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Thread: Lowered suspension bottoming out HELP?

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    Default Lowered suspension bottoming out HELP?

    I have a 2003 '53 3.0CDTI Signum Auto and when my local garage said it had a couple of broken springs and leaky shocks I figured I would source something a little lower than standard and have them fitted instead. I got Eibach springs and Bilstein B4 shocks. From day one it has been bottoming out on fast 'dips' in the road and on the downside of speed humps etc.

    After trawling through these pages I wonder if someone could tell me whether I have the right idea(s) to fix my problem cheaply as poss please?

    1- Replace B4's with Veccy CDTI SRI shocks which apparently have less travel and would take to the shorter springs better? Would these go straight on my Signum?

    2- Replace B4's with Signum Design shocks? Are they shorter? Apparently Design has firmer/lower sus?

    Help please it feels like my engine is going to drop out of the bottom of my car over the next bump lol.

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    Vehicle : Skoda & VW

    Trim : Octavia SEL & Touareg SE

    Engine : 2.0 TDi & 3.0 TDi

    Year : 2016

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    Damper travel normally affects droop travel, not bump travel - are the Eibach springs specified for the 3.0CDTi front axle weight, which will be much greater than smaller-engined Vectra/Signums.

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    Yes they were for the 3.0 deisel, had to wait for them ex stock from GDR.

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    I would talk to the supplier and tell them that you are bottoming out. Clearly there is a problem with spring stiffness rate compatibility here.

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    Regular Member rushy's Avatar
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    Vehicle : 9-3 Wagon

    Trim : Turbo Edition

    Engine : TID (1.9 16v)

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    The B4's are standard length and i've read many times how they hit the bump stops with lower than SRi springs. They work perfect on SRi or Club suspension but if you lower it muck more than stock SRi then the bump can happen.

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    OK so would 3.0CDTI Vec SRI springs go straight onto my 3.0CDTI Signum, keeping the B4's on? Or 3.0CDTI Vec SRI shocks onto the Signum, keeping the Eibachs on? I don't mind gaining a bit of height, just want the banging to stop! I'm all confuddled?

    Thanks for the help BTW

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    Regular Member sharpo's Avatar
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    My 3.0 CDTI Sri Vectra was lowered when I bought it, it bottoms out on large holes and roadside grates but not going over speed bumps, I think the springs are too soft, they totally compress, the shocks will still have some travel left in them.
    So I reckon you should use Sri shocks with stronger springs.

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    Regular Member Big Sig's Avatar
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    My signum with std design suspension used to bottom out sometimes with fast travel and bumps! That engine is very very heavy and the springs just cannot cope imo.

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    I'm running eibachs on B4's in a 150 CDTi. never had a hint of bottoming out! Did you shorten the bump stops to compencate for the lower spring?

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    Regular Member sharpo's Avatar
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    The 1.9 motor is as light as a feather compared to the 3.0, not really the sort of thing to be found in a "sporty" car.
    Maybe someone does springs for racing purposes with different lb ratings ?

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