I built my car entirely to the book with Escort back axle and have Gaz shock units fitted. I am still playing with the adjustment for the shocks but find that the nose of the diff hits the cross tube O3 on full drop of the suspension with one up or more often when two up. I can wind the spring platform further up but that would raise the ride height. I may have to do this to cure it but has anyone else had the same problem? Can anyone with Gaz units tell me where they have the spring platforms set and what clicks they have on the shock settings just for me to try? By the way, 1300 x flow and 4 speed fitted just in case anyone asks from the weight point of view

Hi mike i have f27 with live axle and gaz shocks welcome to have look at clearences etc on mine

Hiya ali f27, any chance of your phone number and I can come and look see?

Mike tel 07933787810

What poundage are the rear springs?

What poundage are the rear springs?

The spec sticker on the shox says 1.9 x 12 x 120lbs.

Springs are more than a little on the soft side --- 180 lbs/in would be a better starting point however even with the springs removed altogether there should be metal to metal contact. Sounds like you either need longer bump stops or need to modify the brackets for the shocks so the car rides higher --- in effect lowering the bump stops.

You can also gain an inch by cutting a section from O3 where it crosses the tunnel and welding a replacement piece of chassis tube across the top to join O1 and O2 and bridge the two halfs of O3.

Er, I dont have bump stops. How, where are they fitted? The shocks themselves dont have any.

erm am i reading this wrong? the answers you have is about the axle hitting the top of the chassis, but as i understand, if you jack the car up, the diff hits the chassis? is that correct? i don't see how any of the above advice would help if thats the case.

the problem is on full droop rather than full bump, correct? if its full droop, shorter open length of the shocks would help

Probably my incorrect way of describing things. I should have said that it is on full bump ie; the top of the axle nose hits the underside of the cross tube.

mike should be lots of clearance on that member the gaz struts should come with a rubber bump stop inside the spring on the rod that atatches to the piston will come and have look if you like regards Alistair

Thanks Alistair for the generous offer, I will get back to you but at the moment have lots of things organised for the coming weekends so it may not be straight away. By the way, if you are interested in motorsport our club, Fell Side Auto Club, have a Production car trial next Sunday at Blagill, just the other side of Alston so almost on your doorstep. Give me a call for precise directions if interested.

Hi mike is trial on tarmac could i compete in mine cheers

Not remotely suitable for a 7 style car unfortunately. Its on a rough fell side venue and I am using my Skoda Estelle trials car. There will be Marlin kit cars, a Beetl, a variomatic Daff and a Dutton Melos trials car plus a few more maybe.

Id say the springs are too soft. There is a nice dent in one of my tunnel tubes where the nose was hitting it as the guy who built the chassis decided to use sebac motorbike shockers and springs.

[Edited on 11/4/10 by prawnabie]

I was informed of this issue when mine was being built. I move the Q rail up an inch, so no clearance issues. BTW, I run 150lb springs and they seem just right .