Aesthetics and suspension
Discussion
I still have Mikes old AVOs with helper springs and although it all hangs loose when the car is jacked up (I mean the suspension - those other bits hang loose a lot of the time), this has not caused any problems on the road. S3 s seem to sit higher at the rear than other models but not as high as your photos suggest. I guess that this is down to springs rather than dampers? If you look at brochure photos such as this:
http://thumbs1.picclick.com/d/l400/pict/3314353622...
You will see the sort of clearance then. The green car is upside down because they are faster. The photos have been retouched but I do not think that the cars have been weighted for the photos. Not that manufacturers would weight cars to get them looking good in brochure photos........
http://thumbs1.picclick.com/d/l400/pict/3314353622...
You will see the sort of clearance then. The green car is upside down because they are faster. The photos have been retouched but I do not think that the cars have been weighted for the photos. Not that manufacturers would weight cars to get them looking good in brochure photos........
Ah yes.... Weight. 
Maybe my decreased ground clearance is due to my increased gross tonnage over the festive period. I thought my clothes had shrunk, but my bathroom scales indicate that pubs are selling heavier beer at this time of year.
Or perhaps it's the weight of the winter clothing I have to wear when going topless at this time of year?
I will only know for sure when Spring comes, when I can slip back into my mankini.
Maybe my decreased ground clearance is due to my increased gross tonnage over the festive period. I thought my clothes had shrunk, but my bathroom scales indicate that pubs are selling heavier beer at this time of year.
Or perhaps it's the weight of the winter clothing I have to wear when going topless at this time of year?
I will only know for sure when Spring comes, when I can slip back into my mankini.
NaCl said:
phazed said:
You say the Monotubes were fitted in 2006 but they weren't for sale to the public till about 2008/9.
Not being picky but you may have a different damper.
I have a pre production set that I bought around late 2008 or 2009.
Hi Peter.Not being picky but you may have a different damper.
I have a pre production set that I bought around late 2008 or 2009.
I hear what you say, but I have the receipt from Horizon Motorsport dated 7th March 2006 in the car's history file showing that, amongst other things, it was fitted with "Gaz shock absorber set GP82286NP" at a cost of £450.21.
Looking at the current Gaz online catalogue, it appears to be the same kit.
They must be Golds.
When I moved to 450/375 springs my car ended up looking like yours. Way too high at the back. My assumption was that the stronger springs weren't compressing under static load as much as the previous 'standard' ones of the same length, hence the car sitting higher. I tried shorter springs which certainly lowered it but I've gone a bit too far and it's now grounding out on the exhaust too often, and the springs come out their seats when the car is jacked up.
The solution is slightly longer springs and/or helpers but I'm looking into adding tender springs which hopefully raise the height a bit , give more compliance when pottering around and will also stop them unseating. I've calculated what I need but haven't ordered them yet.
The solution is slightly longer springs and/or helpers but I'm looking into adding tender springs which hopefully raise the height a bit , give more compliance when pottering around and will also stop them unseating. I've calculated what I need but haven't ordered them yet.
phazed said:
If you have adjustable dampers then you can adjust the ride height by adjusting the spring seats.
That's true. Unfortunately, when the adjusting collars are wound down the threads on the damper body to get the desired ride height, two things happen; the suspension rests on the integral bump stops and the spring unseats from the top collar when the suspension extends. The long and short of it all ('scuse the pun) the shocks (well, really the damper body bit) are too long for the gap betewwen the upper and lower mounting brackets.
My shocks might be okay for earlier S models, but not the S3, which appears to have had some changes.
What a flaming headache...wish I'd not looked!
phillpot said:
NaCl said:
the spring unseats at the top collar
My old AVO's did that, they offered me two options:1. They could shorten the piston rods.
2. They could supply some of these to take up the slack on full drop... helper springs
I don't know about everyone else, but I'm getting fed up with the subject now. It must be boring the mankini off everyone.
I might just jack the car right up, fit some mud tyres and go off-roading.
NaCl said:
phazed said:
If you have adjustable dampers then you can adjust the ride height by adjusting the spring seats.
That's true. Unfortunately, when the adjusting collars are wound down the threads on the damper body to get the desired ride height, two things happen; the suspension rests on the integral bump stops and the spring unseats from the top collar when the suspension extends. The long and short of it all ('scuse the pun) the shocks (well, really the damper body bit) are too long for the gap betewwen the upper and lower mounting brackets.
My shocks might be okay for earlier S models, but not the S3, which appears to have had some changes.
What a flaming headache...wish I'd not looked!
They make a generic damper body and fit different tails to suit different length applications.
They supplied my Monos with the wrong tails and of course supplied the correct ones when discovered!
NaCl said:
phazed said:
If you have adjustable dampers then you can adjust the ride height by adjusting the spring seats.
That's true. Unfortunately, when the adjusting collars are wound down the threads on the damper body to get the desired ride height, two things happen; the suspension rests on the integral bump stops and the spring unseats from the top collar when the suspension extends. The long and short of it all ('scuse the pun) the shocks (well, really the damper body bit) are too long for the gap betewwen the upper and lower mounting brackets.
My shocks might be okay for earlier S models, but not the S3, which appears to have had some changes.
What a flaming headache...wish I'd not looked!
They make a generic damper body and fit different tails to suit different length applications.
They supplied my Monos with the wrong tails and of course supplied the correct ones when discovered!
NaCl said:
phazed said:
Speak to GAZ.
They make a generic damper body and fit different tails to suit different length applications.
They supplied my Monos with the wrong tails and of course supplied the correct ones when discovered!
Worth a go....They make a generic damper body and fit different tails to suit different length applications.
They supplied my Monos with the wrong tails and of course supplied the correct ones when discovered!
I'll let you know how I get on.
Ta.
If I supply them with the upper to lower mounting bracket distances, front and rear, with the car at the correct ride height, they will custom build shocks that will allow the correct travel.
Result.
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