shocks too low,sitting too high?

[nikpro]

Correct but we need to get less ground clearance sitting too high on rear at moment.

How high is too high?

[Peter M]

Just measured distance from ground to rear corner of car floor and it is 175mm this is with the white supplied springs and the spring platform just nipping spring on full droop. The car as now done just under 500 miles since SVA and i would have thought should have settled by now.The front i have plenty of adjustment up or down and the ride height is ok.

[boris77]

I've got a 95 SEiW. I took the old spax shocks off and measured them to get the size required. 12.5" front and 14" rear. This is also what protech recommended ( from speaking to MNR). By the sounds of things I've got the same set as Jenko (300lb front, 175lb rear).

If I remember rightly the rear shock mounting point is adjacent to the rollbar mounts. So I could well have shocks that are too long, although the original spax is 14". I'm only a 1/4 of an inch over the build manuals optimum setting ( the spax sat at the optimum of 6 1/4"). Currently sitting at 6 1/2inchs at the mo, it would be nice to get it a tad lower. I'm wondering if I'd be better off with 13" rear shocks now.

For the time being am I likely to cause any damage having the spring loose at full droop / not a lot of shock left to play with?

I'm hoping I'll be ok regards hitting the bump stop. With the damper on its lowest setting I stood on the back and bounced up and down and had to put reasonable effort in to get it to hit the stop.

And here was I thinking this would be simple job.....

[Peter M]

OK just spoke to Mark at the factory "quote"  the shocker length should be are 14" on rear with 9" springs and with the correct ride height there will be loose springs on the rear at full droopand this is normal and all the factory built cars are like this.You are very unlikely to get the suspension to anywhere near full droop whilst driving,all you need to make sure that if the car as been jacked up you make sure the spring collet at the top is in place before lowering jack.Mark said if you are worried that the collar may come adrift you could always wire lock it in place.He assured me to lower spring platform down to achieve required ride height and not worry about there is no preload on spring in droop.

[Phil. S]

You are very unlikely to get the suspension to anywhere near full droop whilst driving,...

I'm sure I managed this or something very close to it going over the mountain section of Cadwell. It wouldn't have been a very nice landing if the spring came out of its seat!

[Blatman]

OK just spoke to Mark at the factory "quote"  the shocker length should be are 14" on rear with 9" springs and with the correct ride height there will be loose springs on the rear at full droopand this is normal and all the factory built cars are like this.You are very unlikely to get the suspension to anywhere near full droop whilst driving,all you need to make sure that if the car as been jacked up you make sure the spring collet at the top is in place before lowering jack.Mark said if you are worried that the collar may come adrift you could always wire lock it in place.He assured me to lower spring platform down to achieve required ride height and not worry about there is no preload on spring in droop.

I guess I'll agree to differ with the factory then.

I certainly wouldn't run with a spring that is able to come loose on full droop, road or track.

And as far as I can see, if you spec the shocks and springs appropriately, there is no need to...

[custardtart]

You are very unlikely to get the suspension to anywhere near full droop whilst driving,...

I'm sure I managed this or something very close to it going over the mountain section of Cadwell. It wouldn't have been a very nice landing if the spring came out of its seat!

I agree, you only need to be airborne once for the springs to come loose and it's a bad idea!  

Plus it should be compusolry to get airborne over humpback bridges  

[Peter M]

I guess I'll agree to differ with the factory then.

I certainly wouldn't run with a spring that is able to come loose on full droop, road or track.

And as far as I can see, if you spec the shocks and springs appropriately, there is no need to...

I personally agree with you.Will have to look into sorting out a better way of getting a lower ride height without any slack in springs.

[Mark B]

OK just spoke to Mark at the factory "quote"  the shocker length should be are 14" on rear with 9" springs and with the correct ride height there will be loose springs on the rear at full droopand this is normal and all the factory built cars are like this.You are very unlikely to get the suspension to anywhere near full droop whilst driving,all you need to make sure that if the car as been jacked up you make sure the spring collet at the top is in place before lowering jack.Mark said if you are worried that the collar may come adrift you could always wire lock it in place.He assured me to lower spring platform down to achieve required ride height and not worry about there is no preload on spring in droop.

I guess I'll agree to differ with the factory then.

I certainly wouldn't run with a spring that is able to come loose on full droop, road or track.

And as far as I can see, if you spec the shocks and springs appropriately, there is no need to...

Have to agree with you Blatters, although for most of us it's not an issue that the springs need checking after jacking up it isn't ideal, plus it's perfectly avoidable by choosing the correct spring/ shock combo.

My speedsport has 160LB rears with a static ride height of 145mm & the springs don't fall out on full droop....

[Peter M]

Just been out to garage to do some measuring, I need to lower car by about a 15mm to get a about 160mm ride height.This means lower the spring platform down about 12mm which now means the springs will be loose by about 12mm on full droop. Now the question what do i need to do with spring/shocker setup.Keep existing setup for now and accept too high ride height,lower spring platform and have lower ride height knowing that on full droop the spring as play or what do i need to change, spring / damper or both.

[boris77]

After a fiddle in the garage I've nipped spring platform up so there is no slack now. This gives me exactly the ride height as Peter M, 175mm.

I took the car for a quick spin and it although it def feels a lot better running on the protechs, the rear just seems too high. Incidently the front is currently set to 145mm. (Couldnt get it any higher by hand,not bought the appropriate tool to adjust it yet). Which I guess with a 175 rear is too low?

I have the same question as Peter M. What to do with the existing set up? Change it or try lowering it a bit with the play in the spring.

[nikpro]

I would just buy half inch shorter springs.

I built my car last year with standard shocks and springs and there was no problem with ride height - car was 145 at rear and 135 at front with the spring collars just 'nipping' the springs so there was no slack.

What cars are these on SDV or module builds?

[Peter M]

Mines a module build all standard westfield supplied parts.I had  a thought last night would you think that because i am not running a spare wheel this loss of weight would have a small effect on the ride height due how far from the spring line its positioned.Another local westfield owner new build the same spec as mine the only difference his as a spare wheel fitted and his ride height is lower than mine.Only a thought.

[Blatman]

Spare wheel (7x15 with tyre) will only weight about 18Kg's.

If, with the springs nipped up the car is too high, you need shorter shocks. It's as simple as that...

[Peter M]

Why are some cars with identicl build spec seam to differ .

Was only thinking that as you say 18 kg becomes effectly more as it as more of a lever arm effect on the suspension.