Can I remove the rubber rear spring top hat ? Needs to be lower just after ideas as this is my first post ! Thanks all!
Focus/fowler!

you can, but that's a lot of effort for very little result. not to mention you are removing an insulator that's there to reduce noise.

Nice one was thinking of sliding some hose over the spring for that but might leave it ! Many thanks!

Was thinking of leaving it out when I lowered it but put it back in in the end!

The primary purpose of th e isolator is to prevent metal to metal contact and related noise generation. Expect clunking and clanking if you do so.

I am running without the isolators on the rear springs at the moment, if it was noisy than I would re-install them. I did it to lower the rear end another 3/8" on my '03 ZX3.

I think how much noise depends on what springs you are running.
Running Eibach pro-lines right now, it isn't clunky or clanky yet after 4000 miles.
When I had SVT springs, I installed them upside down and they were really clunky, even with the rubber isolators. The "rubber hose" that is wrapped around one coil is there for a reason, apparently the coil smacks the spring pocket or something.

Sweet looks like I'll do it this weekend then, yea I got the rubber bit off the old springs on the new ones might add a lil length of garden hose to the end of the spring to stop metal on metal thanks for the advice!!![headbang]

Ps yea I'm on Eibach pro springs too

I took mine out. No extra noise what so ever. Firmed up the rear a little bit and got almost 1/2 inch of drop.
SVT suspension BTW

I am not suggesting it's a good idea, I have only put 4000 miles on it since I removed them, there may be some issue that creeps up that I haven't experienced yet.

But so far, no issues that I have noticed; and it isn't clanking. Maybe a touch more road noise being transmitted. I removed them 1500 miles before I drove the ZX3 from Los Angeles to Chicago to Florida (still in FL), if there was any issue at all that I had noticed they would have gone back in before the giant road trip.

It's not difficult to remove or reinstall them, maybe 15 minutes of time for me since my car isn't living in a rust inducing climate and the bushing sleeves aren't rusted to the bolts. I would like to look at the upper spring pockets and see if the end of the coil is denting the pocket, but I will wait until after I get back to CA.

Yea gets driven hard as I live in England an half the roads my way are like rally tracks. Will do it tonight ( England time) and report my findings on here! Have replaced every bolt apart from subframe bolts recently so hopefully all ok there! Thinking about it the spring pocket in the wishbone is metal on metal ! Thanks for the help mate! [:0]

Tidy! All done took all of ten min! Maybe another 1/2" drop? Like tescos in England say every little helps! And no knocking noises !! Cheers guys

Sick! I might do this on mine! I want the rear lower on mine. Anybody do this with h&r race springs?

Don't see why not I got 3" of garden hose and forced it over the top part of the spring time will tell though! Interesting to see how others get on!

Mine were missing and It produced alot of road noise,it also made the rear lower then the front (I have ford racing springs). I bought new spring isolaters and installed them, the ride is better, it looks better and the nasty road noise is now gone.

Im running megan springs. I took the rubber out when I did the install. 1/2 drop amd yeah I got some noise. So I put them on again today. The ride quality improved a little but the noise disnt change. Im takin 'em back out quick!

Lol only driven a few miles and there's no more road noise than before but I striped the bitumen sound proofing out and resprayed it a while ago so there's a little more noise anyway! Took 4.5 kg out ! Just the roof and floor pan left to do now!