Velocity AP Lowering Springs Installed F Type R Coupe w/Pics
 

Ok so some of you know by now I was the tester for the Velocity AP springs. I reached out the Stuart and he had the springs to me in about one week and my local tuner shop (who handles all my wrench needs) did the install.


A little background first: I ordered the H&R springs about a month ago based on their website showing that the R coupe had readily available springs. I also confirmed this via TireRack (H&R retailer) and so did my techs. The springs showed up and the shop did the install. Immediately we could tell there was an issue as the front H&R shocks were much longer than the stock springs which are shorter. Once we got the car off the rack, the front was clearly higher than stock (maybe an inch or more) and the rear was slammed. My techs are my friends first so they thought maybe H&R mislabeled the springs and did a swap. The issue was still the same with the front high and the rear slammed. So they contacted TireRack and H&R and neither could give us an explanation. The springs were sent back and thus my reaching out to Stuart at VAP. Oh you will notice that TireRack no longer shows a spring application for the F Type R nor does H&R. Clearly they assumed the Vert springs would be transferrable and this was not the case.


So a few days ago we lowered the car with the VAP springs. The drop is just about perfect coming right under an inch. I'd guess its circa 8/10ths of an inch. I took pics of the car before and after but since I have driven it about 100 miles, the drop might be 5mm lower.


I was able to run the car on smooth roads up to 140mph or a little more and the car felt confident. It also feels planted in turns. Mind you this is pre alignment and I'm sure it will be even more locked in. I have very good roads where I live so I personally like the Dynamic suspension setting which might be too taut for some. With the stock springs and Dynamic suspension set up the car was very tight in compression and rebound. With the VAP springs the feel is the same at lower speeds and lower speed sharp turns. At higher speeds (80 plus) the car feels more compliant and a little softer. I can tell the spring rate change and at higher speeds I get a little more compression and rebound but this is not an issue and most here will enjoy the more dampening characteristics of the VAP springs.


The best part is the appearance change though. I always felt the F Type sits too high and for a shorter car it looked a bit off with its OEM stance. Ill post the pics I took but apologize up front for the quality. I am not trying to win an artistic award here but instead want to show you the clear difference in the drop. I will post more pics as I take them since the car has slightly settled more (ever so slightly).


Big thanks to:


Stuart at Velocity AP (sponsor here)
Nick and Serge at Benzworks in Huntington Beach, CA for all the time and sweat they put into this car with the H&R debacle and then finally getting the car to sit right with the VAP springs.


Before the VAP drop:


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Rear wheel pre lower:


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Front wheel pre lower


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Rear wheel measurement pre lower (little over 28.5 inches)


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Front wheel measurement pre lower (just over 28 inches)


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Lowered with VAP springs


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Rear wheel post lower


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Front wheel post lower


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Rear wheel measurement post lower (about 27.75 inches)


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Front wheel measurement post lower (about 27.5 inches)


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Rear quarter shot with more to come


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Oh this was the readout when we lowered it... LOL


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Can't tell for sure in this pic, have you already installed the 15mm spacers?

I have not... ordered and should be in next week.

Nice job Vic!

Just drove past you Vic from the other direction on Canyon Rim a few minutes ago :-) Car looks good!

Nice....that was me pacing a school bus. Either way I will not speed on Canyon Rim.

This is the most dramatic comparison of all the pictures you posted Vic, you can see a shiny silver bolt in the pre picture but not the post...excellent work...and thanks for taking the time to share.

I totally agree the car needs to come down just a hair and I believe you've nailed it!

Looks great man, another mod I'll need to be doing soon :)

Yeah, I hear you about the cops on that street. I'm in a non-descript loaner XF today while my F is in the bodyshop for paint for the next few days.

I'm personally torn on this mod. I agree that the car needs to be lower and would love to do it but at stock height, I'm already slightly scraping the speed bumps in my community. I'm not keen on accidentally tearing off the front lip of the car one day...

I hear you...while I personally like the way it looks,I doubt I'll pull the string on this one due to A) how low the chassis is already and B) the area I live in has some horrible roads!

for me, this is one of the higher standing cars that Ive owned.... the R8 is stupid low in comparison and Ive yet to scrape it, believe it or not.

The 991 TT-S sits lower with its adjustable front lip in the all out position and the RS7 is very close to the Jag (RS7 is lowered too).

Wow, that car looks the mutts nutts, the drop improves the looks even from the gorgeous stock set up.

Thanks for sharing

You sir must live where there are some impeccable perfect roads on which to drive fast on...good on you!

Where did you buy the spacers?

Looks great Vic!!
And saw the part where you thanked your friends I'm HB. What a small world I live 5min away from HB I'm in Fountain Valley!

Really great writeup vic.
Looks fantastic... I'd love to do the drop but if the roads in sf don't tear up the front lip, the parking valets in the city will.

Vic, did you look at the Arden springs?

http://shop.arden.de/jaguar/jaguar-f...e/chassis.html

Looks like they also do about an inch drop.

Honestly I would drop this car 8/10ths of an inch probably if I lived in pothole heaven. I really needs it visually. But yes the Orange County, CA roads are well maintained.

Thru my lowering tech's shop at TireRack. If you search on their site you will not find spacers for a 2015 F Type but there is a Jaguar specific set up at 5x108 for another unit which they said will fit since its the same bolt pattern.

No I didnt even know about this option; I went with VAP because they posted here and provided me with the proper service. I think one inch might make the car too bouncy though. It will depend on the spring rates.

And thanks to all for your comments!!!!