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#Post#: 70856--------------------------------------------------
Numpty question (possibly) re shocks
DIR By: gp3trainee
Date: August 15, 2013, 10:13 am
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This might be a numpty question, so apologies, but I can't seem
find an answer anywhere else.
My 88 came fitted with 235/85/16s, Shitepart parabolics and
Pro-comp +2 extended shocks. It sits much higher than two
previous S3s I've owned. 95%+ of my use of it is on-road. The
top of the rear cross member sits 29 and a bit inches above the
ground.
Quite apart from the fact that the height to my mind makes it
look a bit Mad Max (though might be something to do with the
combat paint job and matt black bumper and cappings - in hand to
repaint it Bronze Green) it somehow doesn't feel as pleasant to
drive around as my previous 88's. If I can describe it as
anything, it seems a bit divorced from the road.
In previous 88's I'd think nothing of driving from Sussex to the
Yorkshire Dales and back for a long weekend. I just can't
imagine doing the same with this one.
So, is it the Pro-comp extended shocks which make it sit higher?
(ie. do they have a longer resting length than ordinary
shocks?) I've done all the slackening of spring bolts, loading
up and then retightening but doesn't make any difference. Could
I just change the extended shocks for ordinary length ones and
would it make the vehicle lower? Would that contribute to
making it less divorced from the road?
Thanks for any help.
Cheers
G
#Post#: 70857--------------------------------------------------
Re: Numpty question (possibly) re shocks
DIR By: NomduJour
Date: August 15, 2013, 10:32 am
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Ride height will be down to springs, not shocks - not aware of
any Series parabolics which don't give some lift. Pro Comp are
cheap and low-end but I would imagine the parabolics' initial
suppleness and response to smaller bumps could be the biggest
factor in feeling different. You've also got a higher centre of
gravity from the raised ride height and all the other
suspension-related variables between two vehicles which are
probably quite different from when they left Solihull.
#Post#: 70859--------------------------------------------------
Re: Numpty question (possibly) re shocks
DIR By: Drew
Date: August 15, 2013, 10:47 am
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If the height is as worryingly high as you say, I wouldn't give
'Blue Box' paras the tribunal of saying it is they which are
pushing your back end up (unless they've advanced from the
tin-foil construction of note; nor would I say 235/85s would
give such an illusion of lift.
Measure the centre-to-centre on your shackle plates. It may be
that a set of extended ones, in concert with the springs and
tyres, are raising things a bit too much.
#Post#: 71011--------------------------------------------------
Re: Numpty question (possibly) re shocks
DIR By: gp3trainee
Date: August 16, 2013, 6:27 pm
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Thanks for the responses.
The shackles are standard length but do sit pretty upright ulike
some I've seen which sit at an angle from the vertical.
Perhaps I might go back to keeping a few bags of ballast in the
back, at least until I put the hardtop on for the winter, and
see whether that has any effect.
G
#Post#: 71036--------------------------------------------------
Re: Numpty question (possibly) re shocks
DIR By: niteram
Date: August 17, 2013, 6:51 am
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top of crossmember 29 inches above groundlevel doesn't sound
overly high
It may feel different from previous 88's due to the softer ride
and more body roll given by the paras?
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