I am helping a friend with his 1993 NA on a budget and we are on the way to building a set of adjustable Bilstein's then we decided to put them on for now while the other parts come in. It is riding at 14.5" front and rear. Actually gained about an inch from the old stock ones we took off. The springs were under some pretty good compression to start with so if we were to shorten the springs until they were not loose but would lower the car a little would this be a bad thing? We will finish the Bilstein kit when money permits but this might get by for now and is free. Cant seem to find that anyone went this route. Is there a reason?

 

cut springs? what is this 1995?

people have been cutting springs for ages, its a shitty way of doing things.

 

You didnt tighten bolts that go through rubber bushings when the car was in the air right? You will gain some height on stock springs going from twin tubes or blown monotubes to not blown monotubes because of the gas charge.

 

Dorka, give him a break. My nephew is a 17 yr old kid and I financed his car so now he wants to work on it himself. At least he read up the thread on building Bilsteins and is tackling it on his own. The threaded body's and springs are next. At least he didn't go buy a set of used Megans and scrape over speed bumps thinking he's achieved something cool. He see's me doing a NB/LFX swap with Xida's and knows he cant do that but is going to have fun. But your probably right, I should just tell him to not drive or work on his car until he can afford to do it like you.

 

Pics of assembled shocks, please. Let's see if anything jumps out.

 

it's all good.

what I mostly meant is that cut springs work, they won't make the car undriveable, it might ride and handle like crap. But if its temporary, it's all good.

I personally would just rock the SUV stance until better suspension can be afforded.

 

Yeah maybe just ride with the lifted look until he gets the other parts. Another couple pay checks and he will have the money for the rest of the DIY Bilstein parts. I am pretty sure the ebay ad said they were JDM shocks. It does ride much better though. I will try to get some pics of them. He put them on in my shop so he could use the lift and nice tools but I can tell he is enjoying the things he has done with it so far. Encouraging someone young and getting them involved in working on their own car is a great feeling.

 

There's no harm in cutting a coil or two for a few months.