Alfonze's Red K11

[Alfonze]

yeah but wont it put insurance up?

 

[sonic]

I've got spring compressors if you need to borrow them Alex, I changed mine at a leisurely pace on a lovely sunny summer afternoon whilst sipping Stellas' very finest Artois, it took me a couple of hours and about five tinnies, but if you put your mind to it I suppose it could be done in an hour, they make one hell of a difference to handling.

yeah but wont it put insurance up?

A little.

 

[Alfonze]

Yeah I think I shall get it lowered but Im not gonna do it. Il pay someone to do it for me. maybe not declare to the insurance just yet. What about its MOT will it fail?

 

[joesouthgate]

What about its MOT will it fail?

no. but u may have to reallign the headlights

 

[Alfonze]

More cost I dunno whether its worth it in the long run. I dont have a problem with it at the moment not lowered.

 

[joesouthgate]

head lights can be realigned yourself, just need to point them down a little bit.

 

[mc mart]

if your going to fit lowewring springs fit shocks as well because asfter time the standard shocks will break and lose the hydrolic oill in then which will fail an mot so my advise is to lower the car and fit lowering shocks as well as springs

 

[squarepants]

or even that lol mines lowered and i havent touched the headlights. mine passed fine.

 

[joesouthgate]

yer anywhere lower than 35mm then they may have to be tweaked

 

[sonic]

no. but u may have to reallign the headlights

I parked mine 10' away from a wall and marked where the beam went up to with chalk, then turned the adjusters until they were 35mm higher, it passed its mot that way.

 

[squarepants]

if your going to fit lowewring springs fit shocks as well because asfter time the standard shocks will break and lose the hydrolic oill in then which will fail an mot so my advise is to lower the car and fit lowering shocks as well as springs

after about 4-5years, the springs seem to work fine with the std micra shocks. the kyb gas shocks are just uprated micra items, just that there gas not oil. i havnt had a problem with my std shocks on lowering springs it been a good 2-3years.

 

[joesouthgate]

i guess it depends what condition/age your shocks are in in the first place

 

[mc mart]

if your goin to lower your car do shock s and springs its better off in the long run

 

[Robert]

Agreed it's better to uprate shocks, but IMO it's not necessary.
Few people, i can't think of anyone actually, have had problems with the standard shocks on lower springs.
I've had mine on for almost 2years and had no problems at all.
Maybe it's worse if you go lower than 35mm..

 

[squarepants]

suposse but there not essential

 

[Alfonze]

Well to lower it I have been quoted £75 labour plus srpings say £45 an insurance will go to £27 extra with all my mods.


So roughly around £150 to lower it and insure it. Worth it?

Is it worth it, when I come to sell the car wont it appeal to most people who'd buy it cause its modded?

 

[Igloo]

It's worth it, Lowering a car is a excellent modification.

 

[squarepants]

even when you sell it, tell them its standard it would be a bonus for them as it will handle and feel better. they wont notice if its lowered or not! just dont say anything about it beeing lowered.

 

[Alfonze]

I dont know whether its worth it to me. It may look better and handle well but Ive been told you will feel every bump

 

[squarepants]

no not with uprated springs or shocks...now if they was coilovers you would! but springs no.

 

[Alfonze]

I dont have a clue it probably means spending more money i guess

 

[squarepants]

might of not made myself clear there lol i ment you carnt feel every bump. just forgot to put the word bump in my prevouis post

 

[Alfonze]

but would that be the case with any springs?

 

[squarepants]

depends on how stiff the springs are, they have to be stiffer than standard to handle better. if there the same stiffness of the standard springs they will handle the same...but all the aftermarket springs for the micra are stiff.

if they are really stiff like coilovers, you wont come across mega stiff springs on there own tho, as they will kill your dampers.

aftermarket springs are designned to work bearing in mind with std dampers (hence why aftermarket springs on there own are not mega stiff) if they wasnt desginned to work with std dampered they would come with uprated damperes aswell! they are desginned also bearing in mind there for road use! were as coilovers are for race use.

basiclly uprated springs are made for road use
coilovers are made for race use
and heavey duty coilovers are used for rally etc.

 

[sph-87]

Dont get it lowered if you dont want to, but it is a great mod for any car, probli the best mod if you just put alloys on, and the ride shouldnt be effected if you dont go any lower than 40mm it also depends on the size of you wheels, mines lowered 35mm with 16"s the ride is perfectly comftable!

 

[Alfonze]

I just dont think its worth it, having 15's on I find it perectly fine now if the springs were to go id consider it.

 

[G-Reg_16v]

Get it lowered! Makes a massive differance, one of the best mods for the money.

 

[sonic]

lowering springs wont make the ride harsher unless they are uprated as well, low profile tyres will though.

 

[Alfonze]

my tyres are 195 50 15's

 

[sonic]

they wont be as bad as 45's, but you must have noticed a difference.

 

[Alfonze]

I can feel it sometimes. Im torn whether to lower it or not :S

 

[sonic]

I can say that it will make the car handle better in the bends as it lowers the centre of gravity, the offer of the lend of the tools still stands if you need them Alex.

 

[Alfonze]

Thanks the garage I go to quoted me £75 labour if I supply the springs/

 

[Alfonze]

latest clean car

 

[Alfonze]

Well I just bought a K and N induction kit plus fitted a strut brace

 

[Napster]

getting there bud

good move with the strut brace!!
can i ask...where does your cold air feed pipe go to ?? as you have the radiator or sheet of metal (support bar kind of) in the way or does it stop at the "slat / slit" in the metal sheet??

other than that...good move with the cold air feed!!

 

[Alfonze]

As far as I recall theres a gap between some metal thingy

 

[Alfonze]

Lowering

Ive decided to lower it and tint the rears I think it would look nice as long as I can get cheap lowering springs

 

[andy]

Ive decided to lower it and tint the rears I think it would look nice as long as I can get cheap lowering springs

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/nissan-micra-...ryZ40192QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem get bidding

 

[ollyc98]

If only they'd fit a K10 lol.

 

[danimicra8]

Good find Al and only 15 mins down the road from me darn it if only I was lowering

 

[Alfonze]

I just spoke to my insurance total increase in premuim over all with these mods is £28 with £15 charge included


Tinted rears (£100)
airfilter
alloy wheels
lowered £45 off mambo £75 fitted
back box £30 plus fitting no more than £40 id imagine
maybe something else ive forgotenb about at the mo.

 

[joesouthgate]

£28 is pretty good, for kit and alloys my company wanted a few hundred!

 

[Alfonze]

Im really confused about lowering it Ive been advised not to by some people at work due to arches scrubbing, tints I dunno are they really worth it on a Micra that if I sell on might have trouble. I dunno

 

[sonic]

It wont scrub the arches if it's only lowered 35mm, mine doesnt even with two adults in the back.

 

[Alfonze]

even with 15's?

 

[sonic]

195/45x15" yes.

 

[Alfonze]

well mine are 195 50 15's I dont wanna buy any new tyres really

 

[sonic]

they're only 20mm taller, they'll be fine.

 

[Alfonze]

I keep getting told different things about lowering one was it scrubs on the arches and doesnt improve handling one bit them Im told here it does I dunno?