Just had the Eibach 30mm sports springs fitted today by my local mechanic. Having just parked in a flat Tesco car park I’m seeing wheel centre to wheel arch measurements of 360mm on the front and 340mm on the rear. Think I’m correct that they should be 340 all round?
I’m guessing this is down to twisted bush syndrome? If this is the case, why aren’t the rears stuck at 360 too? Could it be that the rears were done correctly, or can’t the rears have twisted bushes due to a different way they work?
Looks like there is a distinct possibility that you have twisted bushes at the front as when I did mine, I got 340 mm all round first go. Easy adjustment though, get your garage to loosen the nuts off whilst the car is on the ground ‘wheels on’ (easy access by turning steering full lock in each direction) then bounce the car a little and finally re tighten the nuts.
Took the front wheels off this morning to have a look, expecting to see twisted bushes on the wishbones. All bushes looked perfectly OK, with the ridges on them running parallel.
Totally baffled, I decided to go through the wishbone untightening procedure anyway, so I slackened each bush off slightly which produced no bangs or movement. Then lowered it back down once the wheel was back on. Initial tape reading was still 360mm, so I decided to apply a bit of weight onto the front wing and bounced it up and down a few times.
Et voilà! This bouncing pushed everything down nicely and gave me a tape reading of around 340-345. Ran it backwards and forwards a few times and then tightened everything up whilst still on the ground.
As a total novice with this kind of thing I can only imagine it was an extreme case of the suspension not settling into position. Unless anyone has any better ideas?
Not a total success though as the rear on one side had managed to rise back up to about 360 after all this was done. Couldn’t investigate further as I needed to get back to work, but I’ll obviously need to look at it.
what car have you put them on? Mine, Eibachs on the 2.5 were, and still are a bit like that if you are fussy, looking slightly higher at the back on an unloaded car. I wonder if its to allow for that bit of compression when you have two people and a boot with stuff in it.
I have read it should work out at 340mm (ish) all round which is what I have on three corners now and also had on the fourth until I jacked it up. Pretty confident I can get that corner to settle too.
Car is a 55 plate NC 2.0 Sport. Read elsewhere that the wheel centre to top of wheel arch should be about 340mm on all four corners with these springs.
what car have you put them on? Mine, Eibachs on the 2.5 were, and still are a bit like that if you are fussy, looking slightly higher at the back on an unloaded car. I wonder if its to allow for that bit of compression when you have two people and a boot with stuff in it.
Yes a full tank of petrol will get the car at the right height and if not just go and loosen the rear bolts. Also as the tank empties so the rear will raise a bit
Speed humps are not a problem for an Eibach-lowered 5; they just have to be taken VERY slowly, much to the distain of the Transit driver glued to your bumper. If I was to take them at the posted 20mph speed limit I’m certain the rear diff would be a gonna. Speed humps are costing local councils a fortune in claims for cracked alloys and should be outlawed; they achieve nothing apart from raising pollution levels. I shall stop there before this turns into a rant.
Managed about 10 miles this evening and tried throwing it about to an extent, to put forces in all directions. Got home, re-measured and I now have all four corners sitting at about 340-345mm. Sorted!
With regards speed humps, I have plenty around here to negotiate and I don’t think this drop has made any difference to be honest. I did worry about that, especially as I live on an unadopted road that resembles the surface of the moon and it seems to be no problem if I just drive a little slower than I did in my old Passat.
