Slightly nose high Chim?

[Kitchski]

Myself and a couple of others have noticed the front end on our Chim seems slightly high. The arch clearance is greater than that at the back and I've read while searching that these cars prefer a 10mm rear to front setup.
The car handles well, yet I can't help feeling the front is slightly too high. Doesn't feel like it's biting into the tarmac enough. Heres the car:



Any thoughts? Does that look like it has something heavy in the boot? We're going to be throwing some love at this car over the next few months with a paint job and some fettling although nothing drastic. Just trying to bring it back to it's original best, but I'd be interested in perhaps dropping the front slightly at the same time. I'm not looking to slam it chav style, just bring that front down that tiny bit, so are there any springs I can buy to use with the Billie's it already has? Not looking for a major spring/shock upgrade, we like the car as it is and cost is a factor!

Thanks

Edited by Kitchski on Saturday 1st March 09:26

[spend]

Tyre selection can have a significant effect. When you see different tyres specced over the production, it is quite poss subtle spring changes were made to suit particular tyres..

Of course adjustable dampers alleviate these problems and allow the heights to be changed. Springs are not available in infinitely variable lengths (unless you have them custom made) so poundage has to be used to adjust height by preload...

Its not always so easy to copy a setup from one car to another as is often advised....

Dave

[SMB]

Has it had the front shocks replaced?, mine was similar at first once the fronts were replaced with the later large top mount version. Your car looks like a 95-96 model from the photo and the result was the same for me, settled after a while, but can I ask, what tyres to do have on the rear?, swithcing from earlier 225/55 to 225/50 as used on later cars can make this more pronouced.

[Kitchski]

Not sure on the size of the rear tyres, but I know the fronts have been brought down to 205/55/15. You're pretty good with your year spotting too....it's a 95

I does have different makes front to back. I know it's got billies on one end, not sure what the others are.

So we're saying that lowering springs aren't available on the shelf then? I suppose it's not a Corsa is it? I'm just pretty sure that front end is slightly too high. It drives fine, this is purely a cosmetic thing. It's just that looks are one of the best things about the car!

[bobs4c]

I had replacement Bilstein shocks fitted last year. I retained the original springs and the car now rides with the front higher than the rear.

The new shocks appear to have different attachment lugs and this coupled with a slightly different spring mount height has resulted in the different ride height

Not happy with the result as they are, of course, not adjustable. Drives fine though

Bob

[SMB]

Kitchski said:

Not sure on the size of the rear tyres, but I know the fronts have been brought down to 205/55/15. You're pretty good with your year spotting too....it's a 95

I does have different makes front to back. I know it's got billies on one end, not sure what the others are.

So we're saying that lowering springs aren't available on the shelf then? I suppose it's not a Corsa is it? I'm just pretty sure that front end is slightly too high. It drives fine, this is purely a cosmetic thing. It's just that looks are one of the best things about the car!

Bob is correct, it's due to the new shocks, the front arch arch gap is made worse by change of front tyre to 55 vs 60 profile.

[GreenV8S]

How close are the front and rear damper lengths? I would check to see if they have been fitted on the wrong end by mistake.

[jellison]

Have you checked the engine is still in there?