Front struts bottoming out

[Andrade]

I am running Escort mk2 struts on the front with top adjustable gaz shocks. The issue I have is that since the car is lowered, they tend to bottom out very easily with the slightest bump on the road.

 

Can anyone point me in the direction where I can get a set of shocks which do not bottom out so easily on a lowered car?

[HotRodMatt]

I've read that Mk1 Golf (GTi?) inserts are shorter so when combined with suitably shortened casings you should have the low ride height still with some travel.

[JP.]

Stiffer springs would do the trick.

[rallyesport04]

short strut body bilsteins  rally boys use/sell them

[Andrade]

short strut body bilsteins  rally boys use/sell them

 

are these just the shocks or the whole leg?

[rallyesport04]

its the leg I think im not certain what inserts you put in them tho I will try to find out

[rallyesport04]

motor sport tools sell them you need short bilstein struts with short inserts not a cheap setup but they wont bottom out

[piekey]

You could get some bump stops (hard rubber) to slide over the shock . This would take out the harshness off the bottoming out and not smash the base off the damper.

Secondly raise the ride height by 20mm could make all the difference .

Thirdly  purchase some new shorter gaz units.

[Andrade]

The road I would like to go down to is keep the struts I currently have (which are converted to coilovers) and find a more suitable insert.

 

I had a look at motorsport tools website but prices are well beyond my budget for a road car.

 

I already raised the ride height by an inch since before the problem was much worse than it is now! That has made the car driveable, but it still bottoms out when the road is not perfect.

 

I just sent an inquiry to GAZ to see whether they could produce a shock with standard body height and shorter piston to overcome this problem.

[texr2000]

If its bottoming out then surly its the springs, on my Caterham the ride hight dropped a tad and i kept clipping the sump on things under braking. When we tried to raise the ride hight the sprigs just compressed instead of making much difference to ride hight. New stiffer springs and all is well now. the springs where not even that many years old (3 or 4)

 

The shock only smooths out or damps the shock, the spring is what controls the compression of the strut. are the springs old? Or have you changed the engine? maybe needs newer or stiffer springs?

[JP.]

What I said, its the springs.

 

What LBS where your previous springs and what LBS are your 1 inch higher springs. 200-225 on shorties ( 8" springs ) is way to low rating.

200lb on 10,5" springs will work but with 8" springs you'll have to go the 300+ lb route

[livewire7116]

tarmac spec inserts are 300/70 rating and are about £250 a pair, i run these on my billy casings with coilover conversion and an 8" spring, don't get any issues with bottoming out , you will prob find that your inserts are shot, the insert controls the dampening effect and the spring gives you the rebound

[Andrade]

Reviving an old thread, but still didn't get around doing it as I'm not using the car much.

 

Does anyone know where to buy the poly bump stops visible within this strut?

http://www.burtonpower.com/gaz-gold-coilover-leg-f-escort-mk2-rs2000-capri-new-gzgga4491as.html

 

[e501]

Superflex or powerflex sell something like that I reckon.

[Andrade]

Superflex or powerflex sell something like that I reckon.

 

http://www.burtonpower.com/powerflex-bump-stop-kit-pair-universal-polybs009k.html

 

 

Found it! cheap enough to try out if it actually solves the problem as my springs are already 200lb on 10,5" 

 

Thanks again to everyone

[BigBubba]

I ran 180ilb 10.5" on AVO coilovers and had no issue with travel. Is the shock pictured the same as yours? Looks like a mega short insert, the pistons on mine are about double that length. Super stiff springs with that bad boy me thinks.

[Andrade]

Mine are mk2 escort struts converted to coilovers with top adjustable inserts. This setup is in the Anglia so fitment wouldn't be 100% like Escort

[Andrade]

Ok so tried these out but when fully compressed there is no travel. So I'll have to bite the bullet and go for shorter struts

 

 

[Andrade]

My current setup doesn't have a hole at the bottom of the strut, could someone tell me if bilstein inserts fit just by adding the hole? I have no experience with these kind of inserts

 

[105Ian]

I have Escort struts on my Anglia and had them shortened by Gaz to the correct height

[Andrade]

I have Escort struts on my Anglia and had them shortened by Gaz to the correct height

 

Being located in malta this is not really feasible. Having said this there are a number of very capable engineering shops with experience in building hillclimb cars. So if I manage to find the correct short insert, I can get the strut casing shortened locally.

[Andrade]

Got my hands on a set of shocks identical to the ones I have bar for the fact that they are 2" shorter. Next I'll have to shorten the struts to suit these, put the bump stops in and in theory job done finally.

 

This will have to wait a little while since I'm currently reading through my thesis, but at least I can put my mind at rest that I'll be able to enjoy the car this summer!

 

[turnover]

You need air suspension for the roads in Malta lol

[Andrade]

You need air suspension for the roads in Malta lol

 

Haha true that, I wish I was into landrovers instead of these weird old fords 

[BTM_FDR]

Hi, I also have standard mk2 front struts... where did you find these shortened inserts?

Do they fit the standard strut housing?

 

Many thanks!!