My Astra Bi Turbo front end scrapes on everything!

[anonymous-user]

Hi all,

Recently bought a 2015 Astra Bi Turbo 195BHP 2.0L.

The black rubbing strip on the front scrapes on everything I go over. It’s worse when pulling off my driveway or when there is a gradient difference in the road. Sounds bloody awful!

Has anyone else had this issue? I know the car is lower than a standard Astra but surely it shouldn’t be scraping this much. Scares the hell out of me when I hear it as sounds like the front bumper is gonna come flying off!

I’ve attached a couple of photos so you can see the ride height.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

[Aphex]

Yes, my low car has also scraped the floor

[Sixpackpert]

Must be a Vauxhall thing.

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=17...

[p4cks]

Few things you could do:

• Fix the suspension
• Adjust your driving
• Both

[anonymous-user]

Yeah I’ve seen a few other people with similar Astras positing on here with the same sort of problem.

There’s nothing wrong with the suspension on the car. It scrapes when pulling on/off my driveway and really bad in multi-storey car parks. Driving the car differently won’t change this.

I’m thinking possibly change the black strip to something a little smaller. Don’t want to higher the suspension as it’s set to how it’s meant to be and don’t want to effect the handling.

It’s just bizarre. Had low cars before and never had this issue.

Thanks for the replies.

[p4cks]

I've had many a low car (and actually had a VX220 with lowered suspension and now an Evora) and they're both much lower than yours and I've never had that much of an issue.

I just adjusted my driving by hitting speed bumps and multistory carpark ramps at an angle, and slowly.

[Pica-Pica]

Even on my 335d the front lower edge can scape on some kerbs if parked face-on in car parks. Luckily, no damage the screw heads underneath take the brunt, and it is flexible enough. That is another reason to understand why people go for SUVs with large approach angle/clearance.

[300bhp/ton]

p4cks said:

I just adjusted my driving by hitting speed bumps and multistory carpark ramps at an angle, and slowly.

I think you might be missing the point they are saying. You are assuming it is rubbing due to suspension compression, so slowing will aid this. But it might be it impacts even if it wasn't moving. Driving style will not overcome this.

Also just being low is not the issue, which is why other cars may be fine. It also has to do with the overhang and how far from the axle line the front actually is.

[anonymous-user]

Thanks for all the replies.

I’ve just tried the “at an angle approach” and it does seem to make a slight difference.
Not sure how this approach will work on a multi-storey car park ramp as it’s not possible to come off the bottom of one at an angle due to the walls on either side being so close.
Just have to avoid car parks whenever possible!

Would putting 20 inch wheels on instead of the 19s that are currently on make any difference?

Cheers.

[300bhp/ton]

TylerDurden36 said:

Would putting 20 inch wheels on instead of the 19s that are currently on make any difference?

Cheers.

Depends, what size tyres would you put on? If they are lower profile, then the total diameter might be the same or less even. If you go for bigger tyre, then will it fit in the arch without rubbing?

[anonymous-user]

“Depends, what size tyres would you put on? If they are lower profile, then the total diameter might be the same or less even. If you go for bigger tyre, then will it fit in the arch without rubbing?”

Probably gonna be better off just leaving the 19s on then and just putting up with it.

Wouldn’t be a good idea to remove the black strip altogether I’m guessing?

[Ron99]

It's not a suspension problem. It's not a driving style problem. I had one of the early ones and the ground clearance is low.

Mine would scrape speed bumps, car park ramps, sloped driveways or even scrape the underside on an uneven/rippled road surface. The front end couldn't hang over an average kerb, such as when parking or manoeuvring.

My father-in-law said his BMW suffers similar problems (it's de-badged but either 335d-M or 330d-M).

[spaceship]

My wife’s 1.4 Energy does the same thing and it’s on standard (high as a kite) suspension and 17” wheels. They just have really low front bumpers, probably an aerodynamic thing to aid airflow round and under the car.

[Bobstar86]

Those Astra's do have deep front bumpers and do seem to have a war with kerbs and bumps. Not much you can do other than prepare for it and go easy. I have a Jag XF S which is low, I've grounded over big supermarket speed bumps, scraping my DPF twice. I often try and hit a bump at an angle if I think my front end will scrape it. So far seems to work but I avoid multistories. Its way too big for some of those old steep car parks.

My neighbour had a 14 plate Astra same as OP, within a month the front rubbing strip was busted off on side , she used to bump that up and off kerbs.