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Lowering 147: experiences??

6K views 83 replies 16 participants last post by  bart 147 
#1 ·
Who has lowered his 147 with normal springs or/and dampers?

I have already had a KW coilover experience making my bella like a rock to drive, harsher than you could imagine, jumping over every sigle bulb on the road and a strongly decreased handling.

Now how happy are you after lowering?
Or is just worth it for the looks??

I had a drive on the passenger seat of a 147 lowerd about 2,5 cm with 18 inch wheels and found it very acceptable... and it looked amazing!

Thinking of gettin the eibach pro-system.
I'm looking for a soft lowering setup !
Any comments or recommendations?
Thx.
:cool:
 
#53 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by selespeed:
<strong>Well if any one is interested to measure the height of a lot of 147's: Next Saturday 80 Alfa's 147 are parked next to each other.</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">hubba hubba

We R so very :cool: , aren't we ?

:D
 
#54 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by pyros:
<strong>Correct me if i'm wrong ???
The 1.6 is like the jtd , yes
The 2.0 is about 2 cm lower from starting
If you mount Eibach pro kit on the 2.0 it's again 2.5 cm lower correct ???????</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This things puzzled me also.
So I investigate and found that 1.6 and 2.0 (and probably JTD) are the same height. They all have different factory fitted springs (only front!). Eibach has same springs for 1.6 an 2.0 ???!!!! and different one for JTD (for all only front, rear are the same). Since factory fitted front springs for 2.0 are longer and harder and 147 2.0 is 50 kg heavier, and results of this is same height as 1.6, I suppose that there is small difference in height of 1.6 and 2.0 with Eibach (not very big difference because spring are harder).
2.0 with Eibach is 2.5 cm lower (after some time it will be probably 3 cm) - I have measured this myself!


<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>So if you mount it on the JTD it will be 4.5 of 5 cm lower ???? That's to much for me...
However , Eibach pro-kit says 3.0 cm and it's a different number of springs you need for the JTD than for the 2.0 . So maybe , it's , with both about 2.5 /3.0 cm ??? And not for the JTD 5 cm ??? </strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">You are right! There are different Eibach springs for JTD, and lowering will (probably) be 3 cm.

<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"><strong>Another thing , i went to my dealer today and asked for lowering my JTD . The price was about thesame for the Eibach pro- kit , at a tyre/suspension comp. and with my dealer but that one is original from Alfa Romeo . The brand was not known by my dealer , he only had the numder from the catalogue and it was for the JTD 35mm lower . It's so a original lowering kit from AR made by ??? . I want to see pics of somebody who has lowered his JTD with Eibach or knows anything about the original AR lowering . Like mentioned before , i want to lower my JTD but not 5 cm . I want my car rectified , not lowered if you understand what i mean . Any suggestions ????</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">For lowering of 156 Alfa uses Eibach kit. I assume that it is the same situation for 147.
 
#55 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by jomor:
<strong>Diffenent engines, mean different car weight. Different car weight means different springs for each model.

If eibach says 3cm for 1.6, and 3cm for JTD, they should have different srpings for each model. If they dont, i woudnt trust them.</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">This is true!
But, "trust no one" wink , because Alfa says that 2.0 is lower (which is not true, at least for 147 I have seen :rolleyes: )
 
#56 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by selespeed:
<strong>Well if any one is interested to measure the height of a lot of 147's: Next Saturday 80 Alfa's 147 are parked next to each other.</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Maybe you can do it for helping us :D
 
#57 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Boris:
<strong>This is true!
But, "trust no one" wink , because Alfa says that 2.0 is lower (which is not true, at least for 147 I have seen :rolleyes: )</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Let me put it this way: I had Viden springs and DeCarbon shocks at my previous Pug, i never ever had any single problem or noise, after years of stiff suspension and hard driving and cornering at the very bad Greek roads. My 147 is full of suspension noises with factory suspension, so i trust aftermarket brands more than AR, you are right
 
#59 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Sly__147:
<strong>Another thing, lowering the car but keeping the same shocks will result in the shocks being perminately compressed slightly. Am i right in this? Will this effect the handling especially if travelling over a bump during hard cornering?</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeap, you are right, but its not just that..

The lowering srpings are stronger and the factory shocks cant handle their power, and the suspension hops up and down more than once on each road unevenness, which is completely unsafe.
( New K factor for springs = different C factor for shocks needed wink )
Another bad thing is that the stronger springs, shorten the factory shocks' life.

Shocks work against springs. Stronger springs need stronger shocks, otherwise there is no balance around the stillness point.
 
G
#60 ·
It depends IMHO that it depends on how much lower you go . If you're going 5 or more cm i think you need new shocks , if you only go 2 - 4 cm it isn't so much . The shocks are always a littlebit compressed , thats normal , it depends on the cars weight . A shock can go a lot higher and a lot lower . Somewhere in the middle the shock is at rest , if it's about thesame than there isn't a lot of difference . The dampingrate could be a problem , but if you don't go very low , than the shock should be able to handle it . It will be ruined faster , that's true , like every part of the suspension .
 
G
#61 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Boris:
<strong> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Alfa 147:
<strong>I had lowering my 147 with GM springs (30 mm) and alfa is now litle bit harder then before. Wheels on this car is 15' and tires dimension 205/55.</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Did you measure it after lowering? Is it realy 3 cm or more/less?
Did you ever compare your 1.6 Alfa before changing springs, with a 2.0 model? Is the 2.0 model lower?</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes 3cm max., now alfa is looking more better. I never compare with 2,0 but I think it is same suspension and it could be the same. Only what happened after lowering my alfa I heard some kind of noise every time when I drove on uneven road or rail. I will go in my Alfa servis on Friday to find why my Alfa "squizing" :D
 
#62 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by jomor:
<strong> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Sly__147:
<strong>Another thing, lowering the car but keeping the same shocks will result in the shocks being perminately compressed slightly. Am i right in this? Will this effect the handling especially if travelling over a bump during hard cornering?</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yeap, you are right, but its not just that..

The lowering srpings are stronger and the factory shocks cant handle their power, and the suspension hops up and down more than once on each road unevenness, which is completely unsafe.
( New K factor for springs = different C factor for shocks needed wink )
Another bad thing is that the stronger springs, shorten the factory shocks' life.

Shocks work against springs. Stronger springs need stronger shocks, otherwise there is no balance around the stillness point.</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">True!
 
#63 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Alfa 147:
<strong> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Boris:
<strong> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Alfa 147:
<strong>I had lowering my 147 with GM springs (30 mm) and alfa is now litle bit harder then before. Wheels on this car is 15' and tires dimension 205/55.</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Did you measure it after lowering? Is it realy 3 cm or more/less?
Did you ever compare your 1.6 Alfa before changing springs, with a 2.0 model? Is the 2.0 model lower?</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes 3cm max., now alfa is looking more better. I never compare with 2,0 but I think it is same suspension and it could be the same. Only what happened after lowering my alfa I heard some kind of noise every time when I drove on uneven road or rail. I will go in my Alfa servis on Friday to find why my Alfa "squizing" :D </strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">*Anti roll bar joints knackered (made clunking noise like clapped out shocks in any other car after 100k would make) Replaced, problem solved.
Same bar and bits as used in the Fiat Marea where apparantly it first presented itself as a problem.

*Creaking suspension over speed bumps at 0.00001kph? Had that too. Upper arm wishbones, knackered. Both replaced. Problem kind of solved.

Prijevod:
*ako ti se cuje metalni zvuk klepetanja (kao kad ne valjaju spone) onda je problem u sponama balans stange - vrlo jeftino, odmah promijeni obe strane.

*ako se cuje skripanje/struganje prilikom prelaska preko lezecih policajaca ili/i u zavojima, onda je gornja ili eventualno donja prednja vilica - ovo je nesto skuplje

-oba problema su tvornicke greske, i trebalo bi ici pod garanciju ili barem djelomicno pod garanciju ako je istekla. Pazi da te ne pokusaju zajebati da ti se to desilo jer ti je spusten auto, jer su to vrlo poznate tvorn. greske!!! i support Alfa Romea to sigurno zna! (i u Ri i u Zg !!)
 
G
#64 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Boris:
<strong> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Alfa 147:
<strong> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Boris:
<strong> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Alfa 147:
<strong>I had lowering my 147 with GM springs (30 mm) and alfa is now litle bit harder then before. Wheels on this car is 15' and tires dimension 205/55.</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Did you measure it after lowering? Is it realy 3 cm or more/less?
Did you ever compare your 1.6 Alfa before changing springs, with a 2.0 model? Is the 2.0 model lower?</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Yes 3cm max., now alfa is looking more better. I never compare with 2,0 but I think it is same suspension and it could be the same. Only what happened after lowering my alfa I heard some kind of noise every time when I drove on uneven road or rail. I will go in my Alfa servis on Friday to find why my Alfa "squizing" :D </strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">*Anti roll bar joints knackered (made clunking noise like clapped out shocks in any other car after 100k would make) Replaced, problem solved.
Same bar and bits as used in the Fiat Marea where apparantly it first presented itself as a problem.

*Creaking suspension over speed bumps at 0.00001kph? Had that too. Upper arm wishbones, knackered. Both replaced. Problem kind of solved.

Prijevod:
*ako ti se cuje metalni zvuk klepetanja (kao kad ne valjaju spone) onda je problem u sponama balans stange - vrlo jeftino, odmah promijeni obe strane.

*ako se cuje skripanje/struganje prilikom prelaska preko lezecih policajaca ili/i u zavojima, onda je gornja ili eventualno donja prednja vilica - ovo je nesto skuplje

-oba problema su tvornicke greske, i trebalo bi ici pod garanciju ili barem djelomicno pod garanciju ako je istekla. Pazi da te ne pokusaju zajebati da ti se to desilo jer ti je spusten auto, jer su to vrlo poznate tvorn. greske!!! i support Alfa Romea to sigurno zna! (i u Ri i u Zg !!)</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Thnx very much! Hvala stari :D !
 
#65 ·
I would really love to lower my 147 but whats put me off is 3 things

a.My insurance premium will increase alot

b.I have a very low drive way entrance to my home!

c. If I lower the car I dont want a hard feel on the road as it is its firm enough with 17"
 
#66 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by jomor:
<strong>Making the car sexy is too close to make it horrible, you need taste to avoid the disaster.

Two lowered 147s with similar wheels, look how sexy the red one is :)



</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">no offense but i think your all daft, the silver one looks a lot sexier than the red one, you could fall asleep in the wheel arch gaps on the red one, if you could stop yourself bouncing up and down on the big tyres, remember "I might not agree with what you say,but i will fight to the death,to protect your right to say it
 
#67 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Boris:
<strong>Final data:
This are results of measuring 147:

1.6 and 2.0 are the same height !!!! (in some sources AR says that 2.0 is 2.1 cm lower but in real life this is not true)

2.0 with Eibach pro kit is 2.5 cm lower at front and 3 cm lower at rear (probably front will drop more during time)

According to 147 workshop manual and parts CD, front and rear shocks and rear springs for 1.6 and 2.0 are the same, and 2.0 has stronger front springs.</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">just saw one of the few 147 Selespeeds this afternoon (i had previously seen it on Hans's site, NIC147), and it did look lower than ours. I dont know if he lowered it or not... but i am sure it looked a bit lower (from the distance).
 
#68 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Banflu:
<strong> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Boris:
<strong>Final data:
This are results of measuring 147:

1.6 and 2.0 are the same height !!!! (in some sources AR says that 2.0 is 2.1 cm lower but in real life this is not true)

2.0 with Eibach pro kit is 2.5 cm lower at front and 3 cm lower at rear (probably front will drop more during time)

According to 147 workshop manual and parts CD, front and rear shocks and rear springs for 1.6 and 2.0 are the same, and 2.0 has stronger front springs.</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">just saw one of the few 147 Selespeeds this afternoon (i had previously seen it on Hans's site, NIC147), and it did look lower than ours. I dont know if he lowered it or not... but i am sure it looked a bit lower (from the distance).</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I'm crazy enough so I measured few more Alfas. They are all the same height :-(
 
G
#71 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Ivo:
<strong>hey there,

I see you're still happy driving your 147 or .... :(

:) </strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Until next wednesday... :rolleyes:
 
G
#72 ·
Today I lowered mine car whit the Novitic set, it looks great!!

The car is an 147 1.6 veloce, Distinctive .And I Took same measurements before and after.
I measured from the street to the highest point of the “wielkast’’.

Before; front 68.5cm, rear 71cm.
After lowering; front 65cm, rear 68cm.

I tried to ad some pictures in this message, but it was not working.
(I only chance the springs)
 
G
#73 ·
I ordered the Eibach Pro-Kit , but i still have to wait :( . They don't have them in stock in Belgium , maybe end off next week the importer get's a new load for the 147 JTD . Mine was the 5th ordering the 147 JTD Pro-Kit which have to wait . I think they must work faster at Eibach to keep up to the demand... :D
 
#74 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Boris:
<strong>Final data:
This are results of measuring 147:

1.6 and 2.0 are the same height !!!! (in some sources AR says that 2.0 is 2.1 cm lower but in real life this is not true)

</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Look at the difference between David's 1.6 and my Selespeed. I don't have to measure anything to see the difference, especially at the rear wheel

1.6:


2.0:


Hans

BTW David, what is you bella doing at a French hosting provider?
 
#75 ·
<blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by selespeed:
<strong> <blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:<hr /><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Boris:
[qb]Final data:
This are results of measuring 147:

1.6 and 2.0 are the same height !!!! (in some sources AR says that 2.0 is 2.1 cm lower but in real life this is not true)

</strong><hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Look at the difference between David's 1.6 and my Selespeed. I don't have to measure anything to see the difference, especially at the rear wheel
QB]<hr /></blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">I have measured, and parked beside 1.6 2003 and 2.0 2003. Completely the same. Maybe cars are different in different countries (markets).
 
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