Mandatory government vehicle testing - lowered car

I went in this morning to get my emissions testing done but the problem was my car is lowered (front mostly, back is fine). When they put the car on those giant metal rollers in the ground (for wheel/chassis testing), my front bumper would hit floor and they said not enough clearance so I would risk damaging the car. I told them not to do the test then and so I didn't pass.

I did a little researching and found something called, "spring or coil spacers/lifters". Since I only need it for a few minutes when I take my car in for testing, would this be a good option to give my car enough clearance? I think 1 inch or so would be enough.

Has anyone else used this method before rather than to have your entire suspension/coils removed and replaced with stock ones? I saw some videos and it looks like they only cost about 20 bucks or so and I just slide them inbetween the coils when elevated my car.

I literally only need it for like 5-10 minutes and then I'd take them back off after the testing is done.

 

Coil spacers do work, you jack up the body to stretch out the coil spring and then insert the spacers. What type of car do you have?

 

Those coil spring spacers are not easy to put in.

 

VW Scirocco.

Yep, I read that if you jack up the car so the wheels aren't touching the ground, the coils should decompress a little or enough so that you can fit in spacers and then when you seat it back down to the ground, the weight/pressure will keep the coils from compressing and give the 1" inch or whatever extra clearance.

The problem is if the coils don't decompress and then I might have a bigger job to do. I think something about removing the shocks (I've never done that so don't know how).

 

Scrounge up a set of coil-spring-compressors.


Reverse them to create coil-sping extenders.

 

those would be nice if I could get them....might be too big to fit though?
I'm thinking of trying to buy a couple cheap 2 dollar rubber hammers, then cut off the heads and solder shape the rubber head into coil spacers and fit them between the coils and see if that works! haha

 

Just as a sidebar note, if you ever require a tow be sure to tell them your front is lowered. They are problematic for wheel lift units and can be challenging for rollback loading as well. Don't be surprised if there is a surcharge.

 

I had an old 10-passenger Ford LTD stationwagon that had one saggy corner. I put two or three of those rubber spacer things in the weak spring to level up the ride. Best I remember I just jacked that one wheel of the ground (which extended the spring) and put the rubber dohickey part way between the springs, then turned it a couple of turns to secure it. Drove it that way for years and never thought about it again until now. If that car is still on the road (which I highly doubt) it probably still has the spacers in it.

 

Other options

1) check local online/swap meet/craigslist for adjustable air lift shocks. They're usually used to lift the REAR of a truck or car when the rear springs sag or the ride-leveling system stops working.

2) Swap on a pair of oversized/snow tires - cheap steel wheels and tall skinny tires.

 

Use the rubber spacers...they're cheap...as long as they fit. You likely have Mcphereson strut front end, which has the spring attached to the shock/strut. Even if you drop the strut, the spring won't extend any further.

Can't imagine why you couldn't put a couple of jacks in place to raise the front end while the test is going on...since it sounds like you were able to get ON the rollers in the first place.

Why not ask at one of the shops that specializes in lowered sporty cars where they send people?