Legalities of aftermarket springs on a rainy Wednesday

[zorruno]

back to this discussion for a bit of mid-week debate This is the
conclusion I have come to after talking to a few people including AA
technical support, two different LTSA people, various police people, and a
lawyer in a pear tree...

1. cutting springs is NOT illegal
2. installing aftermarket springs IS illegal

however...
both are ILLEGAL if you don't get a low volume certification certificate.
both are LEGAL if you get a Low Vol cert
(one cannot be 'more' illegal than another)

There is nothing specifically written anywhere in the law that refers
specifically to cut springs. You cannot alter the suspension set-up of a
vehicle from manufacturers specs in ANY WAY without getting a Low Volume
cert.

You may or may not fail a WOF if you have either of these (depending on the
assessor) - you are more likely to fail if your springs look damaged, or are
cut so much they didn't sit properly, (possibly if the flat seating point
wasn't ground back into the spring.) or look shoddily cut. You may also fail
on height of the vehicle (100mm ground clearance), or if the springs
lift/move on suspension travel (big no-no!). You are more likely to fail if
you have an older car that has cut springs just to 'look cool' with minimal
handling benefits. You also obviously won't get a LV cert if you have any
of these issues.

Will you get a ticket if you pass the warrant and later get stopped by
police? Very unlikely - except for the ground clearance issue. Will you
get an insurance payout if you have an accident and you have cut or
aftermarket springs and get into an accident? It depends on what side of
the bed the assessor got up on, or if he really wants to deny your claim.
They can deny a claim due to aftermarket springs OR cut springs in most
contracts, but usually don't, unless this is found to be the direct cause of
an accident.

Police may tell you that cutting springs is illegal - (I talked to two who
said this last week) - but this is NOT true if you have a cert. After all -
a cut spring just a smaller spring with a different spring rate. (if done
correctly) This was stated by the Lawyer, LTSA and AA.

Note that this does not debate the issue of whether it is a good thing
performance/cost wise - (I can name some people that have a single coil off
their rear springs only with Konis and state the ride is great. I would
doubt this would be the case with OEM shocks or HPs/Bilsteins) - people will
have their own opinions on this.

obviously YMMV and I 'could' be misinformed

h

my head hurts...


[...]

[Gary Morrison]

Howard,

The only times we have been questioned about our suspension have been at
VTNZ WOF tests, and the question was always "have the springs been cut".
Answer was no, and they said that as it was an aftermarket change, it
"might" be in need of certification, but there was no problem with the
warrant.

Now I seem also to remember talking to Ray about this certification thing,
and he said that the rules had changed, and the low volume cert requirements
were not what they used to be. Was that you Ray?

Gary

[Sam Parker]

LTSA has published a set of WOF guidelines for modified suspensions, this overcomes the need to get a Low Volume cert for certain common modifications. Unfortunately I have the details at work and I am on leave this week but will try and post a copy ASAP, I am also making further enquiries into the status of these guidelines . From memory the basics are

Cut springs are a definite no no but reset or aftermarket springs are fine
Lowering is fine but there is a minimum vehicle to road height that must be maintained (with the exception of items such as a front spoiler) - I cannot recall the actual height
The springs must not come free of the top or bottom mounts at full suspension travel

I think there were a few more. I obtained this as as well as an MX5 owner I am the publisher of several Automotive magazines (NZ 4WD and Motor Equipment News)

Further on cut springs apart from not being warrantable they are not a good idea, firstly you loose the flat area that should mount and locate the spring (hence the reason for the illegality) but with most modern progressive springs you also loose the progressive part

Regards

Sam & Denise Parker
340 Beach Road
Mairangi Bay
Auckland
NEW ZEALAND

Ph/fax 64 9 478 4761
Mobile sam 021 909 140, Denise 025 774 917
email samparker@clear.net.nz