spring ride height/ low profile tires/minilites

[XJRpilot]

if i went to minilites/panasports with 185/60/14
tires(lower profile) i should keep the original springs correct? if i installed the springs that are one inch lower than stock it would reduce the ride height by as much as two or more inches correct? is it one way or the other?

 

[aeronca65t]

Using 1" lower spring in Spridget will drop car roughly 2". MGB has similar geometry, so I'd guess you'd get the same result.

For street car, I'd use springs that give stock ride height (with stock wheels). Using stiffer springs that are shorter will sometimes give "stock" ride height, since they compress less....it's kind of trial-and-error, to some degree.

Using low profile tires, as you may do, is easiest way to drop car without upsetting steering geometry. For most folks, this is the best route (leaving spings "stock").

If you use excessivly short springs, car will sit lower (ie:axle centerline is "higher" in fender) which looks neat, but may cause steering geometry problems....you may have too little caster and toe-out-on-turns can be disrupted due to tie rod angle change. This can be "fixed", but it can get pretty involved, if done properly.

[ 01-14-2003: Message edited by: aeronca65t ]</p>

 

[bryan h]

On my 76 chrome conversion,I Used michelin 185/70s,new springs and a lowering kit from Moss,along with the knock off minilites,(which were a vast improvement over the worn out wires).you should be fine with stock springs and shocks.