Question about ride heights?

1. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

   #1 3rd April 2008, 11:37

   Basically, the guy who is doing the suspension on my car has got all the wheels on. But the 45mm progressive Eibach springs sit at 20mm?
   
   Also, is true that the back is supposed to sit 15mm higher than the front for optimal handling right? Now the thing is, originally the back sat lower than the front, and with these new springs on it sits exactly 15mm higher than the front without needing to be lowered...
   
   Whats going on? What is the best height to have the back relative to the front?
   
   I'm assuming the mechanic has driven the car since he put the new spring on to let them settle a bit...
   
   Any help really appreciated...
2. furioALm Forum Section Moderator Joined: Sep 2005 Chinnor Posts: 3941 Audi A3

   #2 3rd April 2008, 11:40

   *Moving to suspension forum..*
   
   Are you sure you didn't get the 35mm lowering springs?
   
   If you got the 45-50mm sportline springs they do take awhile to settle.. but definately lower the car noticeably... I got my car lowered by another 40mm at the back and it still sits 10-15mm higher than the front.. even with a bootbuild in there...
   
   Are you sure the springs have been correctly installed?
   
   Alex
   
3. Quick Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2003 United Kingdom (England) Posts: 7064

   #3 3rd April 2008, 11:41

   What car?
   As the same springs when fitted to different models can lower different amounts!
   
   Yes will take a day or to, to settle!
4. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

   #4 3rd April 2008, 11:42

   They sat at 40mm on my mates 1.4 Saxo VSX, I bought them off of him and they are on my 106 GTi...
   
   Its weird that they sit so high :-S
5. Quick Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2003 United Kingdom (England) Posts: 7064

   #5 3rd April 2008, 11:45

   Gti & Vtr/Vts run lower as stock compared to the flat arched models!
6. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

   #6 3rd April 2008, 11:47

   So how many millimeters difference do you reckon I should see from Bilstein Sprint shocks and 45mm Eibach progressive springs on a 106 GTi? I thought I'd see at least 35mm
   
   Also: How high should the back be relative to the front for optimal handling... is 15mm higher wrong?
7. Hopcraft Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 Northampton Posts: 5957 ED30

   #7 3rd April 2008, 11:58

   on a STANDARD height saxo, thats optimum handling, so when you put 45-50 springs on, your should lower the back 45-50.
   
   Think you have the wrong springs, because its VERY noticiable that it drops the front 45-50.
   
   Sounds as if your rear was already lowered and you have the pro-kit springs on.
8. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

   #8 3rd April 2008, 12:09

   They are definitely the right springs.
   
   Its gay. How much would you guys expect a car to settle down?
   
   Also, anyone know on a stardard GTi/VTS how far it is from the arch to the centre of the wheel? Because the only thing I can think is that the car had been lowered by a previous owner, I thought it was standard though.
9. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

   #9 3rd April 2008, 12:12

   I think you have the wrong springs. Good ones like Eibach don't droop over time.
10. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

    #10 3rd April 2008, 12:14

    http://www.kam-racing.com/product_in...roducts_id/414
    
    This was the kit my friend bought. He took it off of his car about 3 weeks ago, and now I have it
    
    This is strange...
11. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

    #11 3rd April 2008, 12:18

    The height from the arch to the center of the wheel was 340mm, now it is 320mm. Unless the car has already been lowered and it was 360mm from the center to the arch. Apparently, also the rear was sitting lower than the front originally...
12. Hopcraft Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 Northampton Posts: 5957 ED30

    #12 3rd April 2008, 12:46

    rear shouldnt sit lower than the front oringially, so it MUST have been lowered before !
    
    tbh mate, PICS WOULD HELP, speak a thousand words.
    
    as kam said good springs like eibach dont take time to settle, i noticed no difference after a month of use tbh.
13. Reid Frequent Poster Joined: Apr 2007 Coatbridge Posts: 673 EP3 Civic Type R

    #13 3rd April 2008, 13:07

    you would think they would sit lower on the gti as the engine is alot heavier. vts springs sit 5mm higher when on a vtr
    
    The rear standard height should be 400 from the top of centre cap to the lip of arch
14. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #14 3rd April 2008, 13:10

    id say you were allready lowered mate
    and thats why youve not noticed much difference
    plus really you want the car to sit level not higher at the back
15. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

    #15 3rd April 2008, 13:42

    Just collected the car... I'll take a few pics
16. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

    #16 3rd April 2008, 14:57

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by climber_boy http://www.kam-racing.com/product_in...roducts_id/414 This was the kit my friend bought. He took it off of his car about 3 weeks ago, and now I have it This is strange...

    ha I take back all I said about having the wrong parts, we don't make mistakes lol If the back is lower then the ride heights have been changed and most wouldn't lower the back before doing the front.
17. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

    #17 3rd April 2008, 16:12

    Sorry about bad pics but...
    
    Before:
    
    
    
    After:
    
    
    
    Also After:
    
    
    
    And the whole setup on the front...
    
    Before:
    
    
    
    After:
    
    
    
    ^Sorry about them being from different sides...
    
    Thanks for all your help so far guys btw...
    
    EDIT: Yes I know my arches need cleaning
18. Hopcraft Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 Northampton Posts: 5957 ED30

    #18 3rd April 2008, 16:20

    wtf you said before the back was lower than the front ? doesnt look it there.
    
    looks like the pro-kit spring to me (although i dont really know much about gti's)
    
    the back needs to be dropped 45-50mm, looks standard height at the back.
    
    edit: btw very very nice car just need to sort this ride height out.
19. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

    #19 3rd April 2008, 16:22

    In the first pic the front is slightly higher than the back... it is also on a small slope so more weight is on the front...
    
    The back hasn't been touched as yet...
20. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

    #20 3rd April 2008, 16:29

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by Hopcraft edit: btw very very nice car just need to sort this ride height out.

    Thanks mate very kind of you to say...
    
    Yeah, I'll get it looked at soon, just going to let the springs settle in and see what happens before I get the rear lowered...
21. Hopcraft Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Jan 2006 Northampton Posts: 5957 ED30

    #21 3rd April 2008, 16:51

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by climber_boy In the first pic the front is slightly higher than the back... it is also on a small slope so more weight is on the front... The back hasn't been touched as yet...

    when the slope is downwards, the rear is lower btw, not the front, once you pull up the handbrake and let go of the brake pedal, weight shifts to the back, making the back lower and the front higher lol.
    
    you'd be right if you were parked upwards, but you aint
22. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

    #22 3rd April 2008, 17:01

    Lol yep ur correct, but because the photos were taken to show how low the car is, there is no handbrake, it's just in gear
23. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

    #23 3rd April 2008, 17:13

    If you look for the white writing on the spring and PM that too me I'll check against the part numbers.
24. climber_boy L-plater Joined: Mar 2007 Posts: 71

    #24 3rd April 2008, 17:19

    Okies, thanks Kam, I'll have a look