Stiffer suspension without lowering?

[Travis_k]

I use my milano for a daily driver and even though I am always very careful, I still scrape the exhaust sometimes. I would like to make it a bit stiffer, but all of the performance rear springs seem to lower the car at least an inch or more. Is there any way (other than RSR coilovers) to make it stiffer without lowering it too much?

[alfettish]

If you want stiffer springs to reduce body-roll in corners but don't want to lower it, try some big anti-roll bars. Lowering it will make it lots lots better though. Springs should be the first priority for cornering performance. Just lower it and be more careful.

[Gubi]

You can just fit some stiffer shocks. Provided you don't go crazy the stock springs will work fine with them, and your stock shocks are probably somewhat worn out anyway. I've got Koni Reds on the Spider and Yellows on the Milano - both with stock springs - and in both cases it made an improvement.

[Travis_k]

If it was any lower than it is I would no longer be able to drive where I need to. lol Im thinking about getting a set of bilsteins for it ( I have ridden in/driven several cars with konis and I do not like the way they ride).

[alfettish]

I have yellow Konis in my GTV6 and they are quite bouncy and hard but don't do much at all to improve bodyroll.
Put in some Bilsteins and some thicker sway bars.

[91spiderNV]

I have stiffer Bilstein shocks in my stock height/stock rear springs Verde, but you still have to watch for low spots. I still do scrape the exhaust pipe, but thats just the way it goes. The springs/torsion bars determine the height, the shocks reduce the rebound.... bodyroll? just get used to it, these cars have it built in and is part of the design. Want to get rid of the bodyroll, buy the RSRacing coil over kit for $3000.

[alfettish]

There are cheaper ways to just stiffen the suspension.

[slyalfa]

As the front can be set to any hight just get thicker torsion bars.
as for the back is the hight right now? if the springs have saged the stiffer springs might not be any lower.

BTW on my spider I lowered it a far amount and went with the stifer springs and I do not hit near as much as I did with the soft springs and the extra hight. somtimes the stiffer springs will help a lot even when lower.
I think there is also spacers you can fit to the back springs to bring the hight up if you want to.

[Nikoror]

it shouldn't be difficult getting stiffer rear springs of the original length. just check with some companies like eibach etc... also i can imagine that you have the original springs which by now are nearly 20 years old, so they are sagging seriously. you can buy a type of "bushing" which you insert in the springs between several coils, so that they don't compress. this way you'll have the original spring rate and the springs won't compress as much as now.
of course, there's also the option of modifying the exhaust. i assume it is rubbing in the secion right where it goes underneatch the de-dion tube. as this is pretty far back there is no problem in going to a smaller diameter pipe at this point, or "shaping" the pipe into an oval rather than a circle. all doable...

[aralfa8589]

If your car is at stock height with stock exhaust (check your hangers) you shouldn't be bottoming out-unless your shocks are shot. Go with Alfettish's advice, but do the shocks first. They don't call them "dampers" for nothing. Stiffer swaybars will reduce body roll for sure, but they won't keep you from dragging bottom.

[Grant]

His rear springs are cut by one coil. It is just about level, front and rear, compared to the *** high in the air stock height.

Also Travis_k, you should bend the exhaust hanger tabs downwards, to lift the sotck exhaust higher. This is a must on just about any lowered Milano/GTV6. I can't believe I was driving so long with the exhaust so low. Thanks to Potenziato for that tip.

On my Verde, I rarely scrape at all and I've lowered about 2 inches front and rear.

[aralfa8589]

His rear height sounds about the same as the red sport springs. I had never thought about bending the hangers up, even though I do it all the time as agood agricultural remedy! You definetely can get some clearance. Good call Grant!

[Travis_k]

I will try bending the tabs, im going to have to get under there anyway and see why its leaking brake fluid. BTW, if you are going to be selling your bilsteins, let me know, im pretty sure i would want to buy them.

[Potenziato]

Of the various Milanos I've had around, the damn exhaust is always a pain to get aligned properly. The stock system actually tucks up pretty close to the body if fitted properly.

However, alot of poor fitting aftermarket pipes, lazey mechanics, and sump benders lead to ill fitting exhaust syndrome. If the front of the system is off, the middle and rear amplify the problem. I have taken a jack at the rear part of the middle muffler and piece of wood to brace it at the crossmember to change the bend in the middle muffler. This way you get the rear of the exhaust up if it's really off.

I think I am the only person that likes the stock Boge shocks on the Milano. People always think the Koni's are better because they are comparing them to worn out shocks.

What year is your car? The 88 and later cars are a noticeable inch lower in the back.

[aralfa8589]

Louis-
You got it! I replaced some red Konis. A guy with no arms could play them like a concertina. If they are shot, anything is better.