milano suspension

cmilano · #1 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 10:11 PM

i want to lower the car can i just remove the springs and get them cut or is that a bad idea? btw the springs are original stock.

Grant · #2 (**permalink**) 10-11-2007, 10:48 PM

I cut my rear springs at one point with a disc grinder. It lowered the rear of my '87 Milano Gold to about level with the front. Not bad. However, a pair of springs are like $190 at the most, it would be better to just by some IAP lowering springs or something.

O yeah, did you know you have torsion bars at the front?

sh0rtlife · #3 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 12:29 AM

yeah you cannot cut the front..you have to adjust it down...the rear yeah you can cut the coil "if" you have to.....but i would sugjest running a set of spring clamps (rear) first to see how you like the feel first BEFORE cutting them as it will change the feel and handle of the car

**RAGs** · #4 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 06:53 AM

That by removing one coil, you'll have one less coil to compress under load. It will lower the car as you desire, but you increase the chance of "bottoming" out with a shortened the travel length and less spring range - an unintended byproduct of cutting.

If possible, go for the lowered or progressive rate springs to achieve your goal. Good luck.

Potenziato · #5 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 07:04 AM

It depends. If your car is a 1987 car, it has really high springs. If you get the rear springs from a 88 or later car it will lower the back an inch.

**Alfar7** · #6 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 07:06 AM

Don`t be alarmed by these guys, cut a coil & 1/2 (1.5 coils) off, then heat the last 2/3`s of the last (cut) coil & create a flat bottom to it so it sits in the pan correctly. It will be fine, it`s just steel, and if you let it cool slowly will be OK. Don`t quench it to cool it. The fewer spring coils will result in a "higher" spring rate but it is needed.

If you are going to lower the front, the 27.3mm Torsion bars make good street pieces. Read the manual re; adj. torsion bars.

It will be worth doing.

junglejustice · #7 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 08:35 AM

Don't settle simply for a lowered look; there is SO much more to be had from the performance of these cars in the area of suspension. Beware though - 27mm torsion bars are a TERRIBLE solution! They are a PAIN in the arse to set up and really don't add that much in terms of a rate-increase (nowhere NEAR what you need on the front of these cars any way...)

I'll gladly sell you mine - I am going back to the stock bars with added coil-overs!

With the thicker torsion bars you lose the ability to pull the bar through the rear of the cross-member - an integral part to adjusting ride-height up-front! Now you have to completely disassemble the LCA - each try - while attempting to set ride-height!

Keep the stock torsion bars, reset ride-height and add coil-overs (if you desire more spring-rate...) These cars need it and the 27mm bars don't come close to adding what you need.

I agree with Richard in one sense - these cars need the spring-rate at the rear as well - there are some nice trick adjustable rear springs available as well - have a look at the RSRacing setups.

Grant · #8 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 11:31 AM

faster.se in Sweden has 30mm torsion bars for 450 USD plus shipping and tax, FYI.

barbone105 · #9 (**permalink**) 10-12-2007, 03:45 PM

JJ has his opinions, but imho, he is not correct. for a street car that sees occasional track use, the 27s are an excellent selection - and have been for a very long time. they are stiff enough to make a significant difference in handling and you can live with them quite nicely on the road. take his offer and buy his. even new, they are quite inexpensive. torsion bars are not that hard to change, and once you set the ride height, you are good to go. if you want more spring, they are available in bigger diameters. i (performatek.com) offer them in any diameter you want - up to 36mm. imho, 30s are about as stiff as any sane person would want to run on the street. 33mm is an excellent spring for dedicated track car. going more than 33 will be stiff enough to twist the front end and will need to reinforce the front end structure.
good luck with the car.
andy

walker · #10 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 01:45 PM

I have been meaning so start a thread on this subject, but since this one is already here... I am thinking about getting some 27 mm bars for my Milano gold to go with my Ricambi sport springs in the rear. New shocks are probably in my future too (should I get konis or bilsteins?? haha just kidding).

I want to lower the front some more, but since I am running 17 inch wheels I would like to stiffen up the suspension to avoid any rubbing issues. Obviously I would LOVE to get the RSR coilover setup, but I am currently a (relatively) poor college student, and there is no way that is going to happen anytime soon. Plus, my car only sees the track a few times a year at autocrosses, it is basically a street car. In the meantime at least, I don't need the ultimate performance solution, I just want to make my car sit right on those wheels!

Grant · #11 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 11:55 PM

Hi Walker, welcome to th forum!

Check this out: It has good points from many different and respected members of the Transaxle community.

I too am just a poor college student, so I feel you.

http://alfabb.com/bb/forums/showthre...=drop+spindles

But basically, 27mm and SS springs are NOT as stiff as they sound. They end up being 200lb/in in the fron and 156 lb/in in the rear. Any true dual purpose car should atleast be 300lb/inch in the front as a minimum I think. These cars are relatively heavy and need spring rate.

Grant · #12 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 11:57 PM

I might be willing to sell you my 27mm torsion bars and SS rear springs if you're still set on Shankls stuff.

Grant · #13 (**permalink**) 10-13-2007, 11:59 PM

Barbone, are you sure Andy sells a range of diameters, and not just 27mm and 33?

Fortis 621 · #14 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 12:27 AM

cmilano,

Been there, done that. You will get a lowered look while increasing the spring rate a bit. Unless you already have some decent shocks on the car, you may not like the result. It is the cheapest way to get the look if that is what you are after.

Alternatively, if interested, I have a set of rear high performance springs that I used on my GTV6. It was later transferred to Jes' Roxanne (Milano track car). We both went with RSR suspension and these springs are just sitting in my garage collecting dust. The springs were cut a coil or two to match the lowered fronts of our race cars. I have absolutely no use for these springs. You can have it cheap if you want to experience what cut springs are like.

Good luck.

Colin

cmilano · #15 (**permalink**) 10-14-2007, 12:32 AM

im only 17 and dont have much money to spend on the car.
thats y i was interested to see if just cutting the springs and adjusting the front torsion bars would be acceptable.i want to get rid of the gap in the wheel well so i think ill probably go with the rs racing springs in the rear and then just adjust the front torsion bars.how much do the torsion bars allow u to lower the front end?