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GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

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ware_10

Post subject: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2009 3:58 pm

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Location: Portsmouth/Stafford
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Hello all,

after many mods i have decided i really need to lower my Si now, it just screams for it. ive done a bit of research and the GMax "35mm" S&S Kit seems to be the cheapest and most widely available. I just wanted to know if any other Si-ers out there use or have used this kit and whether it is worth the money, looks good, handles well, causes camber problems/excess tire wear etc. I cant seem to find a kit anywhere that will lower the Si more than 35mm, is this due to it being fitted with the factory sports springs as standard?

Thanks in adv.

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- Danny Boy -

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Sat Jan 31, 2009 8:50 pm

FSI Supporter

Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 12:40 am
Posts: 7094
Location: Portsmouth
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G-max is cheap and nasty!!! Try looking at spax setup (shocks and springs), i have it on my car and it handles superbly! Ride is a bit more bumpy, but not so bad you cant cope with it.

Camber/tyre wear will always be a problem with lowering a fiesta because you cant adjust the camber, but with mine, which is 35mm down all round, it actually doesnt suffer from really bad tyre wear supprisingly.

As regards to finding a kit to make it lower than 35mm, normally the route to take is get the 35mm kit, then buy lowering springs (from the same manufacture is best) i.e. 40mm, 50mm ect, and fit them to the shocks. Or, just get coilovers!

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happypaul

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:50 pm

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Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:23 pm
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Location: Lincoln
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Gmax is cheap. People claim its crap.. thats up to them

Ive never had a problem with them... but they arent awesome..

I wouldnt buy a set new! - I'd rather spend abit more on something else

Camber will be effected no matter how far you lower a car.

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Daily isn't so Special. And it makes me sad.
Need space and time and I'll crack on with Jams si!

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ware_10

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:24 pm

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Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:07 pm
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Location: Portsmouth/Stafford
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dannyboy: firstly.... f@@k mine.... thats portsdown hill is it not :shock:

!!!!? im a pompey lad too at heart, up uni in stafford atm tho....

funny you should mention spax, i have a friend who runs a VW tuning company and they get discount off spax, so i will hav another look even tho they did seem expensive compared to the GMax kit.

so if the best route to take is to get say a spax kit and then even lower spax springs, would it not be cheaper to get 4 spax shocks and then the 60mm springs in the first place?

i think coilovers are out of the question atm..... Â£Â£Â£

paul: is it the standard 35mm kit you've used before then? was there a noticeable diff in the handling? i know the camber will always change when you lower a car, i just didnt kno if it caused a stupid amount of excessive tirewear

thanks both.... ill keep my eyes open for something else maybe then.

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happypaul

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:30 pm

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Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:23 pm
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Ive used both 35mm and 60mm.

Currently 60mm.

Tyre wear was crap on both.. but other factors come into play, your tracking for one.. the only way to combat it, is to get your car tracking sorted after fitting the suspension.. and then if its still bad modify or buy some adjustable camber wishbones and get them setup.

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Daily isn't so Special. And it makes me sad.
Need space and time and I'll crack on with Jams si!

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- Danny Boy -

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2009 11:41 pm

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Joined: Fri May 23, 2008 12:40 am
Posts: 7094
Location: Portsmouth
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Sure is portsdown hill

It might be cheaper to get spax shocks, then springs yea! Only way you can find out is by looking into it

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Tweek

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:29 am

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Joined: Mon Aug 28, 2006 11:28 pm
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Location: Gloucester
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Gmax for teh lose! Both my rear shocks just failed on me, details here:

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happypaul

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 11:25 am

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Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:23 pm
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Location: Lincoln
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Apparently the best way to do the suspension 30mm lower is BRAND NEW FORD SHOCKS and aftermarket 30mm springs

_________________
Daily isn't so Special. And it makes me sad.
Need space and time and I'll crack on with Jams si!

Catch me on Facebook as I'm rarely on here.

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ware_10

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:14 pm

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Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:07 pm
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right ive had a look into it and for me to get the spax 40mm kit is only Â£70 more or so than Gmax, and for the spax shocks and a 60F/40R kit is Â£50 on top of that (same price for an all round 60mm drop).

Tweek mate, that is enough for me to avoid Gmax for sure!!!

I miss portsdown hill like you wouldnt believe, havnt been there in months!!!!

paul... why do mention using FORD shocks??? and as for camber, i had a look at some area six arms but i couldnt see for the life of me how they were adjusted? i take it they would need setting up by laser tho?

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happypaul

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:19 pm

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Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:23 pm
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_________________
Daily isn't so Special. And it makes me sad.
Need space and time and I'll crack on with Jams si!

Catch me on Facebook as I'm rarely on here.

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ware_10

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:35 pm

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Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:07 pm
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Location: Portsmouth/Stafford
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ah so the balljoint that slots into the bottom of the hub is the adjustable part..... is it just a a tube that slides into the wishbone held in place by a couple of bolts or something? sorry the picture im lookin at is quite bad. yeah, pull it in for road use, and then drag it right it on show days/track use

.

i would probably fettle with them for a couple of weeks to see what feels right and then make sure they were even and the tracking was safe later.

looks like im going to be heading down the spax route i think, either 60/40 or 60/60. any thoughts?

btw.... does anyone know any makes of coilover for the mk3.5? ive only seen GAZ on sale....

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happypaul

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 4:59 pm

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Joined: Thu Mar 30, 2006 1:23 pm
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Location: Lincoln
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AVO coilovers.

You could get mk3 ones and use mk3 hubs

Where the ball joint is connected to the wishbone, standard is some sort of moulded metal, we drilled them out.. and then we cut the holes longer down so you culd push the balljoints inwards.. used nuts and bolts to secure.

see here..

viewtopic.php?f=13&t=12984&p=173421&hilit=+wishbones#p173421

but bear in mind that they are 3 bolt patterns used now

_________________
Daily isn't so Special. And it makes me sad.
Need space and time and I'll crack on with Jams si!

Catch me on Facebook as I'm rarely on here.

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scotty_boy BSc

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2009 5:25 pm

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Joined: Tue Dec 21, 2004 7:46 pm
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Location: Woodville : Burton
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Most after-market suspension kits are pish. Best bet is as Paul said, get some brand new dampers from Ford and research the spring rates manufactures are offering. I swear every lowered car I've been in feels like it's running 300lb springs all round. :doh:

UGH!!!

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ware_10

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2009 7:31 pm

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Joined: Sat Dec 06, 2008 7:07 pm
Posts: 34
Location: Portsmouth/Stafford
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ahhhhh good point could change the hubs. are the rears the same on mk3 and mk3.5 tho? i think tbh this would be too much work really. had a look at ur wishbone mod guide, good idea, unfortunately i have the three bolt pattern wishbones on now and they hav only done 800 miles...... as has the rest of the car since i bought it. :lol:

scott, why do knock aftermarket shocks? surely they must be better than the standard ford ones if they are chosen to match the springs the company already sells :S?

news back from my spax-rep. i can get the 30mm kit for Â£245, or shocks and lower springs for Â£270. this is the same price whether i chose 60mm all round or 60/40. still gotta make up my mind on that one..... anyones thoughts:?

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MCjoeyD

Post subject: Re: GMax Shocks and Springs Kit

Posted: Mon Mar 09, 2009 7:19 pm

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Joined: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:27 pm
Posts: 5
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im putting a set of 15 inch escort gti alloys with 195 45 15s on does anyone know how low i can go before i start to get tyre rubbing on the arches i can possibly afford coilovers but if i dont need them it would be great

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