Cause of front suspension being really soft?

  1. Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR
    #1
    Hi all, my car's lowered 60mm on what I believe is a GMAX kit (bad idea from what I've gathered), but the front is really soft.
    The front likes to slide a bit when cornering whereas my friend's Furio can be planted into corners and his handles really well and tame on 60mm Spax springs with standard shocks, but his also seems really hard when 'bouncing' it from standstill.

    Is the GMAX kit just pure shite or is there something wrong with my car?


    Thanks in advance!



    Oh and also, we both have VTR alloys on budget Accelera tyres >_<
  2. Infrequent Poster Joined: Aug 2010 Carlisle Posts: 115 02 plate saxo vtr
    #2
    was it just springs and standard shocks you have? i have spax springs 60mm on standards and they seem to do the job. i have never used gmax but they seem cheap kits.
  3. Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR
    #3
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by danpalmer90 View Post
    was it just springs and standard shocks you have? i have spax springs 60mm on standards and they seem to do the job. i have never used gmax but they seem cheap kits.
    No mate it was a whole kit on mine, front shocks and springs and rear shocks.

    Yeah his Spax springs on standards seem to do very well for being down 60mm!
  4. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Aug 2009 Dorking,Surrey,M25 J9 Posts: 2616 Static -80mm Peugeot 405
    #4
    I'd say to whip both rear wheels off and check the 13mm bolts that hold the anti roll bar end plates on. If they're missing or snapped then thats your problem.

    It's common and will affect body roll.
  5. Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR
    #5
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KrisB View Post
    I'd say to whip both rear wheels off and check the 13mm bolts that hold the anti roll bar end plates on. If they're missing or snapped then thats your problem.

    It's common and will affect body roll.
    The lowering of the rear was done quite recently man, if anything was wrong I'm sure they would've said?
    Also would that cause the front to be really slidey?
    The rear is a lot stiffer than my mate's lowered on standards though, and when the blokes were lowering my car they said they had a bit of a struggle getting the shocks on as they weren't 'compressing' easily.
    I'll have a look though man, cheers.
  6. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2009 Isle of Man Posts: 9844 92 Eunos
    #6
    having a stiff arse end and a sloppy front end will cause understeer I do believe. I have GMAX rears and standard fronts down 40mm and it handles fantastically....
  7. Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)
    #7
    check your tyres as well
  8. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2008 west london Posts: 13810
    #8
    i used to have spax 60mm springs and dampers, and then changed the springs with gmax 60mm (kept the spax dampers)

    not only did the height rise to about 40mm but i really felt how shit the ride with gmax springs and spax dampers was, compared to spax springs and dampers. they were so much softer and it didnt feel as 'planted' as the spax. would hate to see what they are like on standard dampers.

    id say your problem is the brand of spring mate, get spax
  9. Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)
    #9
    gmax really are the cheapest of all the budget ranges. Quality is not going to be there.
  10. Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR
    #10
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jayyoung View Post
    having a stiff arse end and a sloppy front end will cause understeer I do believe. I have GMAX rears and standard fronts down 40mm and it handles fantastically....
    Definitely makes sense, but I was more questioning as to what would cause the front to be a lot softer than the rear.
    Thanks though.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KamRacing View Post
    check your tyres as well
    Check them religiously man, all are all good!



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by LSOfreak View Post
    i used to have spax 60mm springs and dampers, and then changed the springs with gmax 60mm (kept the spax dampers)

    not only did the height rise to about 40mm but i really felt how shit the ride with gmax springs and spax dampers was, compared to spax springs and dampers. they were so much softer and it didnt feel as 'planted' as the spax. would hate to see what they are like on standard dampers.

    id say your problem is the brand of spring mate, get spax
    Yeah it makes sense tbh, GMAX sound like pure shite from what I've read, will be getting my hands on a Spax kit as soon as I can...
    Shame really as I hear all about how well the Saxo's handle etc and my first impression with one is a bad one due to a shit kit!



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KamRacing View Post
    gmax really are the cheapest of all the budget ranges. Quality is not going to be there.
    Thanks for confirming mate, will look into a Spax kit.




    Thanks for all the replies and help guys, appreciate it a lot
  11. Saxperience Addict Joined: Nov 2006 A farm shed in Aylesbury Posts: 14916 Corolla AE86 Peugeot 205 B18C (in bits)
    #11
    Spax give good handling but tend to be harsh on ride. Personally on a budget I would go for the Apex 50mm lowering kit before the spax lowering kit but both are better than the Gmax
    have a think about getting some strut braces to control chassis flex as well as this can make a noticeable difference
  12. Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR
    #12
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KamRacing View Post
    Spax give good handling but tend to be harsh on ride. Personally on a budget I would go for the Apex 50mm lowering kit before the spax lowering kit but both are better than the Gmax
    have a think about getting some strut braces to control chassis flex as well as this can make a noticeable difference
    I'm not bothered about a harsh ride tbh mate! I just want something that handles really well, and the Spax seems the best option for a 'budget'!

    Yeah I'll look into a strut brace, but I'm more than likely to get a used one from here tbh.
  13. Saxperience Post Whore Joined: Mar 2009 Isle of Man Posts: 9844 92 Eunos
    #13
    Your front dampers may have developed a leak for being lowered...How many miles are on them?
  14. Established Member Joined: Aug 2010 Bath, South West Posts: 1081 16v VTR
    #14
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by jayyoung View Post
    Your front dampers may have developed a leak for being lowered...How many miles are on them?
    Well it was MOT'ed about a month and a bit ago with no advisory or any mention of the front shocks?
    Tbh I'm gonna get a whole new kit, saves me a bit of hassle really, at the expense of some dollar though.
  15. Saxperience Forum Bum Joined: Nov 2010 England Posts: 3423
    #15
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by KrisB View Post
    I'd say to whip both rear wheels off and check the 13mm bolts that hold the anti roll bar end plates on. If they're missing or snapped then thats your problem.

    It's common and will affect body roll.
    What he said.

    Worn/ damaged bushes.... Tyres are too soft, could be a array of things.

    I went down 50mm all round on my 1.1. I had Gmax springs at the front, with the standard dampers and Gti/ VTS dampers at the rear.

    Even then it handled nicely. I fitted 195/45 wheels and it handeled so good. I added a up[per and lower strut brace and it was fantastic. Even Mikol commented how good my suspension was.
  16. Saxperience Addict Joined: Jan 2008 west london Posts: 13810
    #16
    the spax is quite stiff, but now they seem very comfortable compared to my gaz coilovers lol
  17. Infrequent Poster Joined: Feb 2010 newport Posts: 173 Bmw M3, off-road vitara Mini Cooper s
    #17
    it might be your shocks