's its not gonna corner that well. Im completely stock at the moment except from some 18's, bucketloads of understeer, and doesnt have much corner speed.

Ollie

Look forward to seeing how yours sits with the LL's on it!




Yep, I have to find a nice spot and take some photos when they're on. If I wash my car before i'll have to be quick, cos it will only be clean for about 30 mins before something ****s on it lol