Picture of Ventura Spring
I have installed the Ventura spring with Koni front and Bilstein at rear.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...43_21_full.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...43_23_full.jpg
Front with Koni, rear with Bilstein. Dust cover are not OE. The rear is good length, no play. The front there is tiny play...
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...43_25_full.jpg
Front strut comparision. Amasing that after 16 years, original one is not rusted too much.
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...43_27_full.jpg
In situ. Looking ok but...
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member...43_28_full.jpg
Drop seems to be more than 35mm - may be 45mm. Looks good but might be too much. After installation I went out for a test drive. Good firm but not bone shaker impression until I hit speed bump. At the speed bump I hear big metal hitting noise from both front. What!? It is very obvious that the tiny play of the spring make big noise every time the strut stretchs. Gee, ok I can insert rubber sheet between the spring seat and the coil.
Then I went to street drive for a couple of hours. My conclusion is 'unsatisfactory'. Every time the car go over a bump, the front jumps - seems to be its bottoming and hitting the bump stop. May be the spring is too soft for this amount of drop. Thanks to the Koni, the jump stops only once though. The rear seems to be ok but the spring rate seems to be higher than I have calculated.
Oh well, this sort of things happens some time. Dissapinted by the spring which Bilstein recommends. I will try H&R kit very soon or may be back to OE spring. I am not sure if Bilstein HD can manage the H&R. If anyone who wants to try my Ventura spring and share my experience, please let me know.