Suspension / looks like a begging dog

[908glen]

Hi Guys

I have just put new Spax shocks on my 350i and it now looks like a begging dog with its nose up in the air. Rear shocks are adjustable and i have had to jack them right up to even the car out, the front springs are original black ones with the green stripe. Could it be that the shocks are to long? i only say this because the first set of Spax rear shocks that i was sent where far to long and they had to make me a custom pair from my old rear shocks as a pattern. What do you guys have on yours? The gap between the front tyre and the wheel arch is now about 3.5 inches.

Thanks Glen

[350zwelgje]

Shocks normally should not influence the height and if too long the movement in one direction is not possible and will cause problems (too short could do that as well, but thing that would be more difficult to diagnose), even can damage the chassis on the wedge due to the forces!
You should be able to have movement on all corners up by pulling and down by leaning on that corner (it is not a lot, but still noticeable), if not I think it is not ok and you have the wrong shocks or another issue.
Have gaz myself and no issues and have no experience with spax. If not ok, it seems they delivered the wrong type. Specials from spax hadn't heard of that yet: thought they do a set for the wedges, so wouldn't expect the problems you are experiencing.

Rob

[barrington]

did you check the shocks were the same length I had a coupe with a similar problem it was fitted with Cortina shocks on the front they were about 3 inchs longer they may have sent wrong ones

[jon haines]

The gap I have is 2 fingers width so it sounds like you are way out. I once had a similar prob on another car and it turned out the shocks were too long so I would check with spax the speck

[Danny Hoffman]

Have you swapped all 4 shocks?

If your driveshaft UJs are worn the rear end will sit low

[simonwedge]

As has been said before, dampers should not alter ride height - this is determined by the springs. If springs haven't been changed as well then something is amiss.

When I rebuilt the front end of mine I put new springs in and it too sat right up. Rather than cut the springs down I just had the old springs shotblasted and powdercoated and put them back on.

[V8 Fettler]

Glen, are the springs seated correctly? Have you tried pushing the car around and bouncing on it? Not too hard with the bouncing! Did you tighten everything with the weight on the wheels after bouncing (Grandmother, eggs etc)?

Remove the new dampers and place them side by side with the old dampers, fully extend and fully compress both against a tape measure, compare. If they are identical then you'll know it's not that. In my amateur mechanicing experience, some new dampers can lift the ride height marginally, this seems to occur where new gas dampers are used to replace tired and elderly oil dampers.

[908glen]

Hi Guys

Thanks for your replys.
The springs on the front are the old ones and are seated correctly so i really dont know whats going on. I am having the rear bearings done next week and the four wheel alignment, my camber at the back is all over the place as well so this may have something to do with it. i will wait until this is all done then see what it looks like but i will let you all know what happens.

Thanks Glen

[wooly350i]

Any chance that someone in the past has added extra packing between body and chassis to cater for old sagging suspension? Then you putting on new parts has the opposite effect meaning you gotta take the packing out again, just a thought. John

[phillpot]

I'm no expect on Wedges but if surely if this distance is the same from new to old then ride height should be same (if original springs re-fitted)?

[GV]

I had this issue with my GAZ's although it effected the fronts. There were 2 points that I hassled them with which was the closed length of the damper and the spring rating. The closed length will determine the resistance of the spring which in turn will give you the correct ride height. By adjusting the closed length up or down this will give you the desired height.