Varying Ride height

[bseos]

Hey guys,

Just noticed my ride height varies each time i go for a drive, id get one of the back corners about 15mm higher than normal/the other one.

Could they not be in place properly?

[bseos]

hmm could it be because my shockers are effed up?

I kept the originals shockers but changed the springs.

[DZFord]

Originally Posted by bseos

hmm could it be because my shockers are effed up?

That would be my guess. Are you going to get them checked soon?

[bseos]

Originally Posted by DZFord

That would be my guess. Are you going to get them checked soon?

Yeah, im going to have to on my next scheduled service, which should be next week..

Wonder if standard shockers will do though, as my car is quite low.

[#Russ#Es#]

Originally Posted by bseos

Yeah, im going to have to on my next scheduled service, which should be next week..

Wonder if standard shockers will do though, as my car is quite low.

In most cases, standard shocks aren't designed to be used with lowered springs. As the spring and shock aren't matched you'll have a compromised ride, which may explain the uneven ride height (you're shocks are on their last legs). Unless you're planning on selling the car in the near future, you should look into some sports/lowered shocks.

[bseos]

Can you guys suggest and good ones? Not to pricey though.. still need to get it serviced, new tyres, and cv joints fixed..

[bseos]

Just got the set of xr5 rims that have been sitting in my garage for the past few months installed on my zetec... Finally!

Must say, even with the cheap *** tyres i opted for, handling has improved alot! Feels like the car hugs into every corner nicely, aWHOLE lot better than the stock 17's 205s.

Now i still need to get new shockers, my stock ones are finished as i kept em on when i changed over to king springs.
Do you guys recommend the Monroe GT Sports or have any others installed that do the job well.

Ill post pics up soon, as soon as i get my centre caps in the post, turns out the centre caps from the zetec rims are too small.. though i must say, the "centre cap-less" look is not badd :P

PS: Been thinking about re-badging the back end of my car to this:


Or would i look like a tool for doing so? Just something diff to distignuish my cars from others, and technically, it sorta can be called a Zetec S now with the xr5 rims on n all :P

[Mad_Aussie]

Save the money from a badge to go towards better shocks. Friends don't let friends drive on Monroes.

[bseos]

Originally Posted by Mad_Aussie

Friends don't let friends drive on Monroes.

Well don't just leave me hanging..
So tell us, what do friends let friends drive on?

[Mad_Aussie]

Well I had Bilstiens in my previous track cars, so I highly recommend! You can also get Eibach gear from the UK, can be pricey. Honestly I'd probably run pedders if anything on a focus, but to be frank I don't know the best combo for the least money when it comes to Focuses. However i've had plenty of problems with Monroe, and heard plenty more horror stories.

I guess if you're just using the car for the daily commute, then they may not be a problem, but I'm the sort of person that ends up finding the limit of grip on my way to work every day, so I like to have decent gear - even on a daily.

[leakey]

What are these coil overs like on Ebay?

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/COILOVERS-Foc...item19bf7cbee3

and

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/SILVERS-NEOMA...item45f5557499

What sort of money is a good set of Bilstiens going for these days?
Might be worth looking at these as a total upgrade.

Not that I've got that sort of dough to play with. Slowly slowly for me.... :(

[Mad_Aussie]

I would avoid ebay coilovers like the plague.

Tien do superstreets for the focus, http://www.tein.co.uk/
Bilstiens can be sourced through http://www.european-parts.net/

You'll probably be looking at $1300-1500 for a decent set of coilies. Probably want to steer away from race struts, and look for street ones. They will be softer... I had 10kg/12kg's on my drift car, was unbelievably good on the track, but unbelievably sh!thouse on the road lol.

You'll also need adjustable camber arms for the rear, ~$200 through various places (ebay ones probably wont be too bad).
Also replace ALL your bushes with Nolathane. You'll also want a 24mm swaybar.

Thats getting close to a total conversion, and would make the car pretty hardcore.

Another good way to improve (any car) is underbody bracing. Theres a crowd in Thailand I think called CTECHtuners that do 4-point front and rear braces, as well as fender braces, strut braces, etc. Bracing your car = free horsepower (essentially).
You'll be surprised how hard a 100kw car can go if its stiff as a two day old corpse.
I may have gotten a little carried away there, but the point is don't buy china coilovers!!!

[bseos]

Bilstein B14 PSS or B16 PSS9?

The B16's being double the price of the B14, currently selling @ $2,000.
I understand the main diff. is that the B16 are adjustable where as the B14 aren't.

I got 18" wheels, car height just sits ontop of the tyres, i want it to sit a bit lower, just under the tyre.

[blackjack74]

Originally Posted by bseos

hmm could it be because my shockers are effed up?

I kept the originals shockers but changed the springs.

shocks should not effect height at all. If you have very low springs & are not using short stroke shocks the springs can rotate and cause a height variation.

[bseos]

Originally Posted by blackjack74

shocks should not effect height at all. If you have very low springs & are not using short stroke shocks the springs can rotate and cause a height variation.

yep, seems exactly whats happening.

PS: Can anyone recommend the BlueLine Coilover Kit Focus MK2