S3 ride height

[svsdino]

Okay lets come at this from a different angle, I don't want to spend £500 on a set of new shocks to raise the ride height of my S3 as it will make her owe me too much. I only drive her for fun, I won't do track days etc. and i am happy with the way it handles. My problem is she bottoms over the slightest dip and of course the bonnet doesn't open properly-not helped by being on 55 series tyres.
My question is this- will new springs lift her ride height? I'm sure the originals are not height adjustable. I'm just trying to keep her refurb costs sensible as she will need a top half respray in April too as well as a new tank cradle ( haven't told her indoors about that yet!)

Edited by svsdino on Monday 2nd February 17:18

[Gerald-TVR]

Dean
YHM

[wiz 1]

New shocks won't raise the height unless you set them high, if its bottoming out all the time it sounds like its coil bound, as in the front springs have had it. New springs might sort it but then you probably need shocks as well.

[TVRMadPaul]

I put on Gaz shocks last year the nickel ones I think they were called. There very good but I should have asked for stiffer springs. I remember now that when I did the same job on an S1 I owned I uprated the springs from the standard ones fitted this gave the car a firmer ride and lessened but did not eliminate the bottoming. Think with these cars who just have to except that they're going to bottom out. I tried altering the ride height and have increased it slightly but do it too much and the car becomes unstable. With the GAZ Nickels you can stiffen the shocks this I've tried and find 20 clicks from the softest setting about right.

[svsdino]

It does sound as if for the sake of £50-75 just to see if they make a difference to the front end. i agree after reading peoples responses on here that S's do clang exhausts from time to time but mine could bottom out on a fag packet!!
Does anyone have some spring weights they could suggest, AVO said they can supply the springs but said weights were a personal choice and i haven't got a clue what she needs?
Dean

[Le TVR]

I'm using 350lb front and 275lb rear springs.
Ride is very good and they could possibly go harder still.

[Barkychoc]

Le TVR said:

I'm using 350lb front and 275lb rear springs.
Ride is very good and they could possibly go harder still.

Same on my V8S. I'd say there's scope to go a bit firmer though.
I was advised to go 300 on the back but they were out of stock.

[TVRMadPaul]

Where did you source the springs from ? and How much were they ?

Does anyone know what the rating of the springs that came with the standard GAZ Nickels ?

Edited by TVRMadPaul on Tuesday 3rd February 09:43

[Barkychoc]

Springs were from Derek at absolutely shocks, about £25 each.

Be careful - if you are respringing your existing original shocks longer springs are required than ones for after market shocks.
Trust me your old shocks will be shagged.

I spent ages pisssing about initially planning to buy new shocks and re use the existing springs. 2 sets of spring compressors later (and about £50 lighter!) I got the old springs off the shocks, and they were too long.
Oh and that was after I'd cleaned them, bought primer & paint and painted them.
A lesson learnt!

Chris

[Chris71]

Can I ask what height (and from what point of reference) most peoples' S3s sit?

Be warned, the springs can settle a lot. Had mine done recently and contemplating making the second ride height adjustment to make things easier on speed bumps and bumpy back roads.

[Barkychoc]

I had 165-175mm in my head to the ends of the outriggers to the ground.

[Le TVR]

165mm / 170mm F/R
Under the main chassis rails.