Lowered springs not low!!!

[Guiddy]

Just fitted Eibach ProKit springs to the 172 and put it all back together. All went well, used the top mounts to hold the strut in place while I attatched them to the hubs.
Then went to tighten them after lowering the car back on the ground and they didn't move any higher!!!

Now the car looks high at the front and I can't tighten the top mounts onto the shock top, they are tight onto the top of the bodywork! How can I force the rubber shock tops to sit further into the bodywork?

Thanks in advance guys....

 

[barker22]

If you mean the rubber doesn't touch the metal that's right. Should only be a small gap though

 

[Jon.G]

Are you sure you've assembled them correctly?

Sounds like you've put the lower rubber mount on upside down.

 

[Guiddy]

I laid everything out the same way it came off to avoid that! I'll check though, should see spots in the mount rubber if they are the right way yeah?

 

[LiamR172]

If you mean the rubber doesn't touch the metal that's right. Should only be a small gap though

This is correct, i was worried when i noticed this on my old car but it was meant to be like that

 

[James28]

Put some pictures up mate.
All sounds a bit confusing. Unless you've sorted it already..

Pro kit springs don't lower very much at all anyway..

 

[Guiddy]

OK, I'll put some on tonight

 

[Guiddy]

Here are some pics. These photos are from yesterday so sorry I hadn't fitted the newly painted bumper yet!
How can I tell if the rubber donuts have been put on the right way without taking the struts off again?

 

[Guiddy]

 

[Guiddy]

This is what it looks like in the engine bay...

 

[James28]

Nothing shouts out as wrong from your pics. Although is that first photo of your last post with the car on the ground?
The top mount should stick higher up than that if so, maybe the rubber but inside the arch isn't sitting properly..

Maybe take the shocks out again, and double check the assembly of the top hat, bearing etc. Get some pics of that.
You might have the bearing upside down as another possibility..

 

[Guiddy]

Yeah, both those pics are of the car sitting on the ground! Doesn't seem right hey?

 

[Dan519]

eibachs are never low. I hear from disappointed people all the time about being recommended these and they wish they'd never bothered

 

[Guiddy]

I hear you!
Maybe I'd feel better though if the top mounts were sitting properly. I have a nagging doubt I did something wrong!

 

[James28]

As said , just take them apart and check you've put everything back on correctly, and the spring is sitting properly. Use Fubar's guide in the guide section.

 

[Guiddy]

Problem solved! The top rubber donuts were upside down.
They must have been changed in the past and put the wrong way up. When I copied them putting hem back together, this was the result!
Also the reason the car looked too high when I bought it!
Thanks for all your help!

FYI: The donuts should be put on this way up...