Coil Spring Assister And Raiser

[sweet-dentist]

If I went to Mr T, what sort of price could I expect to pay to have my IQ lowered?

I myself am going to put rubber bands in the rear springs... so the car will not be so soft in the handling. Photos in a short time (due to be done tomorrow at the appointment with the SmartCar Specialist) ...

It was not possible to get stronger springs with the same height / and or to get better shocks...

So here are photo's of the rearspring rubberthings... The car comes upwards fort about 1 centimeter (inch = 2.5 centimeters...) But the handling in the corners is much better now..

The thing is... I want it to be stronger when loaded... like having stronger springs or sturdier shocks... as these do not exist, I am trying the rubber-in-between-the-coils-thing-...

The front springs are sturdier anyway.. due to the engineblock-mass it has to... IN sharp corners you feel the front dive in... but the back stays in line...

It was not easy getting them in between the coils... But we used hot water and some shortworking liquid ..

And we will have to see how they hold in time... Looks like the ends do not fit very well... hope that gravity helps them in place... :-)

You know I sometime take a bike on the towbar / or the travelcase (almost a total of 50 kilograms)... Hopes are the car stays nice and does not bend backwards anymore..

Experience after fitting: .. the iQ handles much better... sturdier... and way better on roadbumps... and roundabouts... :-)

Here I have very hot water.. to soften the rubber...

You can see the rubber ends not as well fitted in the metal... Hope in time the gravity will help... In time new pictures will be made..

And more here: http://s676.photobucket.com/albums/vv127/realbutcher/iQ%20vering-rubbers-/?albumview=slideshow

[Jamesbelfast]

These fitments will shorten the life of the springs as all the flexing is transferred to the end coils so don't be surprised if you need new springs sooner than average. Caravanners use these assisters regularly but they tend to remove then out of season.

I know its crazy but have you notified your insurers of the changes. They may not be bothered but many insurers are always looking a way out in the event of a claim.

[sweet-dentist]

I know its crazy but have you notified your insurers of the changes. They may not be bothered but many insurers are always looking a way out in the event of a claim.

Thanks ... I did not think of this ... I'll talk it over with my insurance ... and yes: I do know it can shorten the lifespan of the springs ... If a spring / coil breaks ... the car tends will lower itself at that side... hardly any influence on riding ability.. It's in the rear.. and they break during influence of force (so not during 160 km/hr drive on a flat surface) ... And the car will only lower itself about 4 inches max ... no big deal...

Also ... A new coil in the rear of the car ... is fitted in seconds (ehh, OK, minutes then) ...

If possible I would like the stronger coils (same hight) that are available for the Aygo... but they do not fit.. :(

Or Koni Load Adjusters as shocks (stiffer and stronger) , but also these are not available for this car... :(

Peter

[Wayne in the UK]

I can't see the point in these on a city car... Am I missing something?

[tarquin]

Peter,

There used to be a TV program called "Automan" It was a bit like Tron. He's car could turn 90deg in micro seconds. Well thats what mine is like. Digital steering.Mine doesn't have any roll or anything..Not sure why you are fitting them either.

David

[sweet-dentist]

Peter,

There used to be a TV program called "Automan" It was a bit like Tron. He's car could turn 90deg in micro seconds. Well thats what mine is like. Digital steering.Mine doesn't have any roll or anything..Not sure why you are fitting them either.

David

Tataaa...

In total 52,5 kilograms (maximum allowed)... that's why...

Without this... the whole car gets wobbly and bends backwards...adjusting lights to number 4.. just with such a little weight..

Sometimes also a lot of stuff in the back of the car... bags of fertilizer for instance ... Wife does the garden.. :)

And improving roadcontact in the cornering...

Greets,

Peter

[sweet-dentist]

And another thing ...

Why oh why ... do coil springs actually break...???

Look on the internet via Google search-engine "spring coils break" and there's a lot of replay.. (actually 15.200.000 of them).. :o

Turns out that the most stress on the metal is on the outside of the spring... Look for wear and tear and cracks and rust / corrosion... SO.. do some inspection now and then.. and keep them clean in winter..

Corrosion

Most often coil spring failure seems to be caused by corrosion, accelerated by salt applied to the roads in winter.

The corrosion exposes the micro structure of the material to the atmosphere and makes it susceptible to a process known as hydrogen embrittlement.

We have checked with other motoring clubs across Europe. Italy, Portugal and Spain have seen no change in the number of coil spring failures but the German club, ADAC has reported the same increase in spring breakage experienced in this country. Roads aren't salted in winter in southern European countries.

And more about this here: http://www.ehow.com/way_5761826_would-rear-coil-springs-break_.html

Peter

[Jamesbelfast]

Better plastic coating may help.

[s44gtw]

I have quite a bit to do with springs & the selection of them for different uses of a wide variety of vehicles & use them to an extreme extent, custom made,after market or even off the self standard quite often.

I have been fitting spring assistors to various tow vehicles for several decades.

iQ springs used in the way the majority use them are more than up to the job,

& what 'sweet-dentist' has done the the spring assistors really is going to cause very little worry IMO.

george

[sweet-dentist]

Thank you George.... fine commenting...

Well ... some update today..

It was sunny... so time to make something I have been thinking about for some time..

In the time I have been using the rubber spring-assistors.. they tend to try and "plop" out of there place.

This happens at both ends...

Certainly due to the force they are put between the small springs and the small winding of the springs.

So I made this adjustment...

Drilled some holes in the rubber and put a peace of nylon rope from one end to the other...

We will see how this holds...

Here is the complete series of photo's ....

http://s676.photobucket.com/albums/vv127/realbutcher/iQ-veren-rubbers-aanpassen-/?start=all

Peter

[Guest]

I dunno, you Dentist's and your drills. Here's a thing though, have you ever thought of becoming a mechanic? All the work you've done to your car, I'm sure you could make a living from it. Great photo's by the way.

[Guest]

George, like the pics of the stunted Suzuki. Is that you in the driving seat? I used to love off-roading, still do but can't afford it. Messy too and lots of bruises on elbows and knees- depending upon which seat one was sat in. Oh yeah, and the noggin got clobbered too often for my liking on the sodding windows.

[sweet-dentist]

Thanks Bob809,

And nó, I will not become a mechanic...

The thing is.. I phoned my Car-Specialist (you know the Smart Specialist)... cause he put the last time the rubber things in place.. to ask him for the job.

I phoned him to ask him ... if there was any time / place today to get my car on the "bridge"... in between other cars being attended to.

At least it would take him just a little time... but (to my surprise) the answer was NO... no time.. not this week and not next... oeps...

Then....

So... I thought... well if I do it slowly and with caution, it must be possible to do this myself.

The first rubber thing I did was on the left side... what a pain... terrible... the whole thing got slippery. Cause you hav to put some elbow-grease in it ... BUT also some household detergent to get the sides in place..

It all got very slippery... But but but ... finally I got the left one in.

But then the pulling of the rope to have a little tension on it, as it is in place...

I thought of many ways to get it right... With an other rope around the whole construction and by using the car's steel pole that goes from left to right, it could be done.

The second one.. the right side... that really was a piece of cake... no problems (I had met them all... ha ha)...

I will control it in time to see if this holds...

On the other hand... I got hold of a company that can put an extra coil "in" this existing coil... .

Peter

Here the company:

http://www.carsupport.nl/

They have the set for the iQ... Set-number: 37C13.

Costs about: € 226,10 ... left and right .. hind wheels ... inclusive mounting....