Reinforcing suspension

1. kingkurt L-plater Joined: Mar 2009 Maidstone Posts: 72 2001 Citreon Saxo - 1.1 ltr Desire

   #1 26th July 2011, 19:07

   Hi all
   
   I am driving another Saxo 1.1 desire on a charity rally - this time to Uganda in Africa
   
   Last time the rear suspension virtually disintegrated by the time we got to Mongolia and the car was folding in on itself. I had to hammer out the inner wheel arches as they were folding into the wheels every 2-3 days
   
   Any1 have any ideas what I can do to reinforce the suspension?
   
   cheers
   
   Kurtis
   www.teamroadkill.co.uk
2. KrisB Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Aug 2009 Dorking,Surrey,M25 J9 Posts: 2616 Static -80mm Peugeot 405

   #2 26th July 2011, 19:09

   Unfortunately, nothing.
   
   You'd be best swapping the rear axle with one from a vtr or vts as it's a little stiffer but unfortunately there's nothing you can do about the trailing arm bearings collapsing unless you want to rebuild a beam.
3. Gandi699 Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Apr 2011 Posts: 9100 Amazon green VTR 16v, Inferno RS clio 182

   #3 27th July 2011, 10:17

   I take it this is meant to be cheap so things like rally spec coilovers are out of the question. Maybe fit some beefed up bump stops ? Or welding on a helper spring maybe? Might make it a little way-word in the handling department though
4. Mochachino Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Nov 2007 Guantanamo Bay Posts: 28700 oyster card

   #4 27th July 2011, 10:20

   Are Ugandan roads really really bad? A beam can last over 100k, sure you didnt just get a shit beam to start with? Same with the car, although I dont know how bad the roads over there actually are.
   
   If you want a beam thats durable and up to the job then take a look at 'IM Axles' not sure if they do recovery in Uganda though under warrenty.
5. axsaxoman Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Jan 2003 Scotland Posts: 3380

   #5 27th July 2011, 10:40

   this time i suggest you make sure the axle is a good one --no way the radius arms bearings would destroy themselves in that distance if they were good to start with .
   
   a PROPER roll cage that has pickup points onto the rear axle mounts will stop the shell distorting .the suspension loads will then go directly into the cage and be spread about.
   set ride height at rear with all the weight in the car ( camping equip and spares etc ),at std height fully loaded
6. Stevo123 Established Member Joined: Apr 2009 Redcar Posts: 1971 2000 Posi Blue vtr

   #6 27th July 2011, 13:54

   Sounds like the body work was failing rather than the beam from what he says. You could make up some strenghening plates in an L shape to weld onto the boot floor and the verticle parts of the innner wheel arch. Your first car may have been rotten in this area - it is quite a common place for them to go. I guess some sort of cage will be out of the question due to the room it takes up?
7. kingkurt L-plater Joined: Mar 2009 Maidstone Posts: 72 2001 Citreon Saxo - 1.1 ltr Desire

   #7 27th July 2011, 21:53

   Thanks for all the input guys - alot to think about there, I might fit some beefed up bump stops and weld on a helper spring and see how it drives.
   
   The last car I drove to Mongolia, distance about 11k miles and it had only done 51k miles from new. The roads in Mongolia are worse than non existant, imagine driving across a big pile of rocks for 10 days. There are actually some good roads this time on my route to Uganda so hopefully wont be as bad this time
   
   cheers all
8. blackie_2k5 Saxperience Hardcore! Joined: Oct 2008 Birtley Posts: 22253 VTR Turbo, 106 xsi track slag, Transit recovery, B

   #8 27th July 2011, 22:21

   as john sais, put all your gear in the car, then heaighten the suspension so its at standard height, then youve got the full travel to absorb the rough roads, otherwise the travel youll get will be minimal and will bottom out transfering the energy through the chasis/radius arms/bearings
   
   as said it sounds like the car you got had a dodgey axle to start with, this was probs your problem... better checking this time round
9. kingkurt L-plater Joined: Mar 2009 Maidstone Posts: 72 2001 Citreon Saxo - 1.1 ltr Desire

   #9 28th July 2011, 19:29

   Quote:

   Originally Posted by blackie_2k5 as john sais, put all your gear in the car, then heaighten the suspension so its at standard height, then youve got the full travel to absorb the rough roads, otherwise the travel youll get will be minimal and will bottom out transfering the energy through the chasis/radius arms/bearings as said it sounds like the car you got had a dodgey axle to start with, this was probs your problem... better checking this time round

   Thanks for the advice - how do I hieghten the suspension? - is it in the workshop manual
   
   cheers
   
   Kurtis
10. 106vtr L-plater Joined: Apr 2009 Derby Posts: 79 Mk1.5 black vtr 106 1.6 cammed xsi 1.4 xs

    #10 2nd August 2011, 06:57

    Google it mate!, take the torsion bars out. Move trailing arms down in your case. Measure how much the car drops with the weight loaded, that way you know how much to raise it.
11. latza Infrequent Poster Joined: Dec 2009 Posts: 126

    #11 2nd August 2011, 08:09

    weld it solid? or is the suspension needed lol