Shocks and Springs - What to do?

[Nikolai]

Hey guys,

I'm looking to improve the suspension in my Avenger.

Objectives:

Lowered 2"
Want a very smooth, comfortable ride (Most important)
Better handling

Anyone in Auckland that can be recommended?
What setups do you guys run?

Would I need to replace both springs and shocks for the best implementation?

[hunted]

I lowered my avenger about 2" all around just by cutting springs. everything was still captive and was sweet. fronts were hitting bumpstops though so cut them in half. wasn't a terrible ride (avengers arent good to start with though haha).

you could spend hundreds getting springs custom made and getting shocks shortened to suit, but IMO it wont be worth the extra cost.  if you are worried about being 100% legit, get the cut springs retapered so they look factory. and seat properly.

if you go the custom springs way, I wont be surprised if you have to spend upwards $700. getting a set of four springs made up will likely set you back around $500, and then new shocks arent that cheap either....

[blekkja]

i was quoted no more than 400ish fitted to get my stock springs reset. i could prob do with new shocks anyway and that's no big hassle. i had to replace the rear shocks in my 76 [-30mm] and they were only 80 each from memory - reasonable i thought.

i had cuttys in my 73 [being bored we had put it on the bumps, but then the box in the 77 gave up so i needed something to get to tech in] - would not trade again. rode shit and was constantly making scary noises.

[hunted]

reset/compressed coils springs are rubbish. I did that once, and they become super soft, and because the number of coils stay the same but the length of the spring is reduced, they bind up easily.

If you dont want to go cut springs, you would be better off getting custom springs made that have a sightly high spring rate than factory but with less coils.

[kierbear]

cut em! i looked around to get my springs compressed but no1 wanted to do it so just got aftermarket shocks. should be okay i imagine if you just dont cut the springs too much like me

[oldschool]

Cutting the front coils is okay as they have heaps of turns, but the back ones don't and will bottom out easily if cut. Just take them out and find shorter ones with thicker coils at a car wrecker.

[Nikolai]

Would it not be possible to buy new springs - something like Kingsprings for example? That are of the right spring rate to get my desired effect?

I'm not confident enough nor have the tools or knowledge to cut springs myself.

I'm happy to spend up to $600-800 on a suspension setup/refurb of some sort.

[kierbear]

you cant buy lowering springs for avenger, i think, unless you get them like...custom made. thats what the shop i tried to get some from told me, and i saw some custom ones on trademe a little while ago

[blekkja]

you should be able to get springs in 3 sizes - minus 30mm, stock and stiff/raised. 30mm isn't really enough though. [unless you are building a competition car i guess]

surely there must be other cars with the same diameter springs which would just slot in?

[kierbear]

oldschool will know. ROSSS! answer this question now!

[oldschool]

Yes Kiera, your wish is my command...lol
As I said just visit a wrecker like Pick-a-Part with your Avenger rear spring and find ones a little shorter with thicker coils.
They only charge $12 for a spring, so you can get 50 to try for $600....haha

[Nikolai]

More importantly since you're here Ross, how am I going to bribe you to help me install these twin carbs?

[oldschool]

I can help you tune them, have never installed them though. Andrew (hunted) has and was going to post some photos.
You may not need to change your manifold gasket if it's in good condition - it's usually the exhaust part of the gasket that blows out, not the inlet part.
Easy to change the inlet manifold on your car as it has extractors, so just undo the inlet manifold bolts (some are shared with the exhaust) and swap the manifolds over.
Fuel lines and carby bits can be bought from Repco, the accelerator cable from a wrecker.

[azza1600]

Twin carbs with extractors you have to grind inlet manifold as the heat boxes foul on them, had to do it on mine when I had twins.....a local venger nut lent me his to copy, pretty simple job...let the grinder do the work lol

[1300super]

Heres what I did. First Andrew cut my front springs, wich are fine and flew through a wof no worries. The rears were a bit harder, I cut them but they were a bit "un-captive" and fell out when you jacked it up. So Ive replaced the rear shocks with Bedford CF van front shocks. wich are much shorter than Avenger ones. They hold the springs in nicely and still give a smooth ride. I have little internet access at the moment but I will try and get some pics up for you guys.