lowering springs or not?

Anonymous · September 8, 2003, 14:51

hi

just wanted everyones opinion on lowering my mr2 or not??

does it make alot of difference in the look of the car??

cheers

alan

Anonymous · September 8, 2003, 16:18

I have the TTE lowering springs. IMHO the car shold have these as stock. It looks much better, as it should really, not lowered but rather just like a sports car should look. I always thought the stock set-up was a bit like a monster truck mind you!

The TTE springs have a barely noticable stiffening effect on long distance ride quality (as they're progressive), reduce the roll through the corners a bit and look really good too.

HTH

--H--

Chris · September 8, 2003, 16:40

I agree with 'core - after seeing the amount of lean i get when cornering, i'm looking at fitting the eibach springs, which i'm told are the same as teh tte jobbies, but cheaper!

Anonymous · September 8, 2003, 16:48

I'm still not convinced the TTE and Eibach are the same; there's no doubt that the TTE are made by Eibach, but see earlier thread(s), with a scan of the TTE "manual" I posted, specifically doubt over whether the TTEs really are progressive...

m http://www.mr2roc.org/viewtopic.php?t=727 m

Anonymous · September 10, 2003, 17:44

Surely someone out there can verify whether or not the TTE springs are proggressive by comparing how they are wound against how the Eibachs are wound. If the Eibachs are progressive and the TTEs are wound in the same way i.e they look dimensionally identical then this must mean that both springs have the same rate of change from a linearity point of view. Proggressive rate usually means proggressivley wound so that there are more coils per unit height at one end of the spring than at the other end. This has the effect of increasing the spring constant (stiffness) as the spring is compressed.

Anonymous · September 10, 2003, 21:52

Going by that description of visual appearance alone, then as I recall, neither the TTE or Eibach springs would count as progressive, as the coil spacing looked pretty linear to me when we had both side-by-side at Markiii's recently.

They certainly looked identical (literally, side-by-side), bar the different logo printed on them. The Eibach box clearly said "Progressive", yet the TTE manual (in German) clearly said "Kennung: Linear".

Slacey · September 10, 2003, 22:16

So, to a dumbass like me, who still can't decide whether to lower or not (due to the potential rubbing), which is better, progressive Eibach's or linear TTE?

Anonymous · September 10, 2003, 22:24

IF there's a difference (and I'm not convinced that there actually is, despite the TTE docs), then in theory the progressive Eibach's would be a better choice.

Having said that, I've got the TTE's, and am thoroughly pleased with them. I'd say go with whichever is cheapest and/or most convenient for fitting (eg Mr T would probably prefer to only fit the TTE's).

Anonymous · September 11, 2003, 13:28

Think about insurance too. The TTE's are now official Toyota parts so don't count as third party parts for insurance purposes (don't with Direct Line anyway).

TTE's didn't cost me a penny on my insurance.

--H--

Anonymous · September 17, 2003, 13:41

What's everyone else's experience when informing their insurance companies - have you paid extra on your premium and if so is it much??

I'm considering the TTE's mainly because they are official Toyota kit.

Anonymous · September 17, 2003, 14:20

Quote from: "mrcadburysparrot"What's everyone else's experience when informing their insurance companies - have you paid extra on your premium and if so is it much??

I'm considering the TTE's mainly because they are official Toyota kit.

I was just talking to my insurance company (AXA) about the TTE lowering spring. I made clear that they were original Toyota items but that woman insisted that they do not cover any such modifications!!!

I don't think she understood what I was talking about so I will enquire again after my renewal, next week.

Slacey · September 17, 2003, 14:22

See http://www.mr2roc.org/viewtopic.php?t=917 s:(

s:(

Anonymous · September 17, 2003, 14:31

Quote from: "Emmanuel"I don't think she understood what I was talking about so I will enquire again after my renewal, next week.

I'd be seriously considering my renewal first, before getting locked in (or as good as) for another year... There are plenty of other insurers who will cover them (and other similar, minor) mods with minimal/no charge, or even the MR2DC scheme with Dorset Insurance.

Anonymous · September 17, 2003, 14:54

pmdye, slightly off topic but the problem I am having is that I recently had an accident in the MR2 (no mechanical damage, just body panels - all body panels) and made a claim. Now, I do not have any NCB and the only insurer with a relatively affordable premium is AXA (£1350). Direct Line quoted me £2k!!! I tried Dorset and the guy I spoke to didn't seem keen to insure me either (I am not a member of MR2DC, mind you).

I don't really have a choice but to go along with the lowest quotation for another year and hope that they will accept the spring conversion if I explain to them that it is an official Toyota item.

Anonymous · September 17, 2003, 15:57

Ah, OK, fairy 'nuff.