Just got the car back today...
It looks low... very low... Its odd as the eibachs are the same as what i had on the car before.

When i go over pot holes - not even at great speed (not all pot holes but some) I hear a massive Thud. So bad that it actually makes you jump...

I know many people have this set up and wanted to know what your opinions are on it. Could it be something else causing it? The thud comes from the front and is very violent... almost like the car is bottoming out. Ive changed the ARB (std with powerflex bushes) all of the other suspension has been replaced... Really not sure what could be causing it. I know the suspension is going to be stiff but the noise is very worrying and makes me on edge when driving the car.

Any ideas would be greatly appriciated...

This is Eper
Click For Image

This is my setup


One thing ive noticed on eper there seems to be a bumpstop at the front (no 5 in the image)

I dont have this...

I have Shock, Spring, Coil Bearing, Top Mount...

Is my issue that im missing the bumpstop in the image above...Or is that just a gater?

The only other thing it could be is the drop links... these were purchased from eurocar parts...

That's not going to be your problem mate!!! Just got back home and didn't have time to call you back!!!

Did you remove the top stabiliser bar at the garage??

Also, is it from one side or both???

yes, but refitted it...
both sides mate
my dad said the drop links didnt look right but possibly because on the ramp the car wasnt under load....

Can you get it to me??

We can take a wheel off each and compare the arb/ drop lins ect

If you don't align the stab bar, it can cause a horrid bang over bumps and hard acc.

Hate to sound like a hum bug, but it does not sound right... Saying that, mine bangs over pot holes....

Billies are stiffer....
(giggady)

You bribing it over??

its not a normal bang though marco...
As you know I had koni and eibach before... this is a really violent thud honestly its almost like the wheel is going to come flying off... its that bad. If i cant get it to my dads tomorrow i may have to take you up on that offer...

What an anticlimax after 8 months of work on the car
On the plus side... it looks amazing

When I had them on, at town speeds, you really felt going over a pot hole but never enough to think the wheel was going to come off

Mario, as i said this morning, there is an underlining issue with is.
some thing is hitting/ making contact some where!!

bring it to me!!!

Cheers for the reply Duncan!
Ive been in many cars with this setup and im well aware of how harsh the ride is... there is clearly as marco stated something not quite right...

Taking the car to the garage this evening to have a look will take some pictures and post on here. Marco I may come up and see you soon... unless you fancy Ace tomorrow? Suspension rebuild in the carpark sounds like a plan

i will see if my mrs wants to come ace! not too sure if i can be arsed tbh, will see what happens...

just get down to mine!

Got to go ace tomorrow mate otherwise I would come to yours

My old man recons the issue is the shocks and the springs he says they are far too low and thats whats causing the issue. He says there is hardly any travel and its causing it to bottom out when hitting big pot holes. It does it on both sides...

It would be useful for me if others with the eibach/billie combo could comment on this please

Thanks

how open are the springs when the car is at rest? they might be going coil bound when you hit a bump,this will make it bang.

If your saying it looks lower than normal they are to short/to soft for the car i.e, the wrong set of eibachs.

Mario, The travel of the bilstein shockers is indeed very short with the eibach springs. The B6 is meant to be paired with the standard springs but alot here stick lowered springs on anyway (Including myself )

I think your problem is because you don't have any bumpstops on. When installing bumpstops, you would most definitely need to cut them down too due to the reduced piston travel on the shocks. I've tried installing the bumpstops as it is before (without cutting them down) but they just rode on them.

Sparkyman on her has E & B's on his and constantly complains about the ride on bumpy/uneven roads.

After driving mine (standard suspension but all new) I would never go back to modded suspension.

Ross

Kelv
Thanks for the reply!(and jonone)
Do you have a photo or diagrame of how the bump stop should be on the front?
Ive never seen them on the front and i cant see it in eper?

The springs and shocks were purchased from AA (by duncan) so they should be the correct spec...

too low?



Ross
I dont mind about the ride... its my toy car so by no means a comfort car... however the bang is whats worrying and im pretty sure it shouldnt be doing that. Hopefully sparky can comment...

I'll text/phone him and draw his attention to this and let him comment.

As for the pics, I don't think it looks too low mate. Definately seen lower.

Ross

My thoughts exactly
Thanks Ross!

Also anyone who could explain about where the bump stops go on the front that Kelv was refering too would be a great help

Put a piece of rubber / foam inside the spring to act as a temp. bump stop. If it still does it, it's the suspension that's going to the end of its travel. Can also be the ARB or drop links.

Can you explain how the ARB and drop links would effect it please?

My gut feeling is the drop links... when it was up on the ramp they looked like they were under a lot of stress on the ARB IE... they were at a sharp angle rather than sitting nice on the arb

Damn, first you ask a question then you partly answer it yourself.

ARB / bushes / drop links when they're worn (or even new) or under stress due to tension / incorrect fitting (if at all possible) can cause serious knocking as if two big pieces of wood hit each other. A dry "PACK!". Especially when braking over eg. coblestones. The more unforgiving your suspension is, the more obvious it would be I'd say.

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1185572&Searchpage=1&Main=99501&Words=%2Bknocking+%2Bsuspension&Search=true#Post1185572

You could also take out the drop links to check whether it still does it. May rule out or confirm the ARB / drop links.

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1116179&Searchpage=1&Main=92278&Words=%2Bknocking+%2Bsuspension&Search=true#Post1116179

http://www.fiatcoupeclub.org/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=1100452&Searchpage=1&Main=92029&Words=%2Bknocking+%2Bsuspension&Search=true#Post1100452

yeah, all the bits were ordered from AA, and as far as i'm aware, there is only one type of Eibach spring for the 20vt. Mario, I'm sure I gave you a copy of the invoice from AA when we met up (if not, I can send you another one)

I remember ordering Fiat OE Bump-stops for the rear but there weren't any to buy for the fronts. The garage took the B/E combo off for standard parts 2 months later, i'm sure everything related to the B/E combo was taken off (e.g. no missing boots, that we did question on the front shocks, but other forum members said the same thing, in that, there weren't any).

The Eibach/Bilstein combo really does tighten up the front end. Standard suspension isn't too far off the Eibach/Bilstein setup. B/E are noticeably harder over any bumps/road surfacing lines and you feel the undulations in the road surface (unlike standard suspension).

What Mario is describing sounds like there is something wrong with the setup. They're progressive springs so around town it's close to standard suspension in terms of ride quality (i.e. <40 mph), I remember hitting pot-holes and it is worse with the billies and eibachs on but no way did it sounds like there was metallic banging noises or fear of a wheel coming off. At worst, i'd feel it through the dash and the car would rattle and squeak more. I went back to the standard suspension for the better ride quality. At A-Road/Motorway speeds (60mph +), they really firm up and you really start to notice how hard they are and how closely they follow the road surface.


Prior to the billies/eibachs going on, I had new wishbones, drop-links and track-rod ends. This was all fitted by my local garage though.

Did you fit pattern wishbones or OE?

The ride height looks about right Mario. The bumstops slip onto the piston rod and is between the topmounts and the shock body. So basically you would need to compress the springs, remove the topmount, and sleeve it onto the piston.

I got polyurethene ones fitted and they look like this (before shortening):


..and comes with this dustboot..but i find them way too soft and eventually shreds to bits.


The OE bumstop comes with the dustboot as well.