Car Too Low On Rear

[iety2004 0]

My car was lowered by it previuos owner, stupid low i mean now, but just on the backs.

 

Today i took it for it MOT so i can use the car legally and the thing failed because it was sooo low the rear dampers were doing jack!

 

So here are my options,

 

fit lowered dampers

 

or put it up on stands and cock around with it to try and improve the ride height,

 

what do u guys think?

 

cheers

 

gareth

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

Raise it back up again.

 

You don't want it sitting on the bumpstops, it may look cool but it will handle dangerously.

[maturin23 10]

Use the opportunity to refurb your rear beam - if it's not been done for a while it's wise to sort it before visible signs of problems (dodgy rear camber, stiff suspension) .

 

Fit new bushes and standard dampers and reassemble to within 30mm of standard ride height. It'll handle loads better and look less like it's having a dump

[iety2004 0]

i would love to do all of that, if i had the money, but im planning to do all of this and re-mot tomorrow.

 

How much space should there be between the wheel and the arch so i know im on the right track?

 

cheers

 

gareth

[Simes 248 2 Cars]

i would love to do all of that, if i had the money, but im planning to do all of this and re-mot tomorrow.

 

How much space should there be between the wheel and the arch so i know im on the right track?

 

cheers

 

gareth

 

2 fingers.

[iety2004 0]

it not too far off that now! im mean theres a space, so perhaps i need to lift it a spline or two,

 

cheers

 

gareth

[jshep205gti 3]

From what I figure, your car may have been lowered 2 splines.... because 3 is on the floor.

This means it shouldn't be tooo difficult to raise it up again, hopefully bolts haven't re-seized. It really shouldn't take more than 20mins per side. Have you got a pic of how low the car is?

 

 

Shep

[iety2004 0]

Well the tester said, it soo low the shocks aren't moving, basically there are standard shocks fitted and they are max'd out.

 

So i think the other way around it would be, fit lowered shocks which have a shorter body.

 

what do you guys think?

 

I mean the whole car was lowered before i bought it, but the owner changed the front springs to standard length, so the car looks like a shaking dog having a poo, LOL

[mikeyde 1]

sounds like you have a bit of a tight a*se tester. my pugs lowered 2 notches and it wasnt even an issue at test time. its only if it rubs that it i thought it became a fail??

[iety2004 0]

tell me about it, he failed it on the inner track rod, bought a new one, went to fit it and its the bloody rack!

 

the car stinks on idle, but it still passed the emissions test LOL

 

damg!

 

so honestly how long would it take a novice to raise the rear a spline or 2? On axles stands?

 

cheers

 

gareth

[Rob_the_Sparky 9]

Take a look at the rear beam re-furb guide on the main site (www.205gtidrivers.com). This will give you a good idea of what needs doing...

[GLPoomobile 958]

Take it elsewhere to be tested. Guy sounds like a c*nt!

 

Take it elsewhere to be tested. Guy sounds like a c*nt!

[iety2004 0]

But i already paid 40 quid for it to be tested so a retest would another 40,

 

i mean i got to buy a rack fit it, then try and find somewhere that would test it today,

 

so a bit pissed off.

 

it would be easier to get it tested else where, but what if they fail it on the same thing, another 30 notes wasted

 

cheers

 

gareth

[veloce200 3]

But i already paid 40 quid for it to be tested so a retest would another 40,

 

i mean i got to buy a rack fit it, then try and find somewhere that would test it today,

 

so a bit pissed off.

 

it would be easier to get it tested else where, but what if they fail it on the same thing, another 30 notes wasted

 

cheers

 

gareth

AFAIK new mot test rules mean you'll have to pay again anyway ! unless they are operating outsidethe rules?! If the damper is not shorted and is indeed shut them you really do need to raise it (assumes the bumpstops have been cut down)

[iety2004 0]

I thought if u take it back within so many hours it was a free re-test.

 

Well i have decided, not to raise it, but lower the front, because hopefully the car will look more level and not squating.

 

Cos the front had standard front springs and lowered on the back, looked rubbish

 

This hopefully will stop all the weight being pushed on to the rear wheel and maybe free some space up on the back.

 

And if it still fails i'll take it else where.

[jeremy 70]

Personnally If if was an MOT tester and I failed a car as the rear was to low I wouldn't be to impressed if the owner came back and lowered the front to match. I understand your logic, but just can't see the back ever going high enough. In my experience I would do what it ask as otherwise you may just be up for another re-test fee.

[Guest btwstripe]

under the new MOT standards, all mot`s are linked via a database, so what you failed on will be recorded, taking it elsewhere they will tell you it`s showing as a fail on blah blah blah

 

sorry

[Wurzel 16]

When you jack up the rear of the car, do the shocks extend?

 

I've driven a 205 that had been lowered, had at least an inch and a half gap between wheel and arch using standard dampers. There was still enough compression in the shock to work.

 

Is the car on its bump stops? There should still be compression left in the shock even when the car is on it's bump stop and slightly beyond (even standard dampers).

 

If there is no movement in the shock, I suspect it's seized or worse still, your beam has seized. Before any of those suggestions stand true, you need to find out if the suspension (trailing arm and shock) extend when the car is jacked up.

Edited January 29, 2006 by Wurzel

[richard 0]

My old 1.9 was that low....in the dry fantastic. In the wet all of the suspension was on the tyre walls. So pretty much nothing. It was snappier than i am when im having a bad day.

 

Lethal...get it raised.