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[minifreek]

Will the springs off a MV6 estate fit a saloon....?

Im thinking of replaceing the lowered springs on my Omega for a set that are not quite as low, and then re-instating the SL shocks. We're planning on doing quite a bit of touring over the next couple of weeks with our tintent and was wanting to give the Omega a better chance of handling the weight of the caravan better......

[Lazydocker]

Front, yes.

Rear, no.

[minifreek]

I presumed the fronts would fit, so that confirms that...

Why wont the rears fit....? Are they too short....? Or too stiff...? Or too long etc.....

[ajsphead]

Or not nearly strong enough

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Right, first of all Estate rear springs will fit saloons. It's the same car/chassis/floorpan etc. Further borne out by the fact a mate of mine ran his Elite with Estate springs for a year or two. It is/was a common mod for local taxi drivers to stick the Estate springs on the saloons, as this got round...
-three generous-sized rear passengers
-generous-sized punters plus their luggage
-local speed bumps
...rather nicely.

I am sure that when blitzed round a test track The Stig will be able to reach the conclusion than a completely unladen saloon on estate springs will feel a fraction more 'floaty' or 'bouncy' at the rear, but once you have some luggage, rear occupants, or... a caravan to tow, I'm pretty sure that Silverstone Trackdays are out anyway 

Rewind a few years - before the advent of 'self-levelling rear suspension' - and you'd be advised to fit stiffer springs, or an extra leaf if you intended to tow regularly anyway. 

As for standard estate springs combined with self-levelling shocks that may not work so 'happy'. The SL system will constantly read the back axle as high, and try and compensate. The proper SL springs are softer, and of course lower than estate.

Now as for MV6 estate springs, I'd presume they're lower than normal estate springs, but still a little higher than saloon MV6.

But really only SL springs want to be used with SL shocks. SL springs alone, with normal shocks tends to leave the rear end rather low and 'soggy' 

[minifreek]

Thats a better answer for me DBG

I'll be reinstating the SL airshocks and system, with the MV6 estate springs...

I'm not intending to throw it around any test track, with or without a caravan attached LOL

The wife has told me to stop using the family car as a race car, and use my weekend toy instead (Classic Mini)...

So, because we intend to do a tad more touring than we did last year AND my bones are getting older now, Im contemplating putting the suspension back to normal-ish but with a 'sporty'ish fell to it (for me)...

If it wallows around like a boat as it used to when I first got the Omega, I'll take of the SL shockers and re-install the Bilstein rear shocks ....

I believe a bit of trial and error is in my future....

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Very welcome, lad 

You coming to Billing, did you say?

[pauls]

If you want it to drive at normal height but a bit stiffer and use your s/l shocks try and get some police springs. I had the s/l shocks and police springs on mine and it drove and cornered well enough. I have since put b4 shocks on but thats because i wanted it a stiffer at the back.

[minifreek]

No not doing Billing this year, had issues with where we was 'put' and people not shutting up until 4AM right next to us, even after me asking them to be quiet and then ended up telling them to be quiet...

I would go back, but the wife has said she doesn't want to go again because of last years experience...

So once and only time for me was last year.... shame really TBH... but gotta put the wifes feelings before mine really...

[minifreek]

@ Pauls - At the moment Im on lowered APEX springs with Bilstein B4's all round... It handles well enough for a big car and corners well but I dont want it to act like a ruddy boat again when I go back to bigger springs... If it comes to it, I'll keep the MV6 springs installed but change from SL to normal suspension and make do with it.. I also use the spring assisters too, just to give the springs a bit of help...

[pauls]

I thought apex springs where lowering springs(40mm lower than standard) and actually shorter the mv6 springs. Police springs are standard height just stiifer. please correct me if Iam wrong 

[minifreek]

Apex springs are lowering springs yes, the MV6 springs are a tad lower than standard springs...

If I can find a set of Police springs for a good price I might fit them instead, or have them as back-up

[Doctor Gollum]

@Dbg. All I will say is that the floor pans are different from the rear of the rear footwells back...

Not just a question of longer springs... Due to the geometry of the rear shocks, the whole rear end behaves differently... Also the trailing arms are different saloon to estate.

Expect it to handle like an empty pick up if you fit HD estate springs...

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Fair dos. But the critical variable here is the car won't be empty, and if you're driving in a style which in any way tests the chassis to said limits, then you've got a wildly skidding caravan behind risking ripping the towbar from the floorpan as top priority  If the question were "I'm off on a trackday in a fortnight, got some old estate springs I might chuck on, what do we reckon?" then I'd certainly advice against it for best results and suggest OEM saloon spec and agree wholeheartedly with yourself.

All I can say is done it, it works. And my mate has done it for years on dozens of cars, and it works.

Fully appreciate there are fractional differences in the floorpan, the orientation of the shocks, and subsequent different bolt location for shocks. 

[biggriffin]

Springs a measured in lbs, and have a rate, 
Now with out a spring tester, it's difficult to see the differences between saloon and estate, probably 50lbs between them.
 
Would take to long to go into the science. but during the war we use to fit CF van front springs to mantas, about 900 front 375/425 rear and billiys all round.

[Nick W]

Springs a measured in lbs, and have a rate, 
Now with out a spring tester, it's difficult to see the differences between saloon and estate, probably 50lbs between them.
 
Would take to long to go into the science. but during the war we use to fit CF van front springs to mantas, about 900 front 375/425 rear and billiys all round.

A spring tester is easily improvised with a small press, a cheap set of scales and a ruler.


I can tell you that 145lb -2" Capri springs are excellent upgrade for an  Avenger, Sunbeam, Hunter or Triumph 2000. But these are parallel sided, constant rate and without the pigtail ends that modern springs tend to have. All of which make swapping different makes much easier.


You can do similar things with shock absorbers: Capri rear shocks are a perfect fit on the back of a Hunter lowered by 1.5", Escort ones fit a 100E etc

[Steve B]

Will the springs off a MV6 estate fit a saloon....?

Im thinking of replaceing the lowered springs on my Omega for a set that are not quite as low, and then re-instating the SL shocks. We're planning on doing quite a bit of touring over the next couple of weeks with our tintent and was wanting to give the Omega a better chance of handling the weight of the caravan better......

I have up for grabs a set of genuine GM/MV6/rear springs..Brand new(still wrapped up).  ...

[minifreek]

Are they off an estate....?

How much would it be to part with them...?

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Will the springs off a MV6 estate fit a saloon....?

Im thinking of replaceing the lowered springs on my Omega for a set that are not quite as low, and then re-instating the SL shocks. We're planning on doing quite a bit of touring over the next couple of weeks with our tintent and was wanting to give the Omega a better chance of handling the weight of the caravan better......

I have up for grabs a set of genuine GM/MV6/rear springs..Brand new(still wrapped up).  ...

various OOFers ears prick up like meerkats in a pit....   seem to recall they were saloon ones, BIGtime?

[biggriffin]

Will the springs off a MV6 estate fit a saloon....?

Im thinking of replaceing the lowered springs on my Omega for a set that are not quite as low, and then re-instating the SL shocks. We're planning on doing quite a bit of touring over the next couple of weeks with our tintent and was wanting to give the Omega a better chance of handling the weight of the caravan better......

I have up for grabs a set of genuine GM/MV6/rear springs..Brand new(still wrapped up).  ...

Well put a for sale ad in.  Estate or saloon?

[minifreek]

I wait with anticipation

[Marks DTM Calib]

Put what you have ion and try them, its not like they take more than about 45 minutes to change 

[Steve B]

They are GM part No:9193196  With the LU markings on them  For a MV6 saloon/sports Not the estate.

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Well, minifreek, you're first in the queue for these springs, then. 


Just read up above, sorry the experience wasn't a good one last year, I've been going for donkeys years, and there's been times where the noise has been silly late at night etc.. but overall it is a good experience. However, if someone waved a magic wand an your missus was persuaded to go, only for a repeat of last year, well, your knackers would be turned into pate pretty soon, so I understand and respect your reasons 

[minifreek]

They are GM part No:9193196  With the LU markings on them  For a MV6 saloon/sports Not the estate.

And a price...?

[minifreek]

Well, minifreek, you're first in the queue for these springs, then. 


Just read up above, sorry the experience wasn't a good one last year, I've been going for donkeys years, and there's been times where the noise has been silly late at night etc.. but overall it is a good experience. However, if someone waved a magic wand an your missus was persuaded to go, only for a repeat of last year, well, your knackers would be turned into pate pretty soon, so I understand and respect your reasons 

Theres a lot of people been going for years and never had problems....

Unfortunately, I think because we turned up late Friday, the fella on the gate just said to just find somewhere and hook-up, even though we had booked an actual pitch....

We was opposite some fella and his family playing very loud SKA music (English Reggae like The Specials and Madness etc... ) and had been told by site security to turn down the volume a couple of times, until they showed up in force and demanded him to turn down the music or leave the site - no exceptions... he did do, but almost as soon as they left the music was up again.... this was during the day Saturday, the people next to us was just chatting, nothing wrong with that, but they was chatting proper loud and I just got fed-up, especially after a crap journey down also (caravan got a puncture and we got stuck in a lot of traffic too) so things basically got amplified that really shouldn't have been...

I asked my missus if she would go again, and she gave me a resounding no.... never again...

So thats put that to bed...

I also thought that the main 'show' would be on Saturday, but instead its Sunday and I just didnt know it.... and we needed to get back home in time to collect the stepson from his weekend fathers at 7PM.... we got home at 5PM after being stuck in traffic again on the way home and there was also a bad downpour too....

My missus has a mental illness where she cant cope with certain situations, and bad experiences count as avoiding 1 of those bad situations...

Shit happens....etc....

[Diamond Black Geezer]

Not a worry, fully understand. As you say, some unavoidable things plus actually perfectly avoidable situations does tend to ruin things. A few years back some Monaro guys were kindly invited to come to the club stand. They responded by equally kindly doing doughnuts on the grass, tearing up the mud. Jeopardising the ABS Club's relationship with the VBOA/Billing. Minority spoils it for the majority. 

To anyone I'd say to get the most out of it for the least, so to speak -  just come Sunday daytime. No buggering about with money/camping/late nights/noise/throwing beer cans etc..

I'm hoping to get together a northern meet at some stage at my local pub, which has a strip of scrubland next door, enough to park a dozen cars on, and if I timed it on a Sunday, they do the best home made-style Sunday Lunch ever. Might be able to get my mate to bring his old Camaro just to add a bit more GM rear-drive V-engine action into the mix. 


And NO camping required! 

[minifreek]

Well, I purchased a set of the springs, they arrived and I started to change the springs yesterday after changing the stereo H/U, been meaning to change that for a while now for something with a bit more connectivity (USB and aux-in with iPod control etc...) so got that sorted first....

Changed the rear springs yesterday, off side spring turned into a ruddy nightmare to change. Old spring out took about 2 minutes, new spring in, didnt want to go in, couldn't get enough purchase on it to compress it enough to get over the lumps that centre the spring..... Nearside took about 10 minutes, old 1 out, new 1 in.... I can't understand as to why the O/S took nearly 4 hours to get in....!!!

Anyhoo, onto the front springs today, and also need to seal the manifolds too as theyre blowing on both sides where they meet the downpipes.... I changed the manifolds a couple of weeks ago, and I can't remember if I put the gaskets in or not, I probably did but don't think they're centred for some reason... Anyhoo, I have some exhaust sealent that will suffice (no not gun gum or any other type of hard paste) so that should seal and running will be better, and no noise.....

Onwards and upwards.....

[minifreek]

Fitted the front springs, took not quite an hour to do both sides

Its certainly higher than it has been for the past 2 years whilst sitting on the Apex lowering springs...

I haven't fitted the air shocks as the estate springs are heavy enough to cope, and Iv also fitted the assisters too..

Iv also fitted the set of 19" Snowflakes (with 5mm spacers on the front and 10mm on the rear) Iv had a while and only been on the car a couple of times, going to take them to the wheel shop and get the 2 fronts balanced, 1 of them is out of balance and dunno which it is....

Only job I have is to fit a split charger relay, shouldnt take more than a hour to sort as the wiring is already there, just needs connecting...

Exhaust is sealed, and sounds lovely now... I had fitted the gaskets but dont think I tightened the nuts up enough, as 1 was missing and the rest was a bit loose.... so probably the reasonas to why they was blowing... They have locking springs on them now and tight, so should be good for a while

[Diamond Black Geezer]

I'm sure it's on the howto, but for rear springs for future reference, just jack up the back end and release the rear shock, and droplink, the spring practically falls out 

Glad you're sorted, 

[minifreek]

I did that DBG but it just didn't want to be persuaded....

Feels weird driving a car with so much suspension LOL been used to my bum being about 6 inch closer to the road....

Nice ride now though, very soft and 'wallowy'.... (the reason I fitted the lowered suspension in the first place )