Finally Lowered

[Nova_Tek]

Today I finally got my new suspension on, front and rear shocks and H&R -30mm springs and tracked too.

HUGE difference to the ride, deffinately handles better, less body roll, much more composed on the road, better braking with no lunging forward as it used to do and the car looks better :)

One thing I want to ask is that the chap who fitted them has seemed to have forgotten to fit the shock cover i.e the plastic cylinder cover that goes over the shock rod.

Is it best to have this actually fitted? Obviously it protects the shock from dirt and grime. Will the shock life be affected if its left exposed?

Thanx :thumb:

[valverguy]

wouldnt be there if it wasnt needed in some way. i say at your next convienice get it put on!

[Nova_Tek]

My thoughts exactly, just wanted a confirmation. Dunno why he didnt put em on. OK a new pair wasnt supplied with the new shocks but he could have taken em off the original shocks and put em on, would have taken him, what... 2 seconds.

I'll go there tomorrow and get him to fit them on.

[Nova_Tek]

One other thing I believe he didnt put the bumpstops either as they are still on the original dampers and IIRC the new items didnt come with them in the box.

I take it the bump stop is free to move around on the strut and wouldnt be fastened in anyway. Just went and inspected the front struts and couldnt see anything.

Thanx for the help

[Asa-James]

get him to put the bumpstps on too, but cut them down so they dont interfere

[Nova_Tek]

Hate it when they dont do their job properly.

I shall see them tomorrow

Thanx mate

[Sirnixalot]

i cut my bumpstops off at the first indent from the top, it will make sense if you look at them. Also, those covers are to protect the shaft from dirtlol , get those put back on too.:thumb:

[Spacey]

nova tek - pics mate?

[Nova_Tek]

Appreciate all the help guys. Went there today and spoke to the guy who did it and he was giving me explanations to why he didnt put em on, should have really advised me first then see if I'd accept them not being put back on.

He said that only 4x4's need bunpstops, then he didnt put the cover on as it would rattle.

Told him I'd get more info and I'll be back.

Here are pics of what is installed:

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/4755/14022007272eg9.jpg

Below are pics of the pieces I have left unused:

http://img392.imageshack.us/img392/7788/14022007273hg0.jpg


Just as a confirmation these parts are Dust cover and Bumpstop?

Many thanx lads :thumb:

[Sirnixalot]

correct,

EVERY car needs bumpstops, if you hit a pot hole or speed bump hard you can seriously damage the shocks if you dont have the bumpstops. They stop the rod from trying to bust through the bottom.

The dust covers dont rattle on mine, and even if they did it wouldnt be a rattle that you would hear or notice.:thumb:

[Nova_Tek]

Thank you sir, I thought his 4x4 reason was a load of etc.

He was telling my that the orange item was there to hep hold up the dust cover :confused:. Lets just say I was a bit speechless when I heard that lol .

:thumb:

[Sirnixalot]

to be fair, lowered at 30mm it is unlikely you will ever hit the bumpstops but they are really really cheap insurance for your shocks if you ever do attempt to bottom them out.

also on track cars with a fair amount of grip, some times during cornering (if there is little shock travel and the springs are a bit soft relativley speaking) the car can rest on the outer bumpstops, if the bumpstops weren't there the suspension would go from travel to full stop really quickly and could cause loss of control.

its like coming to a slow controled stop vs running into a wall lol

[Nova_Tek]

Fully understand what you mean. I know why there are bumpstops but the guy didnt even look like he was familiar with the term 'bumpstop'. Im gonna go tomorrow to get em fitted.

Dunno where he got his info.

Obviously thre is less travel on the shock as its lower then usual. I guess cutting the bumpstop upto this first ridge would make sense so that it wont hit the bumpstop earlier then it should.

Thanx once again mate

[45_CB]

they wont rattle atall, tell him you want them on and even if bumpstops are for 4x4's (complete joke IMO) tell him you want them on!

no reason they shouldnt mate

[Nova_Tek]

:thumb:

[Sirnixalot]

forgot to mention dude, if you dont already have one you will want a GSi/GTE rear anti roll bar, i did it and i wouldnt dream of going back to no rear bar.:D

[Nova_Tek]

Aint got a clue whether or not I have one. Would this be a bar that runs under the rear beam?

Did all Nova's come with an ARB of any sort?

[Sirnixalot]

it runs through the rear beam. not all novas came with em. theres some info in old posts about it, if you give it a search you will find what models came with what.

my 1.2 merit didnt come with any

[Nova_Tek]

I think my 1.2 mite have one I recall seeing it a long while back. Will have to check.

[dannyb]

SRs, TDs, GTEs/GSis all come with front and rear ARBs (anti roll bars) Fit/Keep the rear one. My preference is to ditch the front one as it is obsolete now you've uprated the shocks and I find it inhibits them a bit (plus it weighs a fair bit). The most probable reason the mechaninc didn't put the rear 'sh1t shield' over the damper was probably due to it needing drilling to fit (I had to do this for mine. Lazy boy!

[Nova_Tek]

The most probable reason the mechaninc didn't put the rear 'sh1t shield' over the damper was probably due to it needing drilling to fit

Its actually the front ones that he didnt put the bumpstops back and the shield on. Rear ones are fine.

Gonna have to have a look to see if the rear has ARB fitted I just seem to remember seeing one.