Lowering A Focus....

[Invisible Man]

I've finally decided that I'm going to lower the Focus but I have a few questions....

1) How much should I lower it by? 40mm seems the standard amount when I have looked at kits. My car has the 'handling' pack but I'm not sure if it is already lower than a standard focus setup....it doesn't look it.

2) Any recommended kits that people have already fitted? I've been told that Eibach kits are alright, but any opinions welcomed

[artscot79]

Ford use Eibach from the factory on lower cars not sure now but mk2 zetec was 10mm lower as standard depends on the roads it can be pretty jarring if the roads are bad coilovers are better but more expensive springs on their own work as long as the shocks are good

[Invisible Man]

I think the shocks are ok. The car is a 2010 model so they shouldnt be in a bad state.

I looked at full coilover kits and saw some for around 250...which seems quite cheap, and you always get what you pay for.

I don't mind a stiffer ride as I do a lot of Motorway miles, and I've got used to sitting in the passenger seat of a Civic Type R which is like being sat in a go-kart

[Lenny]

Ive lowerd on ford approved Eibach springs,

I purchased from Fordpartsuk.com

Theres different lowering springs for petrol and diesel models,

The ford approved Eibach or Eibach springs drop the rear by 35mm and the front by 15mm

This levels the door sill line looks much better and handling is improved,

When lowering you will also require eibach adjustable rear camber bolts,

Cost around 20 pounds,

Allow the rear cabmber to be correctly aligned prevents excessive tyre wear.

Once lowerd then you need laser tracking alignment to set it all up for driving,

Job done,

[Lenny]

Your existing camber is set to match your existing suspension and ride height,

Your existing rear camber is not adjustable,

So when you lower the ride height your rear camber will be off,

Resulting in uneven tyre wear on the inside wall and less road to tyre contact on the rear wheels.

By fitting adjustable rear camber bolts the alignment of the rear wheels can be adjusted to achieve proper even tyre wear aswell as optimum grip and improved handling all for 30 pounds. Thats quarter the cost of an 18inch tyre

Eibach recomend getting laser alignment carried out on your car after lowering to realign the wheels to match the ride height aswell as headlight alignment for optimum experience.

Eibach rear camber bolts are model specific and the kit linked is for all mk2 and mk2.5 hatch back ford focus from 2005-2011

Here is a link to purchase:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/230625566464?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

Here is an image of what to expect to recieve:

Preventing this:

Heres my 1.6tdci lowerd on Eibach rolling genuine facelift ST 18x8 rims with 35mm profile Avon ZV5 tyres parked up next to an RS focus rolling 19" rims with 30mm profile tyres

Mines around 1" lower than stock RS rolling 19's

Still never scrapes on ramps

[troy45]

I'm running the Eibach kit on my ST - not certain if that kit is ST specific or common across the range. Drop was something like 20mm front and rear though I believe that they changed that a few times across the years. My kit is maybe 2008 vintage, carried over from my last ST onto this one.

Have always had an alignment done after changing springs and doing a couple of hundred miles to let everything settle - having the front struts out very likely disturbs the alignment in addition to the change in camber etc. Haven't had to run camber bolts and uneven tyre wear is nice and even. Never had any problems with ride comfort either.

Would say if you are thinking of coilovers do some research first into the kit you're looking at - have known some to give rock solid handling ideal for the track but awful on the road, and range of adjustment didn't go soft enough. Can also be a pain to adjust some more than others.

Another option if you do want to change dampers as well would be one of the Eibach/bilstein kits which comprise Eibach springs and matching set of bilstein dampers. I'm running this combo (not as a kit) and again it works fine, without sacrificing ride quality :)

[Invisible Man]

This is the reason I love this forum. Spot on advice everytime!!!

Cheers lads

[Lenny]

This is the reason I love this forum. Spot on advice everytime!!!

Cheers lads

No prob,

If upgrading rims to anything wider than 7" after lowering the ride height then you will require ford steering rack limiter kit,

Costs 20 pounds

Consists of two polyurethane rings,

They fit inside the CV boot on either side front wheel limiting the full lock turning radius by 13mm prevents the tyre from eating the inside wheel arch on full lock,

I've also had this fitted and its standard on ST/RS models,

Reduced turning radius gotta dip left then sharp right on small roundabouts but get used to it lol

Also bigger the rims the the heavier thus contributing to "unsprung mass"

This reduces your 0-60 times as it takes a little more power to get rolling,

Best upgrade for an ST is some 16" rims

[Invisible Man]

I'm gonna stick with my current 17's for now. They aren't huge. But I like them. I have seen some replica ST wheels for £400, but they can wait....

And, I know I could do with some new locking nuts

[Lenny]

I'm gonna stick with my current 17's for now. They aren't huge. But I like them. I have seen some replica ST wheels for £400, but they can wait....

And, I know I could do with some new locking nuts

There my personal favorite ford rim mate they look great,

Ive had much bad experience with ford nuts as result i upgrade to Mcgard nuts,

Locking nuts are already mcgard though. I got a set free with the nuts so i upgrade mine,

But a quick wax with WD40

Or

Light sand and spray with silver paint

Would bring them up fresh,

17" are a good compromise but its your car mate.

[troy45]

Also bigger the rims the the heavier thus contributing to "unsprung mass"

This reduces your 0-60 times as it takes a little more power to get rolling,

Best upgrade for an ST is some 16" rims

Think the reduction in unsprung weight would be offset by the drag of the brake calipers rubbing on the rims. Or the big fat sidewalls will let the tyre wind up like a big spring and fire the car down the road like big drag slicks do lol

Either that or the car would peel the big fat tyre off the rims when i tried some 'enthusiastic' cornering :P

[Invisible Man]

Never thought of spraying them. Ive seen some nice chrome ones that look smart, but then i would need matching chrome nuts too....money money money

[Lenny]

Never thought of spraying them. Ive seen some nice chrome ones that look smart, but then i would need matching chrome nuts too....money money money

Ow i hear ya :)

Not much bang for buck with these type of upgrades

[troy45]

Where did you get those wheel nuts from Lenny?

Wouldn't mind some better ones for my Oz's, would have used the Ford ones but they only spin onto a few threads of the studs because the wheel hubs are thicker and the thread doesn't run right to the end of the nuts.

[JW1982]

Above a few pictures of my Focus MK2. This focus is equipped with the OEM Eibach lowering springs and 7Jx17 inch alloy MK2.5 wheels. These pictures were taken just after lowering the car. After some time the car was a slightly bit lower.

I was very happy with the Eibach springs. Better handling with a minimum loss of comfort.

[Invisible Man]

Thats perfect! Same wheels and same colour. I know now how it will look

[Lenny]

Ow i hear ya :)

Not much bang for buck with these type of upgrades

Where did you get those wheel nuts from Lenny?

Wouldn't mind some better ones for my Oz's, would have used the Ford ones but they only spin onto a few threads of the studs because the wheel hubs are thicker and the thread doesn't run right to the end of the nuts.

I bought all saw in the image from this exact listing mate:

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/FORD-FOCUS-RS-MCGARD-ALLOY-WHEEL-NUTS-SET-20-INC-MCGARD-LOCK-SET-/290839427037?pt=UK_Cars_Parts_Vehicles_Wheels_tyres_Trim_Nuts_ET&hash=item43b76177dd

The guy really knows his stuff,

Asked me questions about the rims before sending these on to me,

There exactly what you need solid one piece nuts,

Not cheap but they are a lifetime job,

And no more alloy nuts warping,

Perhaps recuperate some funds selling on your existing set,

I left mine with local tyre specialist to have as spares for others.

Cap's warped on my stock nuts,

Wrecked the stock wrench,

Had to hammer and chisel the caps off:

Then acquire an 18mm socket to remove the remaining fragmentation ford provided as a nut,

Here's the old nuts after the warped caps were removed the became 18mm

Now abolished and replaced with the fantastic set linked above,

Calms the inner sole rite down :) ahhh that's better,

[troy45]

Great help there Lenny thanks mate :)

Strange, I've never had problems with the standard nuts - had they ever seen air guns at tyre depots etc? always change my wheels by hand so maybe that's helped the caps staying on. They look pretty awful once the caps come off, not good either if you have to try and butcher them off while trying to prevent damaging the nut recesses :(

Had a look at the McGards now. Already got their locking nuts so wouldn't need another set of those which might help with the price, and I'm not sure if we get discount from McGard through work so I'll check that out too :)

Wouldn't expect to get much for selling my current wheel nuts, they're just the generic after market wheel nuts you can get and way past being like new now. Plus they're no good for standard wheels as they are narrower and only just contact the holes in the oem wheels. Some sellers don't seem to worry about this so it's good to see an eBay seller taking care to supply the correct nuts depending on the wheels fitted.

[Tsf]

I want to put lowering springs on my ford focus mk2 07 plate. Any ideas what size i need buy please and what make are the best ones. Thankyou

 

[BigLen]

23 hours ago, Tsf said:

I want to put lowering springs on my ford focus mk2 07 plate. Any ideas what size i need buy please and what make are the best ones. Thankyou

 

Hi, 

Eibach lowering springs are best and were an optional extra from ford during the MK2/MK2.5 2005-2011 production time, 

When Bought from ford they came in exactly the same Eibach box; just had an in house ford part number sticker and a price increase of 45 pounds compared to purchase from elsewhere, 

Theres different springs for diesel models, petrol models and ST/RS 

Overall three different sets available; so if your petrol non ST you need that set or if it's a diesel you need a different set, 

They lower the front by 10-15mm and the back by 35-40mm which levels out the window sills nicely and greatly improves handling, makes a really fun car, and I recommend some ST recaro seats to keep yourself in the seat on roundabout's if driving enthusiastically 😅 see my guides for fitting those, 

Google: full list of Lenny's guides fordownersclub 

I've got my diesel focus on Eibach springs for past 8 years, over 180,000 miles later and still going great mixture of country roads and town driving; even launched it off a few hump back bridges like a boss, fractured ST rims but the springs & shocks are still fine 👍🏻

[BigLen]

On 10/22/2014 at 8:14 PM, Lenny said:

Ive lowerd on ford approved eibach springs,

I purchased from Fordpartsuk.com

Theres different lowering springs for petrol and diesel models,

http://i575.photobucket.com/albums/ss192/lennymanwoods/IMG_20130110_151301.jpg

The ford approved eibach or eibach springs drop the rear by 35mm and the front by 15mm

This levels the door sill line looks much better and handling is improved,

When lowering you will also require eibach adjustable rear camber bolts,

Cost around 20 pounds,

Allow the rear cabmber to be correctly aligned prevents excessive tyre wear.

Once lowerd then you need laser tracking alignment to set it all up for driving,

Job done,

Quoting myself from 8 years ago 😂 #CheckMyBadSelf 

[Tsf]

Lenny thankyou so much for your advice really appreciate it ill have a look now online. Already got the st recaros lol absolutely love my car. Did put standard springs on but it doesnt look the best as already got side skirts on as well.