Not intending lowering, just uprate brakes, ARB's and Polybush as needed and stage 1 remap. Oh and the elusive Blue or Performance controller if I can track one down.

Seems most advantage in the cast wishbones is for lowering. What do you think? Worth bothering on standard height 4x4?

Thanks

M

No

Angle on the wishbone would probably be to high

Reckon the sharper turn in characteristics would be horrible with soft suspension & ARBs' - cause the nose to pitch in too much

tbh, stock suspension and blue haldex doesn't sound like a promising match either

soft ride and more 4x4 = land rover handling

If you're worried about after market suspension vs ground clearance, then look at decent KW coilovers - have quite long bodies and hence ride height range in themselves and can be matched to spacers to increase ride height without effecting spring rate/dampening etc

I don't mind doing something to improve the suspension. Its just that I haven't got much info from suppliers about keeping the ride height other than B6 and new standard springs as a suggestion. Mostly everyone is geared towards lowering. I have started trying to get information about Ground Control Coilover conversion kits as a possible solution being designed to raise or lower 1" but no response to emails. Contacted Weitec about the lift kits and also advice on keeping standard or raising heights using their dampers or coilovers. Didn't get anything productive but maybe I didn't ask the right questions. Probably need to educate myself a bit about suspension. Maybe I am wanting to do something with the car its not suited to and should just get a Forester. Seems that i can get custom springs made in this country for reasonable price so I I knew what to ask for and how to match them with an appropriate damper I could get a solution.

M

These are KW spacers

Read of folks using them to raise ride height for winter, and lower for summer.

Fit weitec too, although I believe you can buy them branded as weitec

Maybe I am wanting to do something with the car its not suited to ...

this ?

Ha ha not quite! Just got muddy, bumpy twisty single track roads to get to work or surfing. Might as well enjoy them.

Found some Vortex forum threads about the spacers.

I will contact KW tomorrow and ask if the spacers

3 Aluminium spring spacers, height = 15 mm 65030045

2 Aluminium spring spacers, height = 30 mm 65030046

1 Aluminium spring spacers, height = 50 mm 65030047

are compatible with KW coilovers KW-35280031 ,10280031 or 15280031.

Thanks feels like made a bit of progress.

M

These brazillian shallow sumps can be adapted to fit the 4x4 ARX engine

(oil return pipe at wrong angle iirc)

From KW

I am sorry but you are unable to use spring spacers with our road coilover units. The reason for this is you can damage the piston rod by over extending it. The spring spacers you have mentioned are only used by our race department.

No reply from Ground Control. Again.

looking at rally forums and parts suppliers and there are threaded sleeves like ground control but welded on to the damper. Don't want to get into that. Over at TdiForum there are quite a few raising their VW cars with different springs and spacers but no Skodas there. USA had the r32 but most seem interested in lowering to Euro spec if keeping standard suspension.

Looked at so many suspension threads that have picture after picture of ever decreasing car heights.

Back looking at springs and dampers and avoiding sport or dampers designed for lowering as they won't have the range of movement with standard length springs.

Will contact custom spring maker and see if I can ask the right questions.

Any ideas appreciated in what to look for in a 'better' spring/ damper combo for standard height. Single track barely tarmaced bumpy twisty roads.

Will also load Etka and look at what gives the Scout a bit more height over the Mk2 4X4 just out of interest.

Would like to have got a bit further with this as got to decide wether to re-insure as standard car today or go for modified insurance to cover any different parts I may or may not put on. Dislike putting standard parts back when they wear if there is improvements to be made eg need new disks and pads so standard or 312 upgrade for same effort. Ho hum!

M

Why don't you start by fitting some R32 ARB's ?

These make a significant difference to the body-roll

Might just give you what you after

I have standard springs (Which are heavy duty) matched with Bilstein B6 shocks which are miles better than the standard sjocks. So cornering is more controlled and normal driving is like standard for comfort. Where I did find a big improvement in ride quality was changing to 15inch Audi pepperpots, much better over potholes now. They fit over the standard 288 discs but not the 312s but even with remap the 288s are fine