Another H&R Spring Install - I got the full drop!

5026 Views 22 Replies 7 Participants Last post by CANABARTH, Aug 29, 2020

Azzurro

Discussion Starter · May 3, 2020 (Edited)

2

H&R part #29135-2 (the #2 being specific to Abarth models)
I ordered these springs from a distributor in Germany.

When doing this install, we made sure the suspension was fully compressed before torquing the upper control arm bolts and lower shock bolts. We used a floor jack under each hub till the car started to lift off the hoist before torquing the bolts.

I measured a 1.25" drop on the front, but more interestingly, a 1.75" drop on the rear. The car rides a little firmer but that was to be expected. Not harsh. So far I haven't had any issues with ground clearance.

(Update)The ride height from the centre of the wheel to the upper fender is about 12.75" front and rear.

Very pleased with the results.

Before and After

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Reactions: 3

1 - 20 of 23 Posts

Vincent Venat

· #2 · May 3, 2020

Nice did you Wrench it yourself? Where did you order the suspension?

Looking for a place to source to Canada

Azzurro

Discussion Starter · #3 · May 3, 2020

Vincent Venat said:
Nice did you Wrench it yourself? Where did you order the suspension?

Looking for a place to source to Canada

Me and a friend. It was a walk in the park honestly.

Tunershop GmbH.

Azzurro

Discussion Starter · #4 · May 3, 2020

MiniDreamCar said:
That’s a very low drop in the rear, interesting

I was surprised too. Maybe my car sat a little high in the rear or I somehow screwed up basic measurements! That said, the gap is about one finger front and rear.

MiniDreamCar

· #5 · May 3, 2020

Azzurro said:
I was surprised too. Maybe my car sat a little high in the rear or I somehow screwed up basic measurements! That said, the gap is about one finger front and rear.

Mine is 2 fingers (from 4). Maybe its better that way so I don’t issues fitting the 235/40 tires I want.

Vincent Venat

· #6 · May 3, 2020

Thanks for sharing Azzurro, I've been holding off only because I don't want the ride quality to become too harsh. This is a cruiser for me not a track car. But it looks so good, how's the ride comfort?

MiniDreamCar

· #7 · May 3, 2020

Vincent Venat said:
Thanks for sharing Azzurro, I've been holding off only because I don't want the ride quality to become too harsh. This is a cruiser for me not a track car. But it looks so good, how's the ride comfort?

Like I said in my review, you can’t really notice a drop in comfort.

Vincent Venat

· #8 · May 4, 2020

MiniDreamCar said:
Like I said in my review, you can’t really notice a drop in comfort.

Thanks Mini

Azzurro

Discussion Starter · #9 · May 4, 2020

Vincent Venat said:
Thanks for sharing Azzurro, I've been holding off only because I don't want the ride quality to become too harsh. This is a cruiser for me not a track car. But it looks so good, how's the ride comfort?

I put 200km on the car today driving country roads. Got a nice sunburn.

I'm very happy with the ride. It is firmer, cant deny that, but the Bilsteins do a great job soaking up any harshness. It's perfectly livable even over rough surfaces. No issues with ground clearance either so far and I hit plenty of iffy patches of poorly maintained road throughout the day.

Reactions: 1

Vincent Venat

· #10 · May 17, 2020

Thanks for the feedback, I pulled the trigger EC had it on "sale" got the springs off there: H&R LOWERING SPRINGS FIAT 124 - EUROCOMPULSION

Vincent Venat

· #11 · May 19, 2020

MiniDreamCar said:
EC has most of their inventory listed as “on sale” 99% of the time lol. You’ve been warned. Don’t like that marketing scheme.

Yea hence the quotes

the price was still good. Duties / Brokerage fees to Canada re murdering me though.

Vincent Venat

· #12 · May 28, 2020

So far so good. Did my rears today. Only a 2 cm drop. Took my 4 hours because I got sidetracked derusting the underside with Muriatic Acid and Evapo-Rust. Looks good now.

My drop so far was only 2cm will see after it settles. BTW did you guys use thread-locker when re-installing?

Azzurro

Discussion Starter · #13 · May 28, 2020

Vincent Venat said:
So far so good. Did my rears today. Only a 2 cm drop. Took my 4 hours because I got sidetracked derusting the underside with Muriatic Acid and Evapo-Rust. Looks good now.

My drop so far was only 2cm will see after it settles. BTW did you guys use thread-locker when re-installing?

I didn't.

I got well over 30mm of lowering immediately and since the install I haven't noticed it sitting any lower. Did you compress the suspension all the way before torquing everything? What was the part # on the springs EC sells?

There are so many version of H&R springs that will fit these cars. The final ride heights are all over the place.

Vincent Venat

· #14 · May 29, 2020 (Edited)

I did compress the springs but the top only went as low as the bolt allowed. It did drop a good amount after a quick drive now its down 60mm in the read from 40cm to 34cm.

The only odd thing is my left side is at 34cm (from center wheel to fender) and my right is at 34.5cm should I try to tighten the top bolt a bit or is this within tolerance?

Racer27

· #15 · May 29, 2020

After adding lowering spings is an alignment needed. I was not considering lowering car, but to make best use of 17x8 wheels, Goodwin suggested lowering springs. I'm all for it as cost is reasonable and seems like a good DYI project as long as I can borrow a spring compressor. I just don't want to be messing with factory alignment.

Azzurro

Discussion Starter · #16 · May 29, 2020 (Edited)

2

Vincent Venat said:
I did compress the springs but the top only went as low as the bolt allowed. It did drop a good amount after a quick drive now its down 60mm in the read from 40cm to 34cm.

The only odd thing is my left side is at 34cm (from center wheel to fender) and my right is at 34.5cm should I try to tighten the top bolt a bit or is this within tolerance?

I mean after installing the spring/strut assembly on each corner, did you make sure to do the step that involves leaving the upper control arm and lower strut assembly bolts just finger tight at first? I have a feeling a lot of people are skipping this step and just torquing everything down while this car is in the air without any load on the suspension. This is an incredibly important step that affects the final ride height.

www.good-win-racing.com

Progress Technology Springs for Soft Top ND Miata and Fiat 124 for MX5-ND

Street, Autocross and Track Performance for your Mazda, Fiat 124, Toyota-Subaru BRZ/FRS/86.

www.good-win-racing.com

INSTALL NOTES: As with the NC, so it also important with similar ND to not lock down the bolts to the suspension after install while the car is suspended in the air with the suspension fully extended. Bounce it on the ground, then give it a drive around the block with the bolts just snug so you get it to settle before you torque everything ON THE GROUND. Many shops will NOT know to do this...SMART CUSTOMERS PRINT ALL THIS PAGE FOR THE INSTALLER! See details in our forum installation section from NC application, thread is titled: "Spring Installation, Mazda Workshop Manual Notes" and factory TSB notes below. Once you do it right, drive it 500 miles and then do it again (which usually results in another quarter inch or more of lowering)....and then do the alignment. ROCKY'S TIPS: Our head mechanic Rocky has his own method that seems to work even better than the factory TSB. Once he finishes install at each corner he jacks up just that corner with BOTH UPPER AND LOWER LINKs loose, so the full weight of the car is compressing just that corner, then he torques the bolts...and he finds car will still settle with 500 miles but usually only another 1/8th inch.

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Azzurro

Discussion Starter · #17 · May 29, 2020

Racer27 said:
After adding lowering spings is an alignment needed. I was not considering lowering car, but to make best use of 17x8 wheels, Goodwin suggested lowering springs. I'm all for it as cost is reasonable and seems like a good DYI project as long as I can borrow a spring compressor. I just don't want to be messing with factory alignment.

It's always best to get an alignment after suspension work. Mine barely changed after the install. Car drove dead straight and I could not tell any difference before and after. Some have even gone in only to find out that their car was still within factory specs.

Vincent Venat

· #18 · May 29, 2020

Hey Azz i did that too based on the guide. Got some tips on the particular spring. Tbh i'm quite haply with the height and ride quality checked the bolts after a longer drive last night and all seems good so far.

Once my new wheels get in I'll go in for full alignment.

Will post pics when I put the car back down.

Vincent Venat

· #19 · May 30, 2020

4

Quick After/ Before.

This is the non-abarth h&r spring. Ride is perfectly normal. Got 34cm all around except my passenger-rear is riding a bit high at between 34.5 to 35 (it seems to change).

Might take that off tomorrow and take a quick look if I goofed something otherwise it rides straight turns fine.

Once my wheels come in I'll go for alignment. Although I dont know if that would fix the height issue.

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Calehedron

· #20 · May 30, 2020

From what I remember, most of these Spiders lean low left. Even with coilovers that have been corner balanced. I will eventually add my data point to that. Some day.....lol

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