Space Peanut :: 2017 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (Garage entry)

[Johnny Mullet]

Ordered a pair of VW Beetle rear springs and should be here early next week. Will swap the springs out and update.

[Eggman]

Ordered a pair of VW Beetle rear springs and should be here early next week. Will swap the springs out and update.

Good luck. Be sure to get photos & make measurements of both sets of springs - length, width, end diameters, wire diameter, etc.

[inuvik]

Ordered a pair of VW Beetle rear springs and should be here early next week. Will swap the springs out and update.

Looking forward to hearing your report. It's on my "to-do" list for mine.

[Johnny Mullet]

I did not have time to do all the measurements and stuff since the car was due for it's first oil change and I did not want it going in there with spring stiffeners on the rear coils to keep the rear tires from scraping. I swapped in a pair of 2006 New Beetle rear coil springs. The springs were a tad taller, but the spring was also thicker. The top and bottom spring bushings swapped over with no issues.

If you haul loads, drive for a ride share company, carpool, tow a trailer, or run oversized wheels/tires without the right offset, then I highly suggest this suspension mod. No stiffeners to adjust, no air bags to inflate, no worries. Just swap and enjoy!

[Eggman]

Very nice. Just to clarify, this was for the rear axle only, right?

[Johnny Mullet]

Yes. Rear coils only.

[Eggman]

I have a few more questions Johnny Mullet. Did you get used springs? I wonder how much they will settle over time with use on a Mirage, or even if manually compressed.

I ask this out of concern over the shocks being extended to their end of travel. From the looks of the rear axle design, the shocks are what's keeping the rear axle from over-extending.

Also, would you mind sharing how much the spring swap (and any additional hardware) cost you?

[Johnny Mullet]

These were used springs from a 2006 Beetle from a junkyard and they cost me $35.00 each and no additional hardware was needed. I don't think these springs will settle much because they are beefier compared to the stock springs. The over extension of the rear shock would only happen on an extreme bump. I assume one could hook 2 small chains or cables to each side of the axle to the body to keep the shocks from hitting full extension similar to what is used on some motor homes and over the road semi trailers.

Overall I am very happy with the swap. I suppose aftermarket lowering VW springs would work with a lot less lift and still remain stiff and not over extend the shocks, but someone would have to spend the money and try it.

[Eggman]

These were used springs from a 2006 Beetle from a junkyard and they cost me $35.00 each and no additional hardware was needed. I don't think these springs will settle much because they are beefier compared to the stock springs. The over extension of the rear shock would only happen on an extreme bump. I assume one could hook 2 small chains or cables to each side of the axle to the body to keep the shocks from hitting full extension similar to what is used on some motor homes and over the road semi trailers.

I was thinking strap, but it's probably not really needed.

Overall I am very happy with the swap. I suppose aftermarket lowering VW springs would work with a lot less lift and still remain stiff and not over extend the shocks, but someone would have to spend the money and try it.

It would be good to measure & compare stock height vs. Beetle spring height. You should have lots of opportunity to do that this summer.

Are you still planning on having a Mirage meetup?

[Johnny Mullet]

I Are you still planning on having a Mirage meetup?

The thread is still there is it not?