BB1 Lowering options

ATR84 · Post by **ATR84** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 1:03 pm

Hi All,

I should hopefully be in the possession of a UKDM BB1 fairly soon. One of the first things I want to do is put the standard saw blade alloys back on and lower it by about 30mm. Also, as the car is on standard suspension which is 20 years old, I was thinking about going down the coilover route.

The car I am interested in is also knocking from the rear suspension, I assume a coilover kit will have everything in it to repair this? What I don't want to do is replace everything to find the knock is still there.

Also, are there any issues when lowering a car with 4ws? I like the 4ws system and don't really want to covert to a 2ws sub frame. Will I need a 4ws locking pin so the geo can be set up after the suspensions has been changed?

Will I need camber arms or anything? I am only going to lower it about 30mm.

The car is going to be a daily and will do about 10k miles a year.

Thanks
Mike

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 2:40 pm

ATR84 wrote:I should hopefully be in the possession of a UKDM BB1 fairly soon

Good choice!

Also, as the car is on standard suspension which is 20 years old, I was thinking about going down the coilover route.

If that's your only reason, don't be worried - Standard lude shocks go on forever.

The car I am interested in is also knocking from the rear suspension, I assume a coilover kit will have everything in it to repair this? What I don't want to do is replace everything to find the knock is still there.

Assuming all the main bushes are ok (ARB droplinks, top/bottom arm bushes etc.) it will be 'shock knock' from the bushes at the top of the strut mounts. If your new coilovers come with new top mounts, then it should cure it. If you re-use the old top mounts, then it won't cure it. It can be cured by replacing the top mount bushes (not that expensive new from Honda IIRC) or by adding a couple of washers of the right size, to take up the slack from the old bushes.

Also, are there any issues when lowering a car with 4ws? I like the 4ws system and don't really want to covert to a 2ws sub frame.

You can stick with 4ws just fine.

Will I need a 4ws locking pin so the geo can be set up after the suspensions has been changed?

Yes, if you want to get the alignment set up correctly, you'll need a 4ws locking pin.

Will I need camber arms or anything? I am only going to lower it about 30mm.

No.

Post by **Drax** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 2:57 pm

I love you Wurly

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 5:29 pm

Post by **4thgenphil** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 7:51 pm

Drax wrote:I love you Wurly

Some one has to

Post by **Drax** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 8:30 pm

4thgenphil wrote:
Drax wrote:I love you Wurly
Some one has to

ATR84 · Post by **ATR84** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 8:50 pm

Thanks Wurly, most helpful

The other reason I want to go coilovers is because I want to lower the car a bit, only about 30mm-40mm. I guess I could go lowering springs but I am not sure about putting lowering springs on 20 year old shocks

89 UKDM BA4 4WS (resto job!) · Post by **wurlycorner** » Mon Nov 17, 2014 9:14 pm

ATR84 wrote: I am not sure about putting lowering springs on 20 year old shocks

Quite a few people on here have done it.

mart609 · Post by **mart609** » Thu Nov 20, 2014 5:42 pm

I did it and they have lasted 6yrs so far. Just starting to get a knocking from the rear. guessing its most probably shock knock

ATR84 · Post by **ATR84** » Sat Nov 22, 2014 4:03 pm

Now I have the car, I want to set about lowering it. Apart from coilovers or just changing the springs, what are the other options?

Also, there are currently 17 inch alloys on the car, if I lower it will it rub or bottom out? Should I change the wheels? Any advice/opinions welcome.

Thanks
Mike