Why is my LC so low?

[SlashProm]

It has the standard 16" bbs splits.
45 profile tyres
looks to have stock front springs "black and rusty, look like the 17 year old originals.

My dog bone, back of the subframe and sometime the back of the sump near the drain plug skims over some of the rougher speed bumps on my estate.

Earlier I was out and trying to keep up with a mondeo st, It was a straight road heading into a 60, I was going a little faster than that but nothing crazy, the road got a bit bumpy, no speed bumps just a bit uneven and bouncy, car came down hard and I swear it was like I'd ripped the sump clean off the car.

surely 45 profile tyres wouldn't cause all of this? are the cupra's this bad? Because everyone is saying "I have mine lowered 30mm and it's fine"

 

[SlashProm]

If it helps my springs are 250mm from top to bottom with the car jacked up on axle stands. I don't have spring compressors so I can't take them off, but a standard spring is 360mm which I'm guessing is unsprung height

 

[SlashProm]

Bit of an update. I have been trawling through the forums and I found a post about the ride height of a Cupra R
from the floor the the top centre of the wheel arch it should be:
Front: 67cm
Rear 67.5cm

I also found that a Cupra R is 20mm lower than an LC so if I'm right, my car

Front: 63cm
Rear 65cm

The front looks to be 60mm lower.

I also can't get a measure of the subframe as my ruler is too big but it looks to have about 8-9cm of clearance for the dogbone and subframe bottom arm holders.

I also have to factor in that it has 45 profile tyres and not 55 profile which is a difference of 13.8mm. So if I was to round up and give it the benefit of the doubt. I'd say it has 45mm lowering springs on the front. That and the fact I don't see 60mm lowers anywhere for the leon 1m


Update, think I'm on to something, according to what I'm reading my 16's should have a 205/55//r16 and not a 195/55/16. The difference between a 205/55-16 and my 195/45/16 is basically 50mm, explains a lot. So if I take the 50mm less in wheel diameter and half it, as it's wider top and bottom, meaning only half of the size effects ride height. I can safely say that my car is 25mm lower on the tyres, so it must have between 30 and 35mm front lowering springs on it.

 

[Sparkie]

Don’t know if yours is pre facelift
But my first LC had 17 inch rims as standard.


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[SlashProm]

It's a 2002 Reg. When I went to buy the car it was in a driveway next to an Audi TT, which was up on axle stands with no engine and subframe. He told me that the engine and "big brakes" off the TT went into it. So I can't be 100% certain if it's supposed to have 16's or if it's an LC.

The alloys scraped on the brakes when I got it which I put down to the 312mm discs and bigger calipers.

It's hard to get any solid information as I know my car can come with 312mm brakes and the slightly smaller ones. I've also been led to believe that some leon cupra's came with 16's and/or 17's. Like how some Cupra R's come with 17's and/or18's.

The Alloys are 16" BBS Splits, they are also known as the "16th anniversary alloys" mainly associated with the MK4 Golf GTi

It also has full leather electric seats.

As you can see it has some serious arch gap, I'm sure It'd be better with 17's but I like the acceleration and the alloys, and I'm hoping just putting the right size tyres on it will fix most of the issues.

 

[Zardoz]

Yeah, that wheel/tyre combination looks really small in the arch.

 

[Zardoz]

For comparison here are my 16" wheels, tyres are 205 / 55 / 16 (on 35mm lowering springs).

 

[Zardoz]

If you combine that with original worn springs it'll all be adding to the drop in height. Like you say getting the right size tyres on will help, if its still low then look at replacing your springs / struts.

 

[SlashProm]

Thanks for all the helpful replies. I'll be starting with decent tyres as stated above. I also never knew that old springs would lower the ride height, but I guess it makes sense as they lose some of their rigidity and begin to droop lower under the weight. A set of springs for the front is around £25 for atandard OE. Might be one for the weekend

 

[Zardoz]

You'd might be shocked by the state of the springs if they're the originals. When I took my old ones off they were all different heights! Oh and one had lost good a 1/3 turn off the end

Make sure you get the tracking sorted too if you get the springs swapped mate.

 

[verbal_kint]

A set of springs for the front is around £25 for atandard OE.

£25... from where? ECP with Sachs OE is over £80 after disc.

 

[Alexis27]

Someone's made a complete hash of that. Far too low. Even worn springs won't account for that bodge.

You're missing the arch liner as well.

 

[Sparkie]

It's a 2002 Reg. When I went to buy the car it was in a driveway next to an Audi TT, which was up on axle stands with no engine and subframe. He told me that the engine and "big brakes" off the TT went into it. So I can't be 100% certain if it's supposed to have 16's or if it's an LC.

The alloys scraped on the brakes when I got it which I put down to the 312mm discs and bigger calipers.

It's hard to get any solid information as I know my car can come with 312mm brakes and the slightly smaller ones. I've also been led to believe that some leon cupra's came with 16's and/or 17's. Like how some Cupra R's come with 17's and/or18's.

The Alloys are 16" BBS Splits, they are also known as the "16th anniversary alloys" mainly associated with the MK4 Golf GTi

It also has full leather electric seats.

As you can see it has some serious arch gap, I'm sure It'd be better with 17's but I like the acceleration and the alloys, and I'm hoping just putting the right size tyres on it will fix most of the issues.

That gap is ridiculous! Only just seen these photos.
Something really wrong going on.


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[SlashProm]

Just an update for everyone. The tip of one of my back springs had snapped off and it obviously made that corner even lower. After putting on 2 new back springs I've gained 15mm in height on the back on one side and 30mm on the other as it was even lower with the broken spring tip.

Back was: osr floor to middle of arch: 54cm, nsr floor to middle of arch was 55.5cm. Now both are 57cm and it has totally changed the angle of the car and it already scrapes less. If the backs are anything to go off, the two new front springs and struts will get me where I need to be.

@Alexis27 What do you mean a complete bodge? You mean the fact that the tyres are too low a profile? Because I already know that. Yes I'm well aware I'm missing the front half of the wheel arch liner, the exposed side mount is a bit of a give away lol. Anyway, you'd be surprised how much difference worn springs can make, they essentially become lowering springs, and allow more suspension travel which leads to bottoming out.

Next on the list is some 205/55/16's which will give me a further 25mm of ground clearence. Car is much better now though, and the front springs will angle my wishbones up a bit higher and create some more clearence. Maybe not as much as the tyres will, but still pretty close.

PS: For anyone that is confused, the profile of a tyre is a percentage of it's width. By putting on 195/45's instead of 205/55's it creates a difference in diameter of 50mm, half of which equates to ride height making it 25mm lower with those tyres, if it had 205/45's this would be way less severe, but it's the 195/45 that makes it such a massive difference in size. With new springs the car will only be 25mm lower than stock and will have much less suspension play, which will put me around lcr standard height, give or take 5mm.