Rear wheel arch clearance

[AndrewTait]

Had my Octy Mk1 Estate (2001, 110BHP TDI elegance spec)in for an MOT yesterday at a main dealer for another make of car (my mate works there, and so it was easier for us to swap cars for the day, and him get the MOT done for me).

It came back as needing two new coil springs on the back, which given it's a ten year old car, with well over 100,000 miles on the clock, and the number of pot holes and speed bumps around where I live didn't suprise me. I'd also noticed it was looking a little lower at the back than it had been when I got it, so I have no arguement over whether they needed doing or not. So they offer to do them for me, while they have the car, which I agree to.

Anyway, go and pick it up, and it looks signifincantly lower at the back than it did when it was sat on broken springs, and very much lower than when I originally got it. I mentioned this to my mate, and he assures me that they got the springs from a well known motor factor, and quoted the chassis number to ensure they got the right parts. (my mate works in the Parts department, so it was probably him that placed the order for them).

The more I look at it, the more I feel they have fitted the wrong springs, or at the very least, not the same as what were fitted to it when I took it in. There is now less than an inch between the lower edge of the wheel arch, and the top of the wheel.

So - the questions I have are as follows:

(1) Can someone with a similar car just measure the clearance between the bottom edge of the wheelarch and their wheel, and let me know if mine is right.

(2) Is there a heavier duty spring that you can fit to one of these, for towing a caravan (as it has a tow bar on it, and was used to tow a caravan prior to me having it.) and therefore the ride hight was incorrect when I got it. (although it is a generic tow bar, so unlikely I think!)

Any help would be appreciated.

Cheers,

Andy

Edited 17 May, 2011 by AndrewTait

[KenONeill]

1) Same model but 2002 car on 100_000. Believed to be original springs. I make it at least 4 fingerwidths, measuring as 85 to 90mm rear arch gap. Also, sitting on level ground, the car is visually slightly nose-down.

[mbames]

My old girl (2001 110 TDi estate), 182k on original springs, new shocks about 90k ago. Pictures taken on level ground (in my garage), having passed an MoT only a few days before hand

Rear:

approx: 65-70mm

Front:

approx: 80mm

Edited 17 May, 2011 by mbames

[Flybikeslee]

[mbames]

haha, fail

[jamesk656]

standard suspension 688 from floor to arch

Spax VSX 635 from floor down 53mm

After 10,000 miles its about 610-615 from the floor,

See what yours is and compare your arch to floor to these, might give you an idea!

Hope it all helps!

[AndrewTait]

Thanks guys - I've just had the tape measure out, and it is about 625mm from floor to wheel arch and about 20mm from the top of the wheel to the wheel arch. There used to be a distinct nose down attiude when it was on the original springs, even when I thought the rear was slightly lower, but now is definitely not got any nose down angle.

Think I'm going to have a word with my mate, and get it rectified.

Cheers,

Andy

[AndrewTait]

Just had the correct rear springs put on today, and it is much better now.

Apparently, the motor factors sent the wrong springs (Mmmm! Convienient excuse???)

Anyway, just wanted to thank you guys again, it's much appreciated.

Cheers,

[jamesk656]

good to hear you got it all sorted!