How not To Lower Rear Suspension

1. user_42401 Established Member Joined: Mar 2010 Cupar Fife Posts: 1712 1600 16v VTS 1600 8v VTR 1400 16v Clio Sport

   #1 16th March 2010, 17:04

   First of all the adjustment pocedure involves removing the torsion bars, setting both trailing arms to the correct height then re inserting the bars. ensuring the splines are properly engaged, sounds easy rite? lol
   
   Heres a simple way to do it in 10 steps
   
   1. Juch the back end up puting axel stands under the sides of the car.
   
   2.remove the wheels ( loosen the wheel nuts before you jack the car up).
   
   3. then remove the anti- roll bar plates, one on each side then remove the anti-roll bar.
   
   4. remove the damper and fit a dummy damper ( height you want to lower).
   
   5. Remove the cover from the torsion bars ( on both sides).
   
   6.Remove the driverside torsion bar and turn it ANTI-CLOCKWISE one spline and reinsert.
   
   7. remove the pasengerside torsion bar and turn it one turn CLOCKWISE.
   
   8. refit Your antiroll bar now and check everythings tight.
   
   9. Now You can change your dampers, i stongly recomend you do.
   
   10. refit wheels and drop off the jacks and stand back and admire your work.
   
   This is only a tread for lowering the rear end not adjusting the rear break sensor i think its called whitch activates more the more you lower the rear end.
   
   Click Thanks Please

   1 user thanked this post: Richy-VTR-
2. chinkostu Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2008 The wrong carpark Posts: 5152 Xantia 1.9TD

   #2 16th March 2010, 19:37

   aren't you mean to remove the bars and move the arm, not the bar itself?!
3. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #3 16th March 2010, 19:40

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by chinkostu aren't you mean to remove the bars and move the arm, not the bar itself?!

   so i believe
4. -Alex- Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2009 Posts: 3470 Golf mk2

   #4 16th March 2010, 19:41

   This is the DANGEROUS way of lowering the rear, do NOT do it using this method!
5. Ryanp Super Moderator Joined: Feb 2004 Tonbridge United Kingdom (England) Posts: 38236 Vtr, 172, throttle bodied track slut

   #5 16th March 2010, 19:45

   LOL why should everyone use the thanks button for screwing up their rear beam?
   
   ill change the title for you

   9 users thanked this post: user_7, GreenSaxo, Sparco_Tom, Paulp, martin1977, -Alex-, col101, jack123, user_39461
6. J222JRA Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: May 2007 Posts: 16839 Saxo VTS, Westfield

   #6 16th March 2010, 19:48

   Clicks method FTL
7. Mark51p Super Moderator Joined: Sep 2006 Wakefield Posts: 14427 Golf GT

   #7 16th March 2010, 19:49

   lol ryan
8. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

   #8 16th March 2010, 19:51

   saw that he'd taken time to write it up and started to doubt myself,thought i'd been doing it wrong all this time lol
9. 106pug Regular Poster Joined: Apr 2009 Rotherham Posts: 371 peugeot 106

   #9 16th March 2010, 19:52

   why is it dangerous ? i know its bad so i never really bothered why
10. Ryanp Super Moderator Joined: Feb 2004 Tonbridge United Kingdom (England) Posts: 38236 Vtr, 172, throttle bodied track slut

    #10 16th March 2010, 19:53

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by mandyslover70 saw that he'd taken time to write it up and started to doubt myself,thought i'd been doing it wrong all this time lol

    Nope the clicks method is widely belived to be what often can lead to premature trailing arm bearing failure (people not fitting the ARB plate properly letting in water to), and then fecked stub pins, and generally mean that the suspension isnt working as good as it can be with this method.
11. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #11 16th March 2010, 19:56

    maybe the OP is a secret agent for axle refurbishers to boost their sales lol
12. Cutz Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2009 Walsall, West Midlands. Posts: 388 Black Saxo VT? ;)

    #12 16th March 2010, 20:07

    Someone just bought the Haynes Extreme Citroen Saxo Manual.
    
    Cutz
13. Mochachino Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2007 Guantanamo Bay Posts: 28700 oyster card

    #13 16th March 2010, 20:11

    Should be no mention of this clockwise and anti clockwise
14. user_36198 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Aug 2009 ilkeston derbyshire Posts: 9823 C2 VTR stripped, 406hdi, clio 172

    #14 16th March 2010, 20:15

    "simply remove the torsion bar" lolololololololololololol and more lololololololol.....so wheres the mention of beat torsion bar repeatedly,attach puller and beat torsion bar, apply copious amounts of wd40 whilst puller is attached and then beat it with large hammer and drift
15. Cutz Regular Poster Joined: Jul 2009 Walsall, West Midlands. Posts: 388 Black Saxo VT? ;)

    #15 16th March 2010, 20:33

    These are the exact words used by Haynes in there Extreme Manual; Guide for lowering the rear.
    
    1. Jack up the rear of the car and remove the rear wheels.
    2.Remove the anti-roll bar plates (One on each side) and remove anti-roll bar.
    3. Remove the damper unit and fit an adjustable dummy damper (Which is set at required height) to the car.
    4. Unscrew and remove the cover from the torsion bars (One on each side).
    5. One at a time (Driver's side first) remove the torsion bar, turn it anti-clockwise one spline and re-insert it. On the passenger side, the torsion bar needs to be turned one spline clockwise. Refit all your bits including the anti roll bar
    6. Now you can fit your new dampers.
    
    Similar? LOL
    
    Cutz
16. user_42401 Established Member Joined: Mar 2010 Cupar Fife Posts: 1712 1600 16v VTS 1600 8v VTR 1400 16v Clio Sport

    #16 16th March 2010, 22:02

    This is only a tread for lowering the rear end not adjusting the rear break sensor whitch activates more the more you lower the rear end. if you do not adjust it,
    
    which is what i said in the first place
    
    doi
17. user_34505 Established Member Joined: May 2009 London Posts: 1709 Celica GT4

    #17 16th March 2010, 22:55

    That's not the point, you should never lower using splines/notches method as you'll just risk damaging your rear beam.
18. col101 Frequent Poster Joined: Mar 2009 York Posts: 768 VTR

    #18 16th March 2010, 23:04

    On the plus side, it's only a 1.1 so rear beams are only about 30p
19. willsy West Midlands Joined: Nov 2005 Nuneaton (West Mids) Posts: 13835 '64 Volvo V40 R’Design, '89 Ph1 309 GTi, ‘97 Mk1 S

    #19 16th March 2010, 23:34

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SaxSpeed 5. Remove the cover from the torsion bars ( on both sides).

    Lovely detail, would love to know what these covers are supposed to look like
    
    
20. user_9396 Established Member Joined: Apr 2006 torquay (England) Posts: 1993 supercharged vts. 1.1 saxo. accord type r

    #20 16th March 2010, 23:51

    its funny how most the garages i asked around me use this method, and say one spline is about 40mm drop lol

    1 user thanked this post: user_42401
21. user_40844 Regular Poster Joined: Jan 2010 Lancashire Posts: 418 r.i.p furio..... now a vtr (y)

    #21 18th March 2010, 00:27

    my tutor at college worked for pug and did 106's usin this method, said the whole idea of it fucking up the beam was rubish

    1 user thanked this post: user_42401
22. Kev_Vtec Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Aug 2009 norfolk Posts: 3116 my drifter M3 rep :D saxo vts eh glad its gone,

    #22 18th March 2010, 00:51

    see why he dont work for pug now
23. user_31637 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2009 Isle of Man Posts: 9844 92 Eunos

    #23 18th March 2010, 00:57

    so why is it dangerous? ok it may increase wear n stuff but why is it dangerous?? thats all i want to know!!! cheers guys!
24. AlexBp West Midlands Joined: Dec 2007 West mids Posts: 23149 Supra,civic GL

    #24 18th March 2010, 01:41

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by jayyoung so why is it dangerous? ok it may increase wear n stuff but why is it dangerous?? thats all i want to know!!! cheers guys!

    stress across the torsion bars can mean it will either break the washer or the bar
    and that means the arm will be free of the rest of the axle
    the damage to the stub pin isnt the bigger issue
    either a worn pin causing camber will stress it or incorect lowering
25. maraalfap Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2008 Posts: 112

    #25 18th March 2010, 07:19

    I see people mention need to adjust rear brake sensor but nobody says where this is located and how to adjust, anyone got the info?
26. user_42401 Established Member Joined: Mar 2010 Cupar Fife Posts: 1712 1600 16v VTS 1600 8v VTR 1400 16v Clio Sport

    #26 18th March 2010, 15:40

    this way works so .............
27. Jo3fish Established Member Joined: Jul 2009 Newcastle Upon Tyne Posts: 1267 03 EP3

    #27 18th March 2010, 15:49

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SaxSpeed this way works so .............

    LMFAO!
    
    My little sister cries alot, so il glue her eyes and mouth shut. It works sooo??...

    2 users thanked this post: Paulp, user_29491
28. user_42401 Established Member Joined: Mar 2010 Cupar Fife Posts: 1712 1600 16v VTS 1600 8v VTR 1400 16v Clio Sport

    #28 18th March 2010, 18:09

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sm02_saxo LMFAO! My little sister cries alot, so il glue her eyes and mouth shut. It works sooo??...

    well tecnicaly that would be child abuse and there for i woundnt really say it "Works"
    
    When it hapens to one of my cars ill belive it but my car n my vtr i had for 2 years was fine, hink its just a load of rubish and why would all the technitions at my college and the lecturers say its fine if its not
    
    pft so calm yourself
29. user_15516 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2007 Posts: 6640 Integra DC5R & VTS

    #29 18th March 2010, 18:17

    Baffles me why people cut corners and have their rear beams lowered by total monkeys. I've yet to see a car sit level which has been done the 'clicks' way.
    
    For around £40 - £50, you can have someone reputable do the job properly, i.e with the beam sitting at nigh on the height you want (give or take a couple of mm) and without the risk of premature failure due to braying the trailing arms off.
30. coleman258 Established Member Joined: Nov 2008 Eastbourne Posts: 2474 Astra van daily Black Saxo VTR 16v'd kent PT51

    #30 18th March 2010, 18:37

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by sm02_saxo My little sister cries alot, so il glue her eyes and mouth shut. It works sooo??...

    That made me LOL !
31. roberg919 Infrequent Poster Joined: Jun 2008 birmingham Posts: 171 saxo vts

    #31 18th March 2010, 19:17

    lol love the title
32. Oli_K Established Member Joined: Oct 2007 leeds/ponte carlo/rawdon Posts: 2354 vt?

    #32 18th March 2010, 19:22

    Oh dear god.
33. Sparco_Tom Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2007 Aylesbury, Bucks Posts: 12836 Yeaaahh Fiesta

    #33 18th March 2010, 19:37

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by SaxSpeed When it hapens to one of my cars ill belive it but my car n my vtr i had for 2 years was fine, hink its just a load of rubish and why would all the technitions at my college and the lecturers say its fine if its not pft so calm yourself

    Monkeys
34. Mikol Established Member Joined: Jun 2008 Somewhere between Bedford and Brixworth Posts: 2373 106 XS 16v Driveway Ornament

    #34 19th March 2010, 15:36

    I'm sure the technicians and lecturers are all Cit/Pug specialists
    
    OH WAIT NO
35. Gareth_R Established Member Joined: Mar 2010 Basildon, Essex Posts: 1042 Citroen AX VTS

    #35 19th March 2010, 20:52

    one of the problems with the notches method is that you pull the trailing arm half off and then rotate it. unless you keep it accurately parallel to the stub pin then as you rotate it you'll be putting stress on the bearing that is still on the pin, you'll also do this as you wiggle it around trying to get the end of the torsion bar into the beam at the other end. Then to top it all, as you're smacking the arm back on, again unless its 100% parallel you'll catch the bearing on the end of the stub pin and then hitting it really hard is gonna fuck that bearing as well. PLUS you disturb the seal between the arm and the beam, which i wouldnt do unless i was going to take it off, clean it, apply plenty more grease and put it back on
    
    So now you've ruined your beam, the bearings will collapse and the seals will allow water in, ruining the stub pin, resulting in excessive camber and affecting the handling.
    
    i also know for a fact that there are places that use this method and the end result is that they dont leave themselves proper access to the ends of the torsion bars, cant get the washers and bolts in properly and so just leave them out

    2 users thanked this post: Ryanp, user_39461
36. Ryanp Super Moderator Joined: Feb 2004 Tonbridge United Kingdom (England) Posts: 38236 Vtr, 172, throttle bodied track slut

    #36 21st March 2010, 14:58

    Quote:

    Originally Posted by roberg919 lol love the title

    was a good edit wasnt it
37. gouldy87 Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jun 2008 Posts: 3932

    #37 21st March 2010, 15:04

    LOL...
38. Gareth_R Established Member Joined: Mar 2010 Basildon, Essex Posts: 1042 Citroen AX VTS

    #38 21st March 2010, 20:24

    oh i forgot, the notches method also means you have only 2 or 3 ride height options, whereas the proper method means you can pretty much set it to whatever height you want
39. Gareth_R Established Member Joined: Mar 2010 Basildon, Essex Posts: 1042 Citroen AX VTS

    #39 21st March 2010, 20:27

    one thing i will say though, is that if the notches method is used, as long as the torsion bar is in the correct place and you dont have to use excessive force to locate it in the beam, there's no reason why the torsion bars would break. For them to break you'd have to have just fucked it up completely
40. LSOfreak Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2008 west london Posts: 13810

    #40 21st March 2010, 21:38

    to the first point: how the F, does removing the torsion bars, twisting them and re inserting change the ride height at all? doesnt the trailing arm just drop without the torsion bar or damper attached and not supported by a jack?
41. user_42401 Established Member Joined: Mar 2010 Cupar Fife Posts: 1712 1600 16v VTS 1600 8v VTR 1400 16v Clio Sport

    #41 27th March 2010, 20:54

    well ur suporting it from it hanging by the dummy damper
42. griffinpower Newbie Joined: Aug 2013 Posts: 1

    #42 21st August 2013, 07:51

    also why would you "1 SPLINE " on one side and "1 TURN" on the other side ???
43. PaulW91 Infrequent Poster Joined: Jul 2008 lanarkshire Posts: 206 2002 bodied saxo vts 1.8t Audi A4 S-Line CBR600R

    #43 21st August 2013, 22:28

    So rather than keeping moaning about someones opinion on how to do a job why doesnt somebody explain there method for lowering it?

    1 user thanked this post: Keegan
44. KamRacing Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)

    #44 22nd August 2013, 17:58

    You remove the torsion bars from the arms and leave the trailing arm bearing and seal undisturbed.