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-   -   H&R Lowering springs from Germany for my Maruti AStar! (https://www.team-bhp.com/forum/modifications-accessories/94911-h-r-lowering-springs-germany-my-maruti-astar.html)

I have waited long for these to reach me, and i got the intimation from our local PO that i have a parcel from Germany waiting for me. I was thrilled and off we went to the PO to pick the 8 kilo parcel which our post woman couldn't deliver on her own. I was wondering how much duty i'd have to pay for these because few days back the tracking information showed that these were being sent to customs from the foreign PO for assesment. But fortunately duty charged was zero :D

The seller informed me that these would come via DHL and so i was expecting a quicker delivery and but when i tried the tracking number at DHL.com website i wasn't getting any result. It was then did i realise that the item was coming via the regular Deutsche Post, which is also DHL, and not their well known DHL courier wing, and the item will be delivered by India Post!! So for tracking the German post DHL there is a separate website and when you enter the number there it gives tracking information and a UPU code for the item. UPU code is a universal postal code of sorts and with this we can track the package in the recipient's country, in India you can do so at India Post website. Links are below.

DHL Track and Trace
http://ipsweb.ptcmysore.gov.in/ipswebtracking/

Anyway here is the picture of the spring. These were listed for Nissan Pixo and not Suzuki Alto, but since both are the same it will work! But when the spings came the box had Suzuki Alto written on it alongwith Nissan Pixo. I'm only worried about the 185/70/13 tyres scrubbing the wheel well. So for now these are going to be used with the stock dampers and if an when uprated dampers are made available for the Pixo/Alto i would upgrade to those.

The H&R Springs


Found this today morning. Our cat sleeping nicely on top of the springs! Give him any box or plastic bag and he will sleep comfortably inside it :uncontrol



I'll post the installation pics when i get it installed.

cool.. will these springs fit the cat's legs?

You lucky... :D
These springs will make your A-Star handle like a go-kart.
Take speedbreakers at a 45 degree angle and you shouldn't have clearance issues. Just don't drive it like a stock car on bumps and pot holes.

Cat thinks it does :)

AStar is a good handler already and this should make it better.
State of roads in Trivandrum is at an all time worst! Will take the car mildly over bumps and potholes i need to protect my back too :)


Wanted to include this piece of info in the previous post but i forgot - Eibach too make springs for the Pixo, but settled for H&R since i read Eibach springs sags too soon and somepeople were complaining about uneven drop. Apparently Eibach was priced less than H&R and was available with the same vendor, and he too recommended H&R.

Headsup: These stiffer springs are gonna wear your dampers off, a bit faster.

Yes i'm expecting that. Thats why i said i'll change over to uprated dampers when they become available.

Koni Yellows aren't yet available?

I don't think they are for AStar/09 Alto. I checked but couldn't find.

Lowering by how much...1"?

Is there any information provided on spring rate? Also, doesnt H&R have a local importer like methods/Petes?

Around 1.3 inches. They haven't provided the spring rates but have given info like number of coils, wire diameter etc. I have uploaded the spec sheets of both H&R and Eibach springs with this post.

I don't know if Methods/Petes deal with H&R but from the prices i've seen for other stuff i've learned that its cheaper if bought from abroad even if we include shipping cost. If duty is charged then the price almost evens out, but i wasn't charged any duty either for this or for the BMC kit.

H&R specs sheet
H&R-PixoAlto.pdf

Eibach specs sheet
Eibach-PixoAlto.pdf

Sankar; once it done, can I take you care for a trip to Kottarakkara and back ?

And how much did it cost?

Jk, costs Rs.10930 according to the exchange rate on the day i paid.
Kottarakara sure :) I hope to get it installed this week itself.

1.3" drop?
There's gonna be a drastic improvement in handling.

Edit:
1.3" drop is for the international Alto which I assume will have a lower ride height than the A-star sold in India.
So, I'm guessing you're gonna lower it by 40mm+.
That's a race car drop, right there. SWEET!

GC of Astar is 170mm
GC of the Alto 09 is 150mm

Yes the 35mm drop is for the Alto 09, and i can expect a drop of around 55mm on my car. Like i said the slight worry i have is for the dampers. But Bilstein does have a dampers suitable for the Alto 09 as i found out, but the problem is that they haven't listed it in their website and the guys who have it is not willing to sell it or ship it, poor me lol:

You can see that in this PDF file. Those looks like entry level Bilstein dampers to me, anyway by the time i wear out the stock dampers i will try to source an aftermarket one or try to get the stock dampers worked upon.

Suzuki_Alto.pdf

Hmmm... the GC difference is not solely dependent on the suspension of the Indian and Euro spec cars. Which is a good thing of sorts keeping in mind the stock dampers. I guess i figured out where the extra GC comes from, Indian spec car rides on taller sidewalls, the difference of which is almost exactly the difference in GC.