GTI 8V not sitting low

paul001 · Post by **paul001** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 9:43 pm

since all the brake work on my GTi 8V it is not sitting low as it was before replacing the brake pads and discs along with renewing the LHM

It has the standard steel wheels with the horrid plastic covers. Before the work the car would drop to just below half way down the wheel now its sitting just above 3/4 the wheel is this normal after full brake and LHM replacement I remember someone saying I will notice a difference which I am after doing 2000 odd miles this week on holiday in Europe. One thing I have been told is it should have alloy wheels and not the steel ones would this make a difference

Aerodynamica · Post by **Aerodynamica** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:05 pm

Sorry, I'm not getting it - is the ride height of the suspension different than before changing LHM? - this should not happen as the height is maintained by an external mechanical system that operates the hydraulic corrector slide valves.

MULLEY · Post by **MULLEY** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:14 pm

As above?

Not all Gti's came fitted with alloys, i believe they were an option. Do they feel any different to steels, erm no, but alloys are ftw

If your steelies are the correct type for the gti, they should be 5.5j's theres usuall someone in the club who wants to upgrade their tyres to 185/60's but they would rather have steelies than alloys as they are a bit more fiddely to fit etc....Who knows, someone may want to do a swap with you.

paul001 · Post by **paul001** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 10:30 pm

I will have a look at the height adjuster tomorrow. I have read elsewhere that if there is air in the back suspension that will alter the height of the rear

Cant see how the height adjusters have moved or anything as they werent touched. Infact the rear feels harder than it was before not so bouncy

Will have a look. And if anyone wants to swap a set of steel wheels for a set of genuine Alloys then let me know

DLM · Post by **DLM** » Thu Apr 23, 2009 11:21 pm

The fundamental question is this: is the car riding higher while driving or just settling higher (i.e. not sinking so much) after being left for some time?

Unless

(i) something was very amiss before fluid change (low lhm levels), or

(ii) you did a radical overhaul to change an excessively- leaking-back hydraulic component

then nothing should change in terms of ride height because of what you've done.

Fluid change will probably make the car feel different to drive , and the car will almost certainly stay up longer after switch-off, for the time being - eventually it'll most likely change. Ride-height while driving shouldn't change at all (but see edit below).

Try some Citaerobics, see if there's anything different between ride height

(a) when you move from lowest position to normal driving position

(b) when you move from highest position to normal position

If there's a difference, suspect linkages and lubricate the pivots fully first before even thinking about trying to adjust ride height. Work them thoroughly through Citaerobics after lubrication before repeating the test (a) and (b). A hydropneumatic citroen shouldn't sit lown unless you put the height level into low . If you make it sit too low, you've got less suspension travel (it's one way only really -down) and the suspension won't work the way it should.

EDIT - was writing while you posted - sorry if what's above is OTT

I have read elsewhere that if there is air in the back suspension that will alter the height of the rear

Normally air only gets into the rear circuit in the brakes - which does have an effect - rear-end rise when braking, swiftly followed by a sit-down again. AFAIR this happens because brake and suspension have a common supply at the rear of the car.

Jaba · Post by **Jaba** » Fri Apr 24, 2009 10:53 am

Easy way to check ride height is :
First there should be a gap of about four fingers between the top of the front tyre and the wing. The rear height is then ok when the sill is horizontal. This usually exposes 3/4 of the rear wheel.
These adjustment are not too critical really unless the ride height is too low when you run the risk of hitting the bump stops on uneven surfaces.

The adjustments are not precise - there is slack and friction in the height corrector linkages which give rise to variations and of course frustrations when you are trying to get it right and come back after a test run to find the height has settled to a completely different position from the one you set earlier.

The half rear wheel showing you used to have however is too low. You should have more wheel on show than this. So whatever has happened has been in your favour.