Lowering the 406

[averagejo]

hi,

just wondering if anyone had a picture of a lowered 406 (35/40mm) drop and still on stock wheels, just curious as i quite like the low look while still being standard - that and the handling feels like it could do with being stiffer.

has anyone tried pi or apex? dont want to get any unbranded jobbies or pay the price or coilovers, saw some gmax ones but always remember them being crap - cant remember why though


dan

[averagejo]

well ordered the pi kit as it was at a price i wanted to pay and i've used them before, quite wanted to go for spax or eibach but they were considerably more expensive, the lowering is just a bonus i want them more because i dont like slowing down for corners

[HimBigChief]

Let me know what the rides like after lowering as I'm a bit reluctant to lower mine atm as the missus is pregnant so lowering won't be such a good idea atm if the ride's too harsh.

[jasper5]

My brother has his lowered at the moment, he has shorter springs on different struts 406 1.9TD 1997.

It drives well, but doesn't like speed humps, exhaust hits the top of the hump.

The ride is too harsh for me, but I'm getting soft in my old age

When I eventually persuade him to go back to conventional springs, his lowered springs will be on sale.

[HimBigChief]

I've already got 2 sets, just waiting for a spare set of front struts to turn up cheap. I've got some OMP and some GMax so I can compare what they're like and eventually fit the better ones.

[ddoherty406]

Ive lowerd mine on 40mm gmax springs the handling isnt too bumpy, but i must say ive had them about a year now and Ive bottomed out the front going over them small semi circle speed bumps a few times, it landed on the cills just after the front mudflaps, and another time i broke the exhaust where it caught the cat on the exhaust. mind you i did have 4 people in the car when this happened. Ive put the executive model alloys on it now and it looks better and sits a bit higher, and the new cat doesnt hang as lows so doesent scrap as often. lol I added a few pics of the before and after...( I really shud take pics with the new alloys on it)...

[nutski]

It does look nice being lowered, not really a fan of the 'on stilts' look but i'm holding back on lowering because of all the speed bumps where i live (and the other half not approving of me spending more money on the car)

[jasper5]

That is what my brother's looks like, except his is silver

[mjb]

That looks very Taxi! (the film...)

[averagejo]

think that d8 grill in the 2nd pic looks spot on - very jap look, kinda reminds me of a S15 silvia...... its the first time i wished i had a d8

[ddoherty406]

Thanks for the comments, Dont let me put you off lowering it because of the speed bump mishaps, its only the odd one that scrapes. Now ive thought about it a bit more, this was likely down to them old alloys as the front right had a slow puncture and was never sitting as high as it is now with the standard alloys. Tell the other half it'll b stiffer round the corners and therefore safer lol

Funny enough it was a taxi for a few years, but this was before i got hold of it. never liked the look of the one in the film, it was way over the top.

Is your brother on here, has he got pics of his car up?

As for the grill i seen it done on the phase 2 306 and reckoned id give it a go and do the same to my own, needs done again tho as i cracked it when i was in the process of changing the stat.

[averagejo]

Tell the other half it'll b stiffer round the corners and therefore safer lol

funnily enough i did lol but then she isnt one for breaking at the 'mere sight of a corner either so understood fully, i cant stand the sea sick leaning feeling going into and exiting a corner.

should manage with pot holes and bumps just fine, had 2 cars on pi's and one with 18's and coils so im well versed in tricks to get over them

now a friend had lowed and uprated springs AND stiffened shocks - thats a bad idea, fantastic round the corners but had a distinct lack of traction on the straights as the car was bouncing off the uneven tarmac so much he couldnt get the power down - ended up flat spotting an alloy

back in the day lol.......