Word Of Advice With Lowering Springs On Ibiza TDI

[Curtiz]

I just wanted to put my opinion across regarding lowering springs on standard shocks and hopefully help some people who are considering it.

I have a 2007 Ibiza FR TDI, i wanted it a bit lower but without forking out for coilovers as money was a bit tight. I looked at a few springs but decided to go with Eibach as they are well known, not a really low drop and i didnt want to ruin the comfort too much.

After fitting them, i noticed instantly a nose down, arse up look (which i didnt want, didnt think it would be as bad). After taking the car for a small drive, i noticed the shocks were bottoming out, hitting any slightly bad bump/pothole in the road. It was a severe thump, like the car's shocks were gonna come through the bonnet. The ride was seriously uncomfortable, it was a chore to drive the car and i was scared to hit any bad potholes in case i damaged something on the suspension.

After almost 2 months, i had to remove them and either get standard put back in or go coilovers because my shocks were gonna be knackered in no time. Theres only 54k on my car so nothing should be badly worn. After a bit of reading on here, it would appear that the Eibach springs are for petrol and diesel models, and with diesel engines being heavier, that would explain the much lower front and shocks bottoming out (was only ever the front that thumped).

I got Weitec Hicon GT's fitted on Wednesday and the difference was unbelieveable. The car rides so much nicer, i dont clench with every bump on the road now lol. I wish i didnt blow the money on getting Eibach springs and having them fitted, would have saved me a fair we bit, but better late than never.

Just wanted to share my opinion on them, and hopefully help anyone who is considering the same move

 

[Seatmann]

The diesel and petrol kits aren't the same though, you need specific ones for the tdi to take the weight. (As you found out)

 

[Curtiz]

I can't add a link as I dont have enough posts yet but they claim to fit 1.8T and 1.9TDI. Exact same spring for both cars

 

[Seatmann]

Well another three posts and you're there lol

 

[vroomtshh]

Pd engine is no heavier than a 1.8t. It's a common misconception. Seat actually list the petrol as bring ever so slightly heavier but they both use the same spring rates.

 

[Seatmann]

So basically what you're saying is the spring kit he got was just ****?

 

[vroomtshh]

So basically what you're saying is the spring kit he got was just ****?

No, I didn't want to be cheeky (unlike me) but eibach springs are awesome, and very well matched to the shocks. So either his shocks are knackered, or they weren't fitted correctly. Seen a few eibachs fitted upside down. And bring a progressive spring, that's not very good

 

[Seatmann]

Depends on the spring, if they're the same at both ends it wouldn't matter because the spring rate is still the same. Only conclusion is they were the wrong kit.

 

[vroomtshh]

Depends on the spring, if they're the same at both ends it wouldn't matter because the spring rate is still the same. Only conclusion is they were the wrong kit.

Eibach springs are all progressive. They have to be fitted the correct way up

 

[Seatmann]

And if they're upside down they're a different strength? No, of course not lol. Usually the fronts can go only one way but the rears are most often the same either way round, mine have been in both ways and it's not made any odds. They too are progressive.

 

[vroomtshh]

Yes they are. I assume u don't understand how progressive springs work? They're coiled more tightly at the top. So under normal driving they cope with humps bumps etc, but the more you push it, the stiffer the springs are to cope under extreme cornering. So if u fit them upside down, you lose all the low speed bump handling

 

[Seatmann]

There's no logic in your argument, the spring is going to compress in exactly the same way either way round. The only difference is wether it compresses at the top or the bottom.

 

[vroomtshh]

Yes. And the coils are different top to bottom to deal with different situations. I don't need logic in it. That's just how they work. And why you can only fit them one way up

 

[Seatmann]

Not on the rear of a Mk4 golf, they fit both ways round and I've had them both ways round, never noticed any difference at all. They still compress in exactly the same way, progressively. The fronts can only go in one way though due to the top and bottom being different sizes.

 

[Muttley]

There can not be any difference in the way the spring works if it's one way up or the other. It's just a coiled torsion bar, and a progressive spring works by the closer coils progressively bottoming out, decreasing the effective length of the bar and so increasing the spring rate.

 

[Curtiz]

So basically what you're saying is the spring kit he got was just ****?

The only reason i posted this was to let people know that Eibach springs on standard shocks seem to be an awful combination, from my experience. I bought Eibach as they are well known (since when have Eibach been ****?)

vroomtshh - I saw posts on this site claiming the diesel engine was heavier, i honestly had no idea. With only 54k on the car, i wouldnt like to think the shocks are knackered?

 

[Curtiz]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EIBACH-PR...019&pid=100015&prg=1006&rk=1&sd=170757584157&

They are the springs I bought. Just to show the petrol and diesel are claimed to be same springs

 

[cocadave]

Deisel engines are heavier, full stop!!!!!

Anyone who sells a kit which specifies 1.6, 1.8, and 1.9 tdi are full of ****!!!!!

Different kits for different cars. Petrol or diesel, not both. P

 

[vroomtshh]

Deisel engines are heavier, full stop!!!!!

No, they're not. Maybe in the 90s

 

[cocadave]

Of course they are.