"Emergency": Factory sport suspension questions

[trygvelo]

Hi.

I've got a 2004 Estate 1.9 CDTI with factory fitted sport suspension (20mm lowering). Recently both front springs broke and since the rest of the strut were more or less gone I decided to buy all the parts new and assemble them, then just replace with the old ones. I bought:

Struts/shocks and spax lowering springs.

I thought I was smart to order springs with just 10mm more lowering than the factory springs, but it turns out the struts had some lowering built in as well and now it sits WAY too low, about a 10mm lower than it did with the old broken springs and the factory struts.

My question is then, WHERE does the factory lowering come from? Shock, springs OR both???

I'm at a loss of what to order and what to keep... I'm thinking keeping the old struts and go with the spax springs, but I'm not sure and I have to finish the car today...

[kenp]

The factory lowering is only the spring.

[BigWilko]

I think you should let the masses decide if it is too low.

[keith1983]

Maybe you could use it as a snow plough in the recent weather? Kenp is quite right in what he says though that it's the spring which supplies the lowering element,.

[FLOB]

factory sports suspension is only 15mm lower than normal- if i remember correctly.

lowering is only meant to be done by the spring- but if you go for more than a 30mm overall drop you def need shortened (not lowered) shocks, as the shocks cant dampen a spring if the are longer than it.
http://www.ebay.de/itm/2-Sportstosda...ht_2381wt_1139
I think it say the shocks will fit with springs that are 'up to a 60mm drop'. so maybe the strut is over compressing the spring and putting in under undo constant stress.....

The standard shocks you've got will work ok with -30 springs but if its the springs that are wrong the standard shocks will bottom out and therefore not work properly. its a guessing game from my desk though lol

good luck figuring it out :-)

[trygvelo]

Maybe you could use it as a snow plough in the recent weather? Kenp is quite right in what he says though that it's the spring which supplies the lowering element,.

Lol, that was exactly what my mate and I was saying yesterday after we lowered it and it was still resting on the lift arms.

[trygvelo]

Thanks a lot for the great and informative replies guys, this forum is GREAT!

[trygvelo]

factory sports suspension is only 15mm lower than normal- if i remember correctly.

Hmm, I was sure it's 20mm, but I have nowhere to confirm it...

lowering is only meant to be done by the spring- but if you go for more than a 30mm overall drop you def need shortened (not lowered) shocks, as the shocks cant dampen a spring if the are longer than it.
http://www.ebay.de/itm/2-Sportstosda...ht_2381wt_1139
I think it say the shocks will fit with springs that are 'up to a 60mm drop'. so maybe the strut is over compressing the spring and putting in under undo constant stress.....

Yes, the shock shaft is shorter, it will over compress the spring if a stock height spring is used.

The standard shocks you've got will work ok with -30 springs but if its the springs that are wrong the standard shocks will bottom out and therefore not work properly. its a guessing game from my desk though lol

good luck figuring it out :-)

Thanks, I have decided to try it with the old factory shocks, hopefully the springs will work and not be too short!

Anyone know a place I can get the original springs and shocks? The factory lowering parts are a bit difficult to find and I'm having them shipped to Sweden so that limits the potential shops to buy from...

[trygvelo]

I think you should let the masses decide if it is too low.

Alright, I will take a picture of it today before I tear it apart... But yes, it is too low when it's rubbing the wheelarches over every speedbump. Unless I drive it really slow though. Another issue is getting a lift under it, not to mention the wife wrecking it in the nearest pothole...