Closer to the pavement...

[xanthinic12]

it looks nice

[ejp2fast]

ok, for the festiva lug pattern 4x114.3mm or 4x4.5", here is what they mean.
4 lugs and 114.3mm diameter pattern...
the aspire is 4x100mm (4x4") so 4 lug and 100mm diameter pattern.
to measure for a 4 lug is easy, a 5 lug (example 5x100mm) is much harder.

For 4 lug, it is simply measuring the center of one lug- to the other side with going through the center.. Example measure #1 lug to #3 lug... or #2 lug to #4 lug...

i can't explain it, here's a link:

http://www.stylinconcepts.com/images/boltpattern.html

[ejp2fast]

heres a picture of the spring excess i cut off the bottom of each spring. Front on the right, rear on the left...

[spiko]

How is the ride quality and handling?

[ejp2fast]

^i did the calculation... with stock spring rate of 110 lbs/in in Front, 90 lbs/in Rear...
with everything constant but coils... the equation is k1n1=k2n2 (k is spring rate in lb/in and n is number of active coils)
i assumed number of active coils for the front stock was 7... i reduced that to 5 which means my new spring rate is 140 lb/in
and for the rear i assumed stock coils was 7, and reduced to 5.5 ... so my new rate is 115 lb/in..
it does handle much better, much less body roll.. when i hit a bump (say 1" pavement step) i feel it much more than i did before..

trying to explain ride quality is hard b/c everyone is used to something different.

One thing I meant to do before I did the cut was measure the pavement to the bottom of the fender, then measure again when i was done... i'd estimate a 1.75-2.00" drop roughly on front and rear.... a little more than the FMS springs..

[lanemeyer14]

Does it affect your camber much?

[ejp2fast]

well, i haven't measured it yet.. i'll have to do that... i'd say there's a little negative camber (tops of wheels closer together, bottoms farther)

[FestYboy]

YES!! needs aligned. i'll be willing to bet you have between 2.4 and 2.7* of negative camber.

[ejp2fast]

YES!! needs aligned. i'll be willing to bet you have between 2.4 and 2.7* of negative camber.

thats probably pretty close...

[BIG-DAVE]

ejp2fast you said that you cut the rear springs whilst they where still on the car how did you do this? i am hopfulling investing in a second set of standard springs and shocks which i will either keep stock and cut the springs that are on the car or cut these ones and take the other ones of the car, what would you say would be the easiest way??
cheers
Dave

[ejp2fast]

dave,
ok, here is what i did... there is a 14mm bolt at the bottom of the shock that hold the shock to the axle beam... i put a jack under the shock and took the tension off of the 14mm bolt.. then took it out... and lowered the jack... then i took the trunk panel out to access the top of the strut bolts... took them loose (loosen them first, before you do the jack thing) once this is done... the spring is loose (free floating) in the shock assembly....
then i just cut the bottom of the spring, and threaded the cut part out of the shock, and reinstalled. hope this makes sense.

[ejp2fast]

In post #18, it it FRONTS on the LEFT, REARS on the RIGHT. Doh!
Sorry Evil D for your troubles, my bad.

[magistratemg]

what is the size of your tires?

[festivafeva]

i had cut springs on mine for a while and it rode like absolute crap. it had two coils cut off rear and three off the front. i would say yours sits a little lower than mine did but i could not handle how bouncy it was. i felt like a honda ricer. aspire suspension and 17's now does your feel bouncy to you at all?

[ejp2fast]

what is the size of your tires?

at the time, (initial thread) i had 165/65 13's..

i had cut springs on mine for a while and it rode like absolute crap. it had two coils cut off rear and three off the front. i would say yours sits a little lower than mine did but i could not handle how bouncy it was. i felt like a honda ricer. aspire suspension and 17's now does your feel bouncy to you at all?

i'll have to say, it doesn't ride the best. much larger spring rate for such a light car. bouncy? not really, but depends on the road conditions..