96 replies to this topic

[Aldoo]

thanks a lot for the info!!

am i right thinking the majority of focus' are lowered on springs instead of coilovers?

and ill get those little bits sorted for when i lower (im assuming itll be fine with the 18 STs untill i lower it?)


me and my mate will likely be doing the springs or coils ourselves, but is the camber something that will require a garage to do properly?

Thanks again!

[Hassen]

I can't wait to see the end result. Those wheels on Donedeal looks the business. If only I was made out of money

[salsheikh]

Aldoo, your right mate. Most guys have just changed the springs as this is fine for fast road use. Coilovers only really required if your gonna use the car on a track.

Suspension alignment is a must once the car has been lowered as the geometry changes.

[gforce]

Yeah, I think the standard shocks are fine when lowering the car 30-40mm (even though they probably will wear sooner), so only if you were looking to go below this would you need to look into uprated shocks or a full coilover set up.

As Sal says, geometry and alignment is a must after any work like this, even for peace of mind...or in my case, before you destroy two brand new tyres in the space of a few weeks!

Hassen, I love those wheels too pal. I think it's still quite a high asking price second hand, but to be fair they are pretty rare to come across as he says, and they look immaculate in the photos. They've been up there for a while now too though, so there might be a bit of movement on the asking price. Seem completely bare too, without tyres, centre caps, valves or nuts.

[Lenny]

Please do a guide for the steering limiter ;-)

I'll see what i can do mate,
I will upload a PDF of fords fitting instructions, but i dont plan on fitting them myself,
Im going to present them to a mechanic along with springs and camber bolts, then ask if i can step back and take some pictures lol.

Good luck fitting the springs Lenny the car should look mint especially with the body kit on already

Thanks mate,
Springs are in storage now until may/june lol im afraid to lower it on 16's encase my flaps start to rub off the ground and i dont want to need camber alignment done twice, so ill need to wait another while yet unfortunitly.

Lenny,
I know you're a stickler for the finer details and are happy to pay for new parts, but have you seen the facelift ST 18s for sale on DoneDeal.ie? You may have already seen them and just aren't interested, but here's a link anyway!

http://cars.donedeal...swheels/4109494

Thanks mate,
But you know me lol, going to ford

[Lenny]

Yeah, I think the standard shocks are fine when lowering the car 30-40mm (even though they probably will wear sooner), so only if you were looking to go below this would you need to look into uprated shocks or a full coilover set up.

Ive gone on ebay
And performance 3000 are selling the bilstein B4 shocks for
less than 250 pounds
http://www.ebay.co.u...d=230829632298
im tempted myself but i dont think i can afford those aswell lol

[Hassen]

Yeah, I think the standard shocks are fine when lowering the car 30-40mm (even though they probably will wear sooner), so only if you were looking to go below this would you need to look into uprated shocks or a full coilover set up.

As Sal says, geometry and alignment is a must after any work like this, even for peace of mind...or in my case, before you destroy two brand new tyres in the space of a few weeks!

Hassen, I love those wheels too pal. I think it's still quite a high asking price second hand, but to be fair they are pretty rare to come across as he says, and they look immaculate in the photos. They've been up there for a while now too though, so there might be a bit of movement on the asking price. Seem completely bare too, without tyres, centre caps, valves or nuts.

They do look ace. Can't see myself spending that much though and I noticed as well it's been there for a while. Still not for me because my main priority is headunit at the moment, which might happen in the next few weeks.

[Hassen]

Ive gone on ebay
And performance 3000 are selling the bilstein B4 shocks for
less than 250 pounds
http://www.ebay.co.u...d=230829632298
im tempted myself but i dont think i can afford those aswell lol

That is a very tempting price. Been looking into shocks and springs myself but think it will have to wait. European car parts has a whole set of Bilstein coilover kit for 831 euro which is pretty good value. Even though, I think for most people's uses, it is a bit of an overkill.

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but anyone has any ideas on how to make the Focus more stable in corners? Was thinking stiffer anti roll bars?

[Lenny]

They do look ace. Can't see myself spending that much though and I noticed as well it's been there for a while. Still not for me because my main priority is headunit at the moment, which might happen in the next few weeks.

Regarding headunit mate,
Im a huge fan of "mightymods" videos on youtube.
And they recently done a guide on fitting an iPad to your car.
Would be 100% possible, they even show the speedo app looks excellent lol
Only downside i think is no FM radio.

I recomend watching every episode of mightymods.
But here is the ipad one.

[Lenny]

That is a very tempting price. Been looking into shocks and springs myself but think it will have to wait. European car parts has a whole set of Bilstein coilover kit for 831 euro which is pretty good value. Even though, I think for most people's uses, it is a bit of an overkill.

Not meaning to hijack the thread, but anyone has any ideas on how to make the Focus more stable in corners? Was thinking stiffer anti roll bars?

No problem hyjacking mate,
I wont be updating the main topic of wheels until febuary, and your question is about handling, which is part of the goal lol

Now to answer the question lol
Switching off esp can help it turn in sharper but if she slips with esp off, your on your own in terms of getting it straight.
From my understanding, lower suspension and lower profile tyres reduce tyre squat, which helps body sway on corners aswell as body roll,
Thats what im hoping ayways lol
White line manufacture sway bars for the focus, not too expensive neither
http://www.ebay.co.u...984.m1423.l2649

[Hassen]

Regarding headunit mate,
Im a huge fan of "mightymods" videos on youtube.
And they recently done a guide on fitting an iPad to your car.
Would be 100% possible, they even show the speedo app looks excellent lol
Only downside i think is no FM radio.

I recomend watching every episode of mightymods.
But here is the ipad one.
https://www.youtube....be_gdata_player

Mighty Car Mods with Marty and Moog! They rock. I have watched every single episode of that show. It's very informative and so funny at the same time.

The one about the Ipad is really interesting coz I was actually thinking of getting a Nexus 7 tablet. I think there was someone online that had a tutorial on how to get that fitted in a car with some pretty cool car apps. I will try to find that tutorial.

As for the anti-roll bar, I think that might go on the list as I can't find anywhere online that would deliver the Eibach kit which consists of front, back anti roll bars along with springs as well. They have it on their website but no retailers here. Any ideas on that front?
If and when I have the money, the suspension tweaks would include anti roll bars, sport shocks and lower springs. I would probably leave the tyres and rims the same as I quite like the comfort they provide. That's the future plans now

[Lenny]

As for the anti-roll bar, I think that might go on the list as I can't find anywhere online that would deliver the Eibach kit which consists of front, back anti roll bars along with springs as well. They have it on their website but no retailers here. Any ideas on that front?
If and when I have the money, the suspension tweaks would include anti roll bars, sport shocks and lower springs. I would probably leave the tyres and rims the same as I quite like the comfort they provide. That's the future plans now

Before purchasing my springs, i tried to look for the eibach sway bars or anti roll bars to fit the focus and couldnt find them anywhere,
Just kits for the mk1 focus and american models.
Would be nice to buy all as one kit though.

[Hassen]

Before purchasing my springs, i tried to look for the eibach sway bars or anti roll bars to fit the focus and couldnt find them anywhere,
Just kits for the mk1 focus and american models.
Would be nice to buy all as one kit though.

Yea, that's what I kept seeing as they were mostly for the american models. Quite annoying actually as it would be nice to get the whole Eibach set.

Those Whiteline antiroll bars might just do the trick. I did ask at the local Ford dealer last time if there was anything they could supply to make the Focus 'sporty'. I know it might sound a bit ridiculous for a diesel but the wife's Seat Leon has a pretty cool suspension and it feels like a go kart. I would like some of that feeling in the Focus without compromising comfort. I don't want a rock hard suspension but one that just is a bit less wobbly round corners.
Would just uprating the roll bars front and back achieve that you think?

[Lenny]

Yea, that's what I kept seeing as they were mostly for the american models. Quite annoying actually as it would be nice to get the whole Eibach set.

Those Whiteline antiroll bars might just do the trick. I did ask at the local Ford dealer last time if there was anything they could supply to make the Focus 'sporty'. I know it might sound a bit ridiculous for a diesel but the wife's Seat Leon has a pretty cool suspension and it feels like a go kart. I would like some of that feeling in the Focus without compromising comfort. I don't want a rock hard suspension but one that just is a bit less wobbly round corners.
Would just uprating the roll bars front and back achieve that you think?

I need to find out the diameter of the existing diesel sway bar before purchasing a replacment as the existing diesel one could already be the same size.
From my understanding of it all
The springs handle the load so lower springs is less sway/body roll on corners.
The sway bars prevent the wheel from lifting on corners.
And lower profile tyres prevent wabble on corners or acceleration.

[Hassen]

Had a chat with the guys in the Ford dealership today and according to them, they had one customer only who fitted Eibach lowering springs. If I just get the springs and leave the rest as it is, I will not need to do anything else to the car. That is according to them now. Any thoughts about that?

I am so very tempted to start saving for a set of springs and maybe even better shocks. Lenny where did you get your springs from and how much were they shipped if you don't mind me asking? Any suggestions for shocks and where to get them? My only issue is whether the car will be too low to the ground and would scrape going over speed bumps. I reckon the car would look quite good as well sitting a bit lower.