Back Really Low? Catching On Tyre Too?

[johnhenry 20]

 

Has brand new beam - standard ride height

dampers are older harder dampers that were fitted to a lowered car previously and had sat for about a year on axle stands

 

Seems really really low, and close to the rear bumper, only cosmetic damage to the rear when i bought it, rear beam mounting and underside in really good condition, no warping or stuff like that, that would effect stuff like that

 

EDIT - has full tank of fuel atm

 

EDIT EDIT - tyre appears to have caught on outside a little, is literally almost touching

Edited August 2, 2013 by johnhenry

[Paul_13 212 1 Cars]

Sitting way to far back IMO!

[johnhenry 20]

the other side isn't as bad, maybe a fingers width at the back of the bumper

but the beam only mounts through small holes, making it unable to move?

 

all plastic trims and stuff fit absolutely fine and all match up, and there is no warping of the mounting or chassis :S

Baffled :/

[welshpug 1,656]

1.9 beam mounts on the wrong way round most likely (they are offset and handed)

[jord294 92]

1.9 beam mounts on the wrong way round most likely (they are offset and handed)

 

that won't be the issue. i'm certain of that

[johnhenry 20]

ride heigh wise, seems fine, its just its location of it in relation to the wheel arch :S

 

would the dampers have anything to do with this? as they;re about the only thing that isn't brand new on the rear :S

 

Its had Brand new beam, Brand new mounts (original genuine rubber), new bushes, the lot, it all fitted fine meeting all holes correctly

[johnhenry 20]

had a waggle around this morning, no movement forwards from the beam, have ordered some new dampers just for my own mindset. Had an idea though.

 

Would the front being really heigh ( think its on base 205 springs), cause the rear to seem lower?

[Anthony 1,002]

That is not a standard height beam if that's what it was sold as, unless you've a boot full! Looks about 25-30mm down at a glance.

 

Sometimes beams do seem to sit a little far back. Is there any evidence that your car has had a rear end shunt at some point?

 

Just fitted a lowered 1.9 beam for someone this morning as it happens, and it has the same issue - more so on one side than the other - thanks to two issues:

 

1. It's running tires with too tall a profile (185/65R14)
   
2. It's had a rear end at some point, and it's all a little out of whack on the rear bumper/valance - I've pulled and straightened it as best I can and it's much better.

 

With it raised up back to standard height, the tire will move forward slightly away from the rear valance.

[Anthony 1,002]

This is a standard height beam....

 

 

That's my standard 1.9 GTi with original 185/55R15 tires and the beam built to 322mm between shock centres.

[johnhenry 20]

Thanks Anthony, does look lowered from the photo you've sent (also 205's in black look stunning!)

the only real weight over the rear is the 3/4 tank of fuel, other than that it's empty

 

> The tyres are falken 912's all round 185/55/15's

 

> They're are signs of a small rear end knock, but it was only damage to the bumper, just a small crack in it, not even enough force to wreck the bumper.

 

 

Whats the best way to measure the shocks to guarantee im measuring them properly??

 

Will measure the shock distance centre to centre tomorrow and go from there

[johnhenry 20]

morning all, just went and measured the shocks centre to centre

285mm between them, so its lowered. jacked the body up to standard heigh and it eased clearance issues on the rear.

 

Anyone good at raising beams? i've read the guides on here for lowered but am apprehensive about doing it by myself for the first time with so much riding on it.

 

cheers

John

[welshpug 1,656]

is that with no damper in place and the trailing arm's weight supported?

 

Altering the ride height wont address the clearance issue to the rear bumper at all however.

[johnhenry 20]

messed up previous measurements (hate working in the rain)

 

so the correct method is??

> Jack back of car up and support

> Wheels off

> Loosen and remove lower damper bolt so damper hangs freely

> measure centre to centre on shock mounting points

 

NB: Clearance wise, with the car sitting a little higher (jacked it up so it looked like anthony's photo, clearance seems absolutely fine

[Anthony 1,002]

Pretty much, yes, just making sure to support the weight of the trailing arm so that it doesn't "droop" and result in an inaccurate measurement.

 

I'm guessing that yours will be something around 315mm, assuming it's got standard 18.9mm GTi torsion bars fitted.

[johnhenry 20]

Thanks Anthony.

 

Yeah from what I've seen I think it is too, just from a basic test of lining up my rear hub caps with where they are in relation to the rear bumper on your photo. just waiting for a break in the weather to measure it properly absolutely pissing it down :/

 

Its a completely 'as new' beam, completely standard internals.

[welshpug 1,656]

could be the rear bumper mounts have been bent a little, how much clearance is there from the rear light to the face of the bumper? compare this to the other side, easy enough to "adjust" or pack the bracket back a little.

 

 

if the height is even side to side I would measure wheel centres to a fixed point forwards just to ensure the beam is on square.

[johnhenry 20]

could be the rear bumper mounts have been bent a little, how much clearance is there from the rear light to the face of the bumper? compare this to the other side, easy enough to "adjust" or pack the bracket back a little.

 

 

if the height is even side to side I would measure wheel centres to a fixed point forwards just to ensure the beam is on square.

 

will get photo of rear end an measurements tonight hopefully if the weather eases

[johnhenry 20]

322mm from centre to centre. Standard height beam.

 

This can only mean the dampers are fekked yes?

 

322mm from centre to centre. Standard height beam.

 

This can only mean the dampers are fekked yes?

[welshpug 1,656]

dampers have no bearing whatsoever on ride height at the rear.

[Anthony 1,002]

Leave the dampers disconnected and drop the car on the floor to rule them out - dampers don't tend to change the ride height however.

 

Could have base model torsion bars fitted - that would result in a lower than expected ride height for a given shock-shock measurement,

 

What's the height from the bottom of the rear sill jacking point to the floor on level ground?

[johnhenry 20]

Culprits found. The dampers originally at standard height when fitted, now sit much lower, they then can be puller back to original height but then seem to slowly contract back to the lower height (just watched them do it with one taken off the car)

 

Doing as Anthony suggests to confirm iffy dampers

[johnhenry 20]

Okay; I've now sat the car with no dampers; and it still sits low... Exactly the same as the first photograph.

 

what the hell is going on with this now, getting a horrible feeling I've broken something on a brand new beam. :/

[johnhenry 20]

Also torsional bars are 19mm

[johnhenry 20]

Also torsional bars are 19mm

[welshpug 1,656]

is that with a vernier or the spanner test?

 

original dampers are not gas, so they will not stay fully extended, its normal for them to contract a little.