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[albitz]

Anyone got any info on the rates and ride heights for the various different spring types ?
Standard/MV6/Elite.
Seen a fair amount of discussion on here about such things, but dont think Ive ever seen the relevant data.
Elite ride height wont just be governed by the springs, but the others will and all 3 must have a rating figure in pounds ? :-/
I assume MV6 is lower and stiffer than standard and Elite is softer than standard ? :-/
I sometimes see uprated springs advertised, but uprated from what to what ?
Tia.

[feeutfo]

Albs, what are you trying to achieve?

[albitz]

Ive got a pair of Bilstein B4,s to go on the rear and want to change the springs as well. Probably dont want to go lower, as I sometimes tow, so that might mean the bumper almost on the ground when towing, which is why I think MV6 springs might not be the best option. Dont want something which is rock hard, but better than standard on the odd occasion when Im towing.
Something a bit uprated from standard might be the way to go, but if you dont know the spring rate of the standard or uprated spring, then its not easy to judge.
Might be best just going with new standard springs, not sure tbh.
I have MOT soon and currently have a broken rear spring, but I should be getting one fromTunnie to see me through the MOT so I dont have to rush into buying whatever eurocarparts happen to have in stock that day.
Then if I move away from standard on the rear, maybe I need to do likewise at the front at the same time ?

[albitz]

I have a perfectly good pair of springs from the Elite Im breaking (marked LA) which I assume are self levelling type, and therefore assume that they are a lot softer ? :-/

[Big_Al]

I had a nice full head of hair until I started looking into Omega rear springs . . . 
 pulled it all out over the last few months trying to get to the bottom of it all.

One question I still need to sort is . . .   Do the rear shocks affect the ride height or not ?

Seem to remember some replies to earlier threads, some months ago, on this subject seemed to think  they do.

With a shock off you can slowly push & pull to either extent, so unless i'm missing a vital point it must be the spring that decides the ride height.

Different of course with air shocks as they pump up when rear of car is loaded & let down when load is reduced.

FL  MV6 has no air  so if shocks are removed for test purposes, will the ride height change?      I would say no  . . but anyone got a theory as to it would change?

Thinking I've missed a major point here with shocks having an effect on height

No more hair to pull out .  so no worries 

Any ideas / theories   welcome

Can of worms is open  . .  tin opener is  still warm in my hand 

Apologies Albs if i've highjacked your thread

[Varche]

Al - can you pop your rear shocks off and measure ride height before and after. Then take a run around the country lanes at speed and see if any of your hair comes back

[Big_Al]

Al - can you pop your rear shocks off and measure ride height before and after. Then take a run around the country lanes at speed and see if any of your hair comes back

Exactly how I  lost it 

[feeutfo]

I have a perfectly good pair of springs from the Elite Im breaking (marked LA) which I assume are self levelling type, and therefore assume that they are a lot softer ? :-/

LA springs are a bit of an oddity. I had them on mine from the previous owner. They sitbtoo high, but are firmer than sl springs.

Softest is Elite suspension, standard(gls, cd, cdx) in the middle, mv6 pre face uses stock springs, but different shocks that are firmer damped but don't hold the car so high. Then there is lowered sports chassis fitted to face lifts only(mv6 and 2.2 sport) shorter springs different shocks again, sits 15 mill lower.

LA's sit way higher than all of those.

[feeutfo]

All omega shocks I have seen will extend to full length/top out on their own out of the box. They do affect ride hight as they support the springs as well. How much depends on the shock spec and how much rebound is dialed in.

[Big_Al]

I have a perfectly good pair of springs from the Elite Im breaking (marked LA) which I assume are self levelling type, and therefore assume that they are a lot softer ? :-/

LA springs are a bit of an oddity. I had them on mine from the previous owner. They sitbtoo high, but are firmer than sl springs.

Softest is Elite suspension, standard(gls, cd, cdx) in the middle, mv6 pre face uses stock springs, but different shocks that are firmer damped but don't hold the car so high. Then there is lowered sports chassis fitted to face lifts only(mv6 and 2.2 sport) shorter springs different shocks again, sits 15 mill lower.

LA's sit way higher than all of those.

Agreed . .  had em on mine & sat at 690mm.

Still can't grasp this thing with the shocks though Chris

[albitz]

Any idea if LA springs are softer then standard springs, and if so by how much ? :-/
In the old days springs used to be identified by rates such as 150lb etc. but that doesnt seem to happen any more, which is a bit confusing imo. :-/
Both elites I have had for breaking have had LA springs which is what made me think they are standard elite fitment.
Wonder how it would sit with MV6 springs and standard shocks on the back.If the front was left as is would it look silly and drive strangely ?
So many permutations,suspension is confusing stuff.

My breaker has the LA springs and B4 shocks on at the moment, so I might have a measure up and then compare it with my standard setup to see how much difference there is.

[Big_Al]

Albs,  I replaced my LA springs with an almost new unmarked set from another Oof member.

These were 40mm shorter & when fitted dropped the rear by 30mm with a much firmer ride.

But not much help as we don't really know what they are

[feeutfo]

I have a perfectly good pair of springs from the Elite Im breaking (marked LA) which I assume are self levelling type, and therefore assume that they are a lot softer ? :-/

LA springs are a bit of an oddity. I had them on mine from the previous owner. They sitbtoo high, but are firmer than sl springs.

Softest is Elite suspension, standard(gls, cd, cdx) in the middle, mv6 pre face uses stock springs, but different shocks that are firmer damped but don't hold the car so high. Then there is lowered sports chassis fitted to face lifts only(mv6 and 2.2 sport) shorter springs different shocks again, sits 15 mill lower.

LA's sit way higher than all of those.

Agreed . .  had em on mine & sat at 690mm.

Still can't grasp this thing with the shocks though Chris

Well, taking pre face lift mv6, springs are the same as standard gls, cd, cdx. But the car apparently sits lower. So only difference is shocks, which do not extend at the same rate as standard shocks.....by extend I mean, with a shock in your hand, compress it fully so it bottoms out then let go. It will fully extend on it's own. Pre face lift mv6 will extend at a slower less forcefull rate than standard shocks. Hence the car sits lower.... Or that's the general idea.

[dad1uk]

I had a set of standard springs on my Tourer estate and I was in danger of losing the exhaust.
I eventually got a set of Heavy Duty Springs and the car is sitting normally.
I checked the Shocks, they gave resistance in both directions so left them alone.
I thought all shock absorbers do is what the name says. Absorb shocks
They may offer a little assistance to the springs but as to helping hold the weight of the car then they couldn't do this otherwise you would not be able to compress them.
As for air shocks, these I don't know about.....

[feeutfo]

I had a set of standard springs on my Tourer estate and I was in danger of losing the exhaust.
I eventually got a set of Heavy Duty Springs and the car is sitting normally.
I checked the Shocks, they gave resistance in both directions so left them alone.
I thought all shock absorbers do is what the name says. Absorb shocks
They may offer a little assistance to the springs but as to helping hold the weight of the car then they couldn't do this otherwise you would not be able to compress them.
As for air shocks, these I don't know about.....

Not sure whats fitted to the tourer tbh, but I would expect the shocks to extend under their own power, or suspect they need replacing...? Ok the ride hight is better, but is the hight correct? Does the car bounce excessively when you compress it, by bouncing on the boot lip for instance...?