182 Suspension dropped

[brotherbern]

Hi Chaps,
One corner of my suspension has dropped. Any ideas? What made me notice it was that I hit a kerb when I got blinded by the sun and now hen I look, it doesnt sit flat. Please help.

 

[Fred@BTM]

front?

 

[brotherbern]

Hi Fred, no rear, off side has dropped.

 

[Fred@BTM]

by how much?

 

[brotherbern]

20 - 30mm.

 

[Fred@BTM]

christ what you done to it!!!

never heard of that much before!!

i guess you must've snapped a spring or something

 

[Tom]

Well to be fair fred the only reason for it dropping is spring failure.

 

[brotherbern]

No it all looks fine from underneath, thats whats what is puzzling, its jnust sitting wonky. I've jus been out and turned it around to see if the ground was slopeing, but its not.

 

[Tom]

Pics buddy. Jack the back up and check the springs.

 

[fmp_]

yup, as said, the spring is what gives the rear its 'height'.

Get it jacked up, take a look, and try take some pics jacked up and on the ground!

 

[brotherbern]

Cheers guys

 

[pinky]

my front spring had popped out, noticed it felt strange when i went over the bumps.
lucky its the rear much easier to fix. you will need some spring compressors to fix it mine cost £18 from a1 moterway belts.
prob cos quite abit to get it fixed at a garage, but very easy to do yaself, im a girl and i managed.

 

[brotherbern]

So, if the springs need to be replaced - what do you suggest? I currently have thecup stuff, but as you are aware it could do with lowering.

 

[Tom]

my front spring had popped out, noticed it felt strange when i went over the bumps.
lucky its the rear much easier to fix. you will need some spring compressors to fix it mine cost £18 from a1 moterway belts.
prob cos quite abit to get it fixed at a garage, but very easy to do yaself, im a girl and i managed.

You dont need them for the rear.

But for the front, yes you are correct. But Beware of springs they can kill.

 

[Tom]

So, if the springs need to be replaced - what do you suggest? I currently have thecup stuff, but as you are aware it could do with lowering.

Eibach sportline is a popular choice, but you need to do fronts.

Try to avoid Apex/PI/Cheaper rubbish.

Eibach/KW or similar would be advisable.

 

[brotherbern]

Tom - That sounds scary. Please expand

 

[pinky]

if they pop out of the spring compressors thay can cause lots of damage,
got to make sure they are on oppisite sides and straight too.

can you just lower the rears out from the bottom?

 

[Tom]

Well springs are coiled high tensile steel! On the rear when jacked up they arent under much load, but the fronts sometimes are. If you try to use cheap compressors when removing the springs they can fail and slip causing the spring to fly off.

A spring to the head is not nice.

 

[Fred@BTM]

and you DON'T need compressors on a 172/182

 

[pinky]

and you DON'T need compressors on a 172/182

how come, or am i just being daft?:S

 

[brotherbern]

Is it safe to drive?

 

[Fred@BTM]

becuase the springs are the perfect length for the shocks

 

[Tom]

and you DON'T need compressors on a 172/182

Depends what you are doing surely?

you need them with eibachs.

 

[Fred@BTM]

no you don't you amateur!

 

[Tom]

Well i suppose there is a difference between being safe and being sorry.

 

[Fred@BTM]

true, but you don't need them