Had enough!!! Suspension advice please

  1. Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2005 Chippenham, Wiltshire Posts: 796 Mk2 Wicked Red VTS
    #1
    I currently have the following setup on my VTS

    -Bilstein B8 front dampers
    -Spax -40mm springs (look more like 60mm)
    -Spax rear dampers, lowered 45mm (more like 60mm)

    It's so crashy over bumps and if I hit a big pot hole my engine cuts out because of the fuel cut off switch. Surely this isn't normal.

    My current thinking is that the Spax springs are awful or that it's just too low and the dampers are hitting the internal bump stops and that's whats causing it to be so crashy. Don't get me wrong, it handles well on even roads (way better than with the Spax front dampers!)

    Can anyone give me a qualified opinion on what's causing it to be so uncomfortable and crashy?

    Should I go for some better springs that dont lower it so much to give the dampers some more travel??

    Any advice much appreciated.
  2. Established Member Joined: Jan 2009 Bridlington Posts: 1496 Audi A3
    #2
    Im on SPAX all round lowered 40mm (you might have same kit) and mine doesnt cut out just very bumpy roads.
  3. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2008 west london Posts: 13810
    #3
    i used to have 60mm spax kit and thought it was spot on. a bit firm but i quite liked it. only got rid of it becuase it werent low enough lol

    never got the cut off problem though
  4. Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2005 Chippenham, Wiltshire Posts: 796 Mk2 Wicked Red VTS
    #4
    I have bilstein dampers though. Spax dampers use a cut down standard bumpstop.

    The bilstein dampers have their own internal bumpstops.

    Thanks for your help though.
  5. Frequent Poster Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 897 106 ph1 rallye 106 gti 106 hybrid thing GTI~6
    #5
    its possible they are bottoming out. id personally mark the inserts at ride height with a sharpie pen, get some mates to sit on the car and re mark it, pull the insert out and fully compress and see how far off the internal stops you are, it must be pretty harsh to trip the cut off. be a good idea to just bridge the wires nicely and throw it away! you never know it may save your life too!
  6. Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2005 Chippenham, Wiltshire Posts: 796 Mk2 Wicked Red VTS
    #6
    Worth doing but quite a lot of effort.

    Its very annoying.
  7. Frequent Poster Joined: Jan 2011 Posts: 897 106 ph1 rallye 106 gti 106 hybrid thing GTI~6
    #7
    a little price to pay for a well handling car! get some decent tools and itl take less than an hour. pretty dangerous if they are bottoming out tbh
  8. Established Member Joined: Dec 2009 Essex Posts: 1006
    #8
    Get some decent springs, most people use faulkner springs (me included) and i find the ride is perfect. Kam sell these which will still keep your car low and it does say for use with b8's http://www.kamracing.co.uk/citroen/c...roen-saxo.html
  9. Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)
    #9
    Its probably the spax springs not really matching the bilsteins. Its a unusual combination..
  10. Frequent Poster Joined: Oct 2005 Chippenham, Wiltshire Posts: 796 Mk2 Wicked Red VTS
    #10
    Hmm.

    Should i got for the faulkner springs or the eibach ones though??
  11. Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)
    #11
    I'd go Eibach for the road. You wont get much better! I have a set of Eibachs fitted to my Clio and it handles great and backroads are still fun
  12. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Dec 2008 Pontefract Posts: 4007 2010 E92 320i MSport
    #12
    Spax springs are pretty soft to be honest, as Kam Racing has mentioned, get an upgrade