after lowering springs car's not low enough

lanpod

Active Member
Apr 27, 2021
35
3
hey, so recently ive decided to install the vogtland 35mm lowering springs on my 1.4 manual fr, tho the rear is sitting pretty nice and tightly fitted to the wheel tho the front has not changed almost at all and theres a big gap between the wheel to the chassis... ride is fine but honestly with lowering springs, all you can ask for is looks especially in a 180 hp car lol
wondering if theres any solutions you guys can think of or creative ways to lower it a little more in the front. thanks
 

300bhpdaily

Active Member
May 26, 2020
1,246
568
The chances are they are the wrong rated springs and for a diesel or something with a heavier front end. Or saying that they might not be for a fr and for a base model car with higher height from factory if that makes sense?
 

lanpod

Active Member
Apr 27, 2021
35
3
The chances are they are the wrong rated springs and for a diesel or something with a heavier front end. Or saying that they might not be for a fr and for a base model car with higher height from factory if that makes sense?
can't be, since the 1.4 fr has a specific suspension and rear axles so it makes it that only specifically made springs can fit the car if that makes sense.
only reasonable explanation i could think of is that im running 19's instead of factory 18's but that still would be a weird reasoning...
 

300bhpdaily

Active Member
May 26, 2020
1,246
568
can't be, since the 1.4 fr has a specific suspension and rear axles so it makes it that only specifically made springs can fit the car if that makes sense.
only reasonable explanation i could think of is that im running 19's instead of factory 18's but that still would be a weird reasoning...
Ah ok sorry Strange one.
 

BigJase88

Jase
Apr 20, 2008
3,767
1,069
can you explain more in detail? i let my mechanic do it for me lolol
You have to open up the front hub with a splitter tool. This is to remove and refit the shocks

I have made the mistake before of not fully seating the bottom of the shock as far down as it can go inside the hub. Thus increasing ride height at the front.

A simple error but plausible
 
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lanpod

Active Member
Apr 27, 2021
35
3
You have to open up the front hub with a splitter tool. This is to remove and refit the shocks

I have made the mistake before of not fully seating the bottom of the shock as far down as it can go inside the hub. Thus increasing ride height at the front.

A simple error but plausible
can you tell only by looking without uninstalling the whole front hub section? because honestly im not such a mechanic and if thats the case, ill do what it takes to fix it, just wanna make sure before doing anything

edit; is that what you mean by not being flat out as far as it can go? seen it on a yt vid

Screenshot_11.png
 

SuperV8

Active Member
May 30, 2019
1,348
594
can you tell only by looking without uninstalling the whole front hub section? because honestly im not such a mechanic and if thats the case, ill do what it takes to fix it, just wanna make sure before doing anything

edit; is that what you mean by not being flat out as far as it can go? seen it on a yt vid

View attachment 29389

Yes, the strut (number 25) needs to be fully seated/down in the knuckle (number 8)
Normally cars have a dent in the back of the strut which the bolt (number 16) goes through so you can't get it wrong (the bolt wouldn't go in) - but looking at images for the front Leon/Golf damper it looks just a flat tube - so this could be the issue?

1642428892036.png

I would also double check your springs - very possible they are the wrong part/spec and as someone else mentioned for a TDI.
 

lanpod

Active Member
Apr 27, 2021
35
3
Yes, the strut (number 25) needs to be fully seated/down in the knuckle (number 8)
Normally cars have a dent in the back of the strut which the bolt (number 16) goes through so you can't get it wrong (the bolt wouldn't go in) - but looking at images for the front Leon/Golf damper it looks just a flat tube - so this could be the issue?

View attachment 29392
I would also double check your springs - very possible they are the wrong part/spec and as someone else mentioned for a TDI.
do you mean bolt 16 is just for closing down pressure for the strut to sit in or does it go inside the strut like a hole or something? and the strut just sits inside the knuckle inside its hole there and is a flat bottom so its got nowhere to go? i probably sound dumb cus i dont understand nothing here LOL never been more confused
also box says the exact model its for and its for my car
i took pictures of my strut and springs if you can tell anything
 

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Last edited:

BigJase88

Jase
Apr 20, 2008
3,767
1,069
Bolt 16 is just used to clamp the shock in place (no locator)

From the pictures it looks fine. The shock looks properly seated.
 

lanpod

Active Member
Apr 27, 2021
35
3
Bolt 16 is just used to clamp the shock in place (no locator)

From the pictures it looks fine. The shock looks properly seated.
uhh unfortunate :\ guess the springs are just not as their described
thanks for the help anyways man :)
 

SuperV8

Active Member
May 30, 2019
1,348
594
do you mean bolt 16 is just for closing down pressure for the strut to sit in or does it go inside the strut like a hole or something? and the strut just sits inside the knuckle inside its hole there and is a flat bottom so its got nowhere to go? i probably sound dumb cus i dont understand nothing here LOL never been more confused
also box says the exact model its for and its for my car
i took pictures of my strut and springs if you can tell anything
Is the spring properly on the seat?
What springs are they? What's the part number?

1642437295742.png
 

martin j.

Active Member
Feb 11, 2007
1,996
891
Fife
I would be checking the springs themselves for a part number or paint code and checking with the supplier that they are correct, boxes can be filled with the wrong parts.
 
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