lowering springs

modman · Sep 27th, 2008, 09:29

ok fitted my lowering springs well at least the front ones as i ran out of time for the backs it looks so much better im tempted to leave the rears as they are, but ive come across a problem when i took the car out for a drive it made a knocking noise so as i had the suspension off i thought ide replace the link bars in case it was them, it wasnt so after a good look round a noticed the link bar is hitting the chassis/subframe but only on one side its the anti roolbar end of the link bar that hits when i go over bumps has anyone else had this happen to them?.
could it be a bent anti roll bar although ive never heard of one bending plus the car shows no sign of accident damage.

modman · Sep 27th, 2008, 15:05

just took it for a drive and both link rods catch now and are knocking bloody cars driving me mad.

stevo48 · Sep 27th, 2008, 15:45

you would probably have been better off using coilovers, you would then have been able to adjust the stiffness of the springs to eliminate the knocking. Sounds as though the springs you have bought are too soft.

modman · Sep 27th, 2008, 17:39

it did have a knock coming from it before but i never managed to locate it and to be honest never had a good look but now im thinking thast maybe whoever had the car before me might of fitted the wrong struts, as ive said in other threads my front end has always been to high and even compared to others that are high at the front mine has always been a fair bit higher,
so i was wondering if they arent the right ones for the car, am i right in thinking that the 1.6 and 1.8 struts and springs are interchangeable but not the 2.0 as im wondering if they have fitted the 2.0 anyone know how i tell what struts are on my car.
the springs seem stiff enough the lowering ones when driving and im quite impressed but even before i changed the springs i had the knocking.

Jocksuper7 · Sep 27th, 2008, 18:05

ok when you had the strut out to fit the new spring, did you make sure you put it back in the same orientation, though it looks the same it isnt, i had to rotate mine a third to solve the same prob, undid the top nuts and jacked the car up then spun the strut round one hole set

modman · Sep 27th, 2008, 19:36

we did have that prob as we re fitted them and heard clunking on removal we noticed the spring was catching the body so we had to spin the top round to prevent it, i cant move the actual strut round as it wouldnt line up with the hub and i wouldnt be able to connect the drop link. its not because ive not lowered the rear yet is it?.

modman · Sep 27th, 2008, 19:39

sorry just re read your reply yes we did move it round on the spring but you mean rotate the top round were it fits into the holes, its got to be worth a try just moving it round that bit more might pull the drop links out of the way.

modman · Sep 27th, 2008, 19:42

so we fitted the strut top right but it may not be fitted in the right holes in the body i may try this tomorrow thanks.

Jocksuper7 · Sep 27th, 2008, 20:06

yeah it should make a diff mate, I clocked the left mount twice to see what the difference was, then moved back one to the previous position as it was the best result, its a bit fiddly but it gets rid of the knocking. oh yeah if you have set it wrong in the first place, when the springs settle you will notice the car will sit at an angle, i will try and get some pictures tomorrow for you bud

modman · Sep 28th, 2008, 09:48

thanks gonna try it on monday now.

Sep 27th, 2008, 09:29	#1
modman Senior Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2010 07:19 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: derby	lowering springs ok fitted my lowering springs well at least the front ones as i ran out of time for the backs it looks so much better im tempted to leave the rears as they are, but ive come across a problem when i took the car out for a drive it made a knocking noise so as i had the suspension off i thought ide replace the link bars in case it was them, it wasnt so after a good look round a noticed the link bar is hitting the chassis/subframe but only on one side its the anti roolbar end of the link bar that hits when i go over bumps has anyone else had this happen to them?. could it be a bent anti roll bar although ive never heard of one bending plus the car shows no sign of accident damage.

Sep 27th, 2008, 15:05	#2
modman Senior Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2010 07:19 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: derby	just took it for a drive and both link rods catch now and are knocking bloody cars driving me mad.

Sep 27th, 2008, 15:45	#3
stevo48 Premier Member Last Online: Jul 9th, 2020 20:08 Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Halifax West yorkshire	you would probably have been better off using coilovers, you would then have been able to adjust the stiffness of the springs to eliminate the knocking. Sounds as though the springs you have bought are too soft.

Sep 27th, 2008, 17:39	#4
modman Senior Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2010 07:19 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: derby	it did have a knock coming from it before but i never managed to locate it and to be honest never had a good look but now im thinking thast maybe whoever had the car before me might of fitted the wrong struts, as ive said in other threads my front end has always been to high and even compared to others that are high at the front mine has always been a fair bit higher, so i was wondering if they arent the right ones for the car, am i right in thinking that the 1.6 and 1.8 struts and springs are interchangeable but not the 2.0 as im wondering if they have fitted the 2.0 anyone know how i tell what struts are on my car. the springs seem stiff enough the lowering ones when driving and im quite impressed but even before i changed the springs i had the knocking.

Sep 27th, 2008, 18:05	#5
Jocksuper7 Grease Monkey Last Online: Feb 9th, 2015 15:06 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lockerbie-Basingstoke	ok when you had the strut out to fit the new spring, did you make sure you put it back in the same orientation, though it looks the same it isnt, i had to rotate mine a third to solve the same prob, undid the top nuts and jacked the car up then spun the strut round one hole set

Sep 27th, 2008, 19:36	#6
modman Senior Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2010 07:19 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: derby	we did have that prob as we re fitted them and heard clunking on removal we noticed the spring was catching the body so we had to spin the top round to prevent it, i cant move the actual strut round as it wouldnt line up with the hub and i wouldnt be able to connect the drop link. its not because ive not lowered the rear yet is it?.

Sep 27th, 2008, 19:39	#7
modman Senior Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2010 07:19 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: derby	sorry just re read your reply yes we did move it round on the spring but you mean rotate the top round were it fits into the holes, its got to be worth a try just moving it round that bit more might pull the drop links out of the way.

Sep 27th, 2008, 19:42	#8
modman Senior Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2010 07:19 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: derby	so we fitted the strut top right but it may not be fitted in the right holes in the body i may try this tomorrow thanks.

Sep 27th, 2008, 20:06	#9
Jocksuper7 Grease Monkey Last Online: Feb 9th, 2015 15:06 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Lockerbie-Basingstoke	yeah it should make a diff mate, I clocked the left mount twice to see what the difference was, then moved back one to the previous position as it was the best result, its a bit fiddly but it gets rid of the knocking. oh yeah if you have set it wrong in the first place, when the springs settle you will notice the car will sit at an angle, i will try and get some pictures tomorrow for you bud

Sep 28th, 2008, 09:48	#10
modman Senior Member Last Online: Mar 1st, 2010 07:19 Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: derby	thanks gonna try it on monday now.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)