Lowering A 1.1 Xl

[dave_6785 0]

I've got a 205 1.1 xl and it has the full gti kit, 1.9 alloys (in black), 1.6 seats and red GTI carpet which is still a project in the making. Besides the obvious lack of oooomph the thing is the ride height, the car sits way too high and i was wondering if there was another way to lower the front around 30-40mm without just using a basic lowering spring kit. Is it possible to directly replace the shocks and springs with ones from a GTI or a STDT? and for the none mechanically minded people like myself how easy is it to get 10-20mm lower on the rear?

[SurGie 54]

Welcome to the forum

 

To be honest mate i can't see it being worth lowering a 1.1.

 

Does your insurance policy include cover for all the body kit, alloys etc you have on this 205 ?

 

If you are than afaik the policy amount would be around the same price as having a 1.6 gti, lowering it will also increase

your policy.

 

Is it worth it ?

[jimistdt 1]

Hey up dave.

 

If you were to swap the struts from a GTI/STDT, you would have to look at swapping the subframe for a GTI one. The STDT shocks are not forced to lower the height at all, probably raise it or remain the same (?)

 

The only way to shange the height at the front is to change the shocks, there is no other mod you can do to lower it.

 

A few topics on the subframe issue here for you.

 

 

The rear ride height is more adjustable although it will require freeing up the torsion bars to change the distance between shock mounts, in turn, after uprating the front suspension you will probably want to upgrade the rear torsion bars and ARB to match.

 

Welcome to the forum

[dave_6785 0]

Welcome to the forum

 

To be honest mate i can't see it being worth lowering a 1.1.

 

Does your insurance policy include cover for all the body kit, alloys etc you have on this 205 ?

 

If you are than afaik the policy amount would be around the same price as having a 1.6 gti, lowering it will also increase

your policy.

 

Is it worth it ?

theres still £800 a year difference cuz of my points, the fact they are genuine peugeot parts and the fact that i'm still 5 months off 25, after my birthday i'm looking at gettin a 1.9 or mi16 but i've only just got this car and want it to look the best i can get it. lowering springs only add £60 onto my insurance if done by a peugeot garage/specialist. I was looking at a 1.6cti or 1.9gti but my plans for a holiday won the engine size arguement. Dont particularly just wanna fit springs to the standard shocks and its not worth the expense with a full new shock/spring kit.

[steve@cornwall 100]

No need to change the subframe if using GTi shocks - just because the mountings are there for droplinks doesn't mean you have to use them! I would imagine lowering the rear with 1.9 alloys on would rub like mad! (unless your arches have been modified to take the GTi arches) Chuck enough crap in the boot to the desired height and go hit some speedbumps to see

 

Lowering the front on a 1.1 gives a car that is an absolute hoot to drive, by the way, like a go-cart. Mine makes me smile when I drive it as much, almost as the GTi or CTi.

 

Mine has GTi spax struts (far too hard, really) with lowering springs of uhknown make or drop, but click the link in my sig - it's quite severe! For the rear - It carries my scrapyard rummaging tools and some excess spare parts - imagine how weird it would look with the front at standard height

[dave_6785 0]

No need to change the subframe if using GTi shocks - just because the mountings are there for droplinks doesn't mean you have to use them! I would imagine lowering the rear with 1.9 alloys on would rub like mad! (unless your arches have been modified to take the GTi arches) Chuck enough crap in the boot to the desired height and go hit some speedbumps to see

 

Lowering the front on a 1.1 gives a car that is an absolute hoot to drive, by the way, like a go-cart. Mine makes me smile when I drive it as much, almost as the GTi or CTi.

 

Mine has GTi spax struts (far too hard, really) with lowering springs of uhknown make or drop, but click the link in my sig - it's quite severe! For the rear - It carries my scrapyard rummaging tools and some excess spare parts - imagine how weird it would look with the front at standard height

how easy are the gti shocks/struts to fit?? would i be best goin through a peugeot specialist to get this done as i'm no mechanic but brave enough to try lol. i only want the front to be the same height as a gti, not a tyre rubbin drop. and ye, got full gti arches on :-)

Edited February 10, 2010 by dave_6785

[jimistdt 1]

No need to change the subframe if using GTi shocks - just because the mountings are there for droplinks doesn't mean you have to use them!

 

Fair comment, Steve Does simplify things for Dave.

 

how easy are the gti shocks/struts to fit?? would i be best goin through a peugeot specialist to get this done as i'm no mechanic but brave enough to try lol. i only want the front to be the same height as a gti, not a tyre rubbin drop. and ye, got full gti arches on :-)

 

Not that hard really. You'd need;

 

Trolley Jack

Axle stands

Socket/Spanners/Wheelbrace

30mm (Check this) socket and bar for hubnuts

Hammer

 

Basically you'd have to disconnect the track rod end, the lower arm, remove the caliper, remove the driveshaft nut, remove the three bolts on the strut top and pull the strut outwards and lower it, making sure you don't pull the driveshaft out.

 

You'd have to get the tracking checked to be on the safe side, but other than that it's pretty much DIY, a couple of hours if you take your time.

 

 

Here's a tip, I was on Amazon the other day, and I bought a Haynes Workshop Manual for £0.27! Well worth every penny.

[pug_ham 243 3 Cars]

No need to change the subframe if using GTi shocks - just because the mountings are there for droplinks doesn't mean you have to use them!

Does the drop link mount catch the brake pipe / flexi bracket or is that only with the drop link fitted its an issue?

 

Graham.

[steve@cornwall 100]

Does the drop link mount catch the brake pipe / flexi bracket or is that only with the drop link fitted its an issue?

 

Graham.

 

 

Lightly rubbed the thick rubber pipe covering the union on mine until I "adjusted" the angle of the bracket on the CTi with droplinks and base model type bracket arrangement - has done a couple of MOTs since with no problem. Clearance is also better with the new lowering springs

 

It has not been an issue with the 1.1 with no droplinks. I believe the positioning of the bracket is variable on different vehicles, though? (just build tolerances).

Could always get the grinder out if you get problems !!

[DaveW 6]

If you go lower on the back with the 15s they will rub unless you got some 45 profile tyres? the back end can be abit of a mindfield to do but thats just me as i lower beams the 'bodge' way

[dave_6785 0]

to make sure its done right, straight and true i'll go to a pug specialist, dont mind spending the cash if i know its gettin done right . cant wait to see how it handles when its done, 30-40mm drop from standard now should sit pretty nice . would it be worth fitting a torsion bar whilst its gettin done?

Edited February 11, 2010 by dave_6785

[SurGie 54]

TBH Dave you could save your cash & time and get your self an XS or GTX 1.4, till you can afford a GTi.

 

Iv not had any experience with lowering a 1.1 or even owning one but imo i can't see it handling the as the above cars or GTi.

 

Getting Peugeot to do the work will cost a fair bit, is it really worth it all ?

[dave_6785 0]

ye its only a 1.1 and gets overtaken by grannies in rover 400's but thats how it is, do i need a new pair of jeans if i already have ten?? not really lol but i'd get em anyway, same with the car, it might only be a 1.1 but i want my 1.1 to be the best 1.1 i can afford to make it, when i do come to sell it it'll have been well looked after and everything done properly, i'm looking at getting a pipercross induction and upgraded plugs, not to make it go faster but to give it the best it can take. So if fitting GTI shocks lowering it 30-40mm and adding a torsion bar make it handle the best that i can afford then i'll have fun using it, it cant be classed as dead money if it puts a smile on ma face

[DaveW 6]

Its worth it i loved my 1.1 when it was lowered, i remember when we had a 205 meet i was in my 1.1 and few others went out on a little road drive and they was quite shocked that i kept up with them on the twistys it had a 1.6 rear beam and gti shocks with 60mm springs.

[dave_6785 0]

is it at all possible to just get some gti shocks with springs and fit them? what (in a none technical way ) would need changing/ replacing if not? gunna price things up and need to understand exactly what it entails

[dave_6785 0]

is it at all possible to just get somethin like GMAX suspension gti shocks with springs (that have come off a gti and are still a complete set up and get them fitted directly on? what (in a none technical way ) would need changing/ replacing if not? gunna price things up and need to understand exactly what it entails. This may seem daft but i'm way outta my depth lol

[SurGie 54]

ye its only a 1.1 and gets overtaken by grannies in rover 400's but thats how it is, do i need a new pair of jeans if i already have ten?? not really lol but i'd get em anyway, same with the car, it might only be a 1.1 but i want my 1.1 to be the best 1.1 i can afford to make it, when i do come to sell it it'll have been well looked after and everything done properly, i'm looking at getting a pipercross induction and upgraded plugs, not to make it go faster but to give it the best it can take. So if fitting GTI shocks lowering it 30-40mm and adding a torsion bar make it handle the best that i can afford then i'll have fun using it, it cant be classed as dead money if it puts a smile on ma face

 

 

But surely your decent looking 1.1 205 would hold its value better when its kept original. I cant see many people wanting to buy a gti looking 1.1

when you do sell it, they would most likely want a 1.1 to save on insurance.

 

What ever you do with your good looking 205, i hope it works out well & cheap for ya.

[dave_6785 0]

It still seems a lot cheaper than insuring a 1.6gti for me. Might be worth it for someone else one day to have a gti looking 1.1 in good condition, i may stick a larger engine in it if i wanna end up keeping it or keep it as is and use it as a runabout and get a 205 1.9/mi16 as my second car. I've loved 205's since i was a 10 year old lad that used his paperround money to buy T16 burago model cars. Whatever i spend on the 1.1 will be worth it for me. But back to the suspension... If i bought some barely used shocks that had been dropped straight out of a 1.9 and still in a full setup with 40mm lowering springs on what else would i need to make these fit on the 1.1? and would a torsion bar give even better handling with the gti set up? sticking 1.9 brakes in, easy?

[steve@cornwall 100]

It still seems a lot cheaper than insuring a 1.6gti for me. Might be worth it for someone else one day to have a gti looking 1.1 in good condition, i may stick a larger engine in it if i wanna end up keeping it or keep it as is and use it as a runabout and get a 205 1.9/mi16 as my second car. I've loved 205's since i was a 10 year old lad that used his paperround money to buy T16 burago model cars. Whatever i spend on the 1.1 will be worth it for me. But back to the suspension... If i bought some barely used shocks that had been dropped straight out of a 1.9 and still in a full setup with 40mm lowering springs on what else would i need to make these fit on the 1.1? and would a torsion bar give even better handling with the gti set up? sticking 1.9 brakes in, easy?

 

 

Remove the ones at top of picture, replace with ones at bottom of picture You could pick up second hand items as here, or buy nice shiny ones and move them over to a GTi when you get one?

 

 

For the rear, follow the guide on the main site. Again you could buy a rebuilt GTi beam, which The builder would more than likely supply pre-set to your desired ride height, then also move that to a future GTi - There are some reliable beam sources on this forum.

 

My opinion is that brake upgrades are un neccesssary for the wee 1.1 - In good condition the standard ones are pretty good.

 

What's not to love ?

 

[dave_6785 0]

like i said i wont be fitting it, i'll get someone else to do it but at least i know now they cant turn round and say you need to do this and that to make these fit so it's gunna cost 5 times as much as i quoted etc.... I can imagine paying to get the rear changed would be a considerable expense so that may go on the back burner for now, gunna start looking for a full front suspension set up once the bumpers are paint matched & the fogs (driving lights) are bought and fitted & speakers installed & the pipercross induction connected lol, end of the month maybe.

[dave_6785 0]

Sachs front suspension (inc. springs, dampers & mounts). They are complete units that just need bolting into the hub carriers and strut tops. I believe they will fit yours but wont have the same ARB.

 

This is what i've bought to go under my 1.1 arches, but what relevance will the ARB have when fitting to the 1.1??? parts needed? alterations/modifications??