advice on unlowering a car;

Jet-Fighter7700

Jet-Fighter7700

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Hi master MYBB mechanics...

got a few questions for you all on major suspension work;

I got my car from auction; lowered, but very badly and unprofessionally done;
IE the guy previous to me, cut parts of the springs off; and generally messed up the ride of my little picanto;
the springs were in a very bad way when they got pulled out; was grinding on the arches; were all bent out of shape;
( seriously was is the point of this modification? :confused:)

anyway, that's all in the past now as I just went and refitted my coil springs on my car.
I recently test drove a equivalent picanto of my GF and the difference is like an donkey cart vs a Mercedes s class.....

I found a scrapyard, and brought all 4 springs for my car; front 2 came with the shock encased inside;
and the back 2 were just springs on their own;

Ive got a few questions firstly;

should I have wheel alignment done now?
I mean my car drives more or less straight;
but the steering feels a bit strange; but maybe that's me not being used to it;:p
is there anything I should ask for when I do alignment?

and secondly; should I have at least the front 2 shocks changed?
I brought it as it came and Im a bit unsure what brand my front shocks are?
its not even marked; and I have no way of telling if the shocks were in good condition when I got them;
is there any concrete test to be sure?

and thirdly; is there anything I should look out for in the next 1000 KM? or anything I should look out for now?

IE tire wear different, CV joint wear different? shocks wear different?
also anything I should avoid, or try to do to keep it in better condition that what I got it as?

apart from avoiding JHB's potholes:p at least until I drive a land cruiser bakkie......
 
Get alignment and shocks checked by a reputable shop ASAP.
 
eg2505 said:
Dangerous to drive this way?
Click to expand...
Could well be.
Your suspension is what keeps your tyre in contact with the road and keeps you in control. If anything feels even slightly vague, get it checked out for peace of mind.
After changing McPherson struts alignment is necessary in many cases.
You can do an amateur shock check by bouncing each corner of the car up and down a few times. It should not continue bouncing when you stop, just return to rest position and stop.
 
Last edited:
Sinbad said:
Could well be.
Your suspension is what keeps your tyre in contact with the road and keeps you in control. If anything feels even slightly vague, get it checked out for peace of mind.
After changing McPherson struts alignment is necessary in many cases.
You can do an amateur shock check by bouncing each corner of the car up and down a few times. It should not continue bouncing when you stop, just return to rest position and stop.
Click to expand...

Cool will do, only front alighnment is nessasary right?

Also any reccomendations, or specific makes of alignment machine i need?
 
eg2505 said:
Cool will do, only front alighnment is nessasary right?

Also any reccomendations, or specific makes of alignment machine i need?
Click to expand...
Just take it to a hi q or Supa quick and ask them to do it.
 
Another question, as my suspension is now back to stock,

Should i do a inspection for insurance again?

I mean slowly but surely my car is being returned back to stock form,

First the exhuast gone, now the suspension,
One or 2 cosmetic parts on, i should have a picanto that looks and feels like any other on the road.....
 
eg2505 said:
Another question, as my suspension is now back to stock,

Should i do a inspection for insurance again?

I mean slowly but surely my car is being returned back to stock form,

First the exhuast gone, now the suspension,
One or 2 cosmetic parts on, i should have a picanto that looks and feels like any other on the road.....
Click to expand...

i would assume that if you insured it as a modified version, then yes - you could try that. Although i am not sure how the normal insurer will handle a unmodified modified car :P
 
or get some new coil overs :)

springs+shocks,they are alot better than the stockones
and ya check the cv's + realignment+balancing,just incase
also let them check if they have played with camber,if u just replace the springs

lowerd cars is nice,till you get stuck on a speedbump :P
 
I know this isn't helpful but I totally lost it a "picanto" HTF anyone could imagine that this car could have a racing aesthetic or be made to look meaner is just beyond me.

Rolling by time you indicated that the exhaust had been modded too.
 
Colin62 said:
Now that your car has been raised, are you going to name it Lazarus?
Click to expand...

Maybe, don't know yet,

Thinking to call it Frankenstein with all the crap i had got it with.

Yeah, crap exhuast, hole in the bumper,
Lowered suspension, done really badly
carbon fibre stickers stuck everywhere, a few choice gifts hidden in the centre console and in the rear suspension bushing

Overall, most of the crap is gone, next is probably bumper respray or new as its a bit broken the tab,

Otherwise, i did the alighnment, but still car shakes under accelleration,
What could this be? Gonna change cv boots soon,

What could be bent? Axle or somethiñg else?
Flywheel?
 
SlinkyMike said:
I know this isn't helpful but I totally lost it a "picanto" HTF anyone could imagine that this car could have a racing aesthetic or be made to look meaner is just beyond me.

Rolling by time you indicated that the exhaust had been modded too.
Click to expand...

Yeah, i hear you,

You need to be a real id10t to belive a picanto is a sports car, its just too small and underpowered to be good at anything even slightly sporty....
 
I shall quote the Top Gear guys on this, "If a car has been modded, walk away. ESPECIALLY if it's been lowered."

But that's water under the bridge now as it's too late... My advice, stop just changing parts you think need changing. Take it to a proper mechanic and get him to do a full check of the vehicle
 
ScottulusMaximus said:
I shall quote the Top Gear guys on this, "If a car has been modded, walk away. ESPECIALLY if it's been lowered."

But that's water under the bridge now as it's too late... My advice, stop just changing parts you think need changing. Take it to a proper mechanic and get him to do a full check of the vehicle
Click to expand...

Yeah strongly agree with you on this,

Unfortunantly i wasn't around when this car went for auction, i would have spotted the lowering, and exhuast and carbon fibre stickers

Too late now, but slowly but surely fixing it up

Right now you wont recodnise it from when i got it.....

Next service quite soon, not sure if i should change valves or cambelt this service, as its over 100000 km
 
Shaking under acceleration is most likely inner cv joints.
 
eg2505 said:
Maybe, don't know yet,

Thinking to call it Frankenstein with all the crap i had got it with.

Yeah, crap exhuast, hole in the bumper,
Lowered suspension, done really badly
carbon fibre stickers stuck everywhere, a few choice gifts hidden in the centre console and in the rear suspension bushing

Overall, most of the crap is gone, next is probably bumper respray or new as its a bit broken the tab,

Otherwise, i did the alighnment, but still car shakes under accelleration,
What could this be? Gonna change cv boots soon,

What could be bent? Axle or somethiñg else?
Flywheel?
Click to expand...

Shaking under acceleration will have nothing to do with CV Boots. Could mean that it just needs a damn good major service, plugs + filters etc.
 
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