Hi, I would like to lower my 1.2 Fabia by 30mm at the front and rear.

After looking at the specs of the springs fitted to my car, it looks like they are around 350mm at the front (6Q0411105AE) and around 340mm at the rear (6Q0511115K).

From what I found, it looks like the shocks are the same reference for both standard and sport suspension, but the springs are different.

The "sport suspension" springs are about 30mm shorter than mine according to the specs I found on internet.

 

So my question is, have I done my homework correctly and are the springs fitted on vehicle with the sport suspension compatible with my shocks ?

And if they are, will the "sport suspension" springs really lower the car ?

 

Thank you.

Of course they'll lower the car, ride height is set by the springs not the shocks.

Just remember depending on fronts you may have to purchase a set of reduced anti roll bar links I think it's usually 40mm and above but best to check.

Shocks look different for both front and rear for standard versus sports, e.g. for front see suspension; shock absorbers - Fabia(FAB) [EUROPA 2006 year] (7zap.com) (suffix BH or BJ on standard car) and suspension; shock absorbers; for vehicles with spo... - Fabia(FAB) [EUROPA 2006 year] (7zap.com) suffix BL for sports?

Similar situation on rear.

1 hour ago, Stewartasb said:

Just remember depending on fronts you may have to purchase a set of reduced anti roll bar links I think it's usually 40mm and above but best to check.

I don't think my car is lowered 40mm and it still needed Mondeo drop links.

There you go then just look for stance+ on ebay they do them and wheel spacers if you need them.

For reference this was low enough to need shorter drop links.

Not sure of how much of a drop it is because I didnt measure it before and after.

 

Weirdly my mk2 is sitting about as low and Its perfectly fine with standard drop links.

 

I know a shorter spring will lower the car, my question was more about the compression of the different springs, if there is a difference. I guess a stiffer spring will compress less than a looser spring? I'm not sure if it's a thing with OEM springs like comparing the VRS ones with the standard ones. 

 

Didn't knew about the shorter drop links, it says they are needed for a drop of 40mm and over. I kept it anyway in case I need it. Thank you.

 

The shocks do have a different part number between the sport suspension and the standard suspension, but I have seen replacement shocks listed as "compatible" with the suffixes BH, BJ (standard) and BL (sport). I don't know if there is a physical difference between these parts.

 

I'd like to even out the gap all around the rim in the wheel arch, I measured about 6cm on the sides and 9-10cm above the rim on my car.

Something like you have on the front of your VRS @DieselMonte would be perfect for me.

 

In any case, thank you all for your responses.

If there was no physical difference, they'd have the same part number. Differences may be small, presumably to work optimally with springs with different properties.

You would want to fit new shocks as well as springs though, wouldn't you? Especially at the front, unless you knew they were recent?

Yes I also think that it can be something with the settings of the shocks.

And yes of course I would go for new shocks, mine are the stock ones and I don't think it would be safe to ride with worn stock shocks with lowered springs.

So one option would be to install sport shocks with shorter springs.

1 hour ago, Flobac said:

 

Something like you have on the front of your VRS @DieselMonte would be perfect for me.

Well you're half right in that its the front of a vRS . Its originally a 1.9sdi and its only got a vRS front on it to replace the front clip after I wrecked it a while back. 

 

My monte had the oem "sport" suspension standard and it was slightly lower than a fabia on standard suspension, could only be 10-15mm lower and the same applies with for example a mk1 1.9 tdi fabia and a mk1 vRS. You're right that the shocks and springs are different but it could be a case of the sport shocks being shorter as the springs are slightly shorter too, there are much better options outside of oem "sport" suspension and probably cost the same if not less.

 

The suspension on mine is a set of coilovers that came off a vRS as the person who was selling them was upgrading to some  fancier coilovers. They're just FK performance coilovers on the front and fabia vRS rear shocks with some lowering springs in the back another member off here gave me ages ago. I got the coilovers, top mounts and drop links (albeit normal ones not shorter ones) for either 50 or 70 euro. Obviously not the freshest set but for my uses they're more than enough.

The person I bought them off told me they're set 2 inches lower than a standard vRS is, I don't think its that much of a drop on mine and I havent adjusted them.

 

Can honestly say it rides really well on the coilovers, was impressed so much by them that when the shocks on my monte gave out I went and got coilovers for it too (New this time).

On that car I have them set to a modest 25mm drop from its "sport" suspension. Rides great even on our very rough backroads. 

Also I felt it was simplest to get coilovers knowing that the shock and the spring would be designed to work together properly instead of worrying about not getting the right shock to go with the right spring etc.

Also I recorded this video of a shock I took off my mk1 and a shock I took off my monte. I like to think of it as a good example of an ok shock and a shock thats worn out. 

 

2 minutes ago, DieselMonte said:

Well you're half right in that its the front of a vRS . Its originally a 1.9sdi and its only got a vRS front on it to replace the front clip after I wrecked it a while back. 

 

vRSDI, 64 "sporty" horses. It's like the Fabia Sport they made but better on fuel.

17 minutes ago, AnnoyingPentium said:

 

vRSDI, 64 "sporty" horses. It's like the Fabia Sport they made but better on fuel.

 

Its got a vRS block, a 1.9 litre plant, its got vRS wheels, vRS supensions, "vRS" seats. Its a model made before DPFs so it'll run good on veg oil...

I was going to say be better off just going for an all round set of coilovers you can pick up some decent sets for around £250 and when you way that up against new shocks and springs front and rear plus pump stops and fixings provs not any difference price wise.

2 hours ago, Stewartasb said:

I was going to say be better off just going for an all round set of coilovers you can pick up some decent sets for around £250 and when you way that up against new shocks and springs front and rear plus pump stops and fixings provs not any difference price wise.

And unless you set them really low they'll ride just fine.

9 hours ago, DieselMonte said:

Its a model made before DPFs so it'll run good on veg oil...

 

That's my most convincing reason for trying to talk my Grandad into an SDI.

 

@Stewartasb has hit the nail on the head though. You'd be best with a set of coilovers for the car if you want to lower it.

Yes in the end I think it would be easier to put a set of coilovers, I saw some of them for 250ish euros on ebay. Don’t know why I havent looked at this possibility before. I had in mind that coilovers were not confortable. I guess it can’t be worse than lowered springs on sport shocks, since I don’t want to lower it that much. For a full replacement with shocks, springs and everything it was around 400€, and that was with « basic » parts. So it may even be cheaper that way.