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Topic: Very low ride height (Read 2219 times) |
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muskrat
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Living in 'Ding is such a pleasure
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Very low ride height
« on: Sep 1st, 2008, 7:27pm » |
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Hi wonder if anybody can help? I'm on my second Scorp but this one seens to have a very low ride height especially at the rear.
I've just returned from Cornwall, admittidly with a pretty well loaded up car with a roofbox as well but I was worried about how close the tyres were to the wheel arch when fully loaded. I could just get my fingers in the gap and I was worried about the tyres hitting the arch when the suspension bounced.
I never remember my previous Scorp having this and whilst we made it to and from Cornwall with no mishaps there was a smell of hot oil / burning from the rear when we got home after about 250 miles.
Any advice would be welcome as I want to get it sorted before we go back next year.
Cheers
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Highlander
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Expert
13 Scorpios, XR4x4, Suzuki SJ413 for off road :)
Posts: 8244
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #1 on: Sep 1st, 2008, 8:26pm » |
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Springs?
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on Oct 17th, 2011, 12:35pm, Simmo wrote:I give up !  Too much for an old boy!  |
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cuzza
Junior Member
NEVER SURRENDER 95 ultima 24v shogun 3.5gdi
Posts: 92
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #2 on: Sep 1st, 2008, 8:44pm » |
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was your other a estate ? saloons dont get self leveling me thinks ? 
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gozz
Senior Member
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Posts: 3475
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #3 on: Sep 1st, 2008, 8:53pm » |
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cuzza.
Some saloons have self levelling rear air shockers,there is a compressor behind the front bumper on nearside,an electronic level sensor between the body and the offside rear suspension and a relay in the aux box supplied via fuse 30.
GOZ.
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cuzza
Junior Member
NEVER SURRENDER 95 ultima 24v shogun 3.5gdi
Posts: 92
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #4 on: Sep 1st, 2008, 9:01pm » |
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well you learn somthing new every day ...was,nt sure about saloons  ...but know now 
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muskrat
Newbie
Living in 'Ding is such a pleasure
Posts: 10
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #5 on: Sep 1st, 2008, 10:18pm » |
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OK thanks, I'll look into whether or not ih has self levelling suspension. It's a 98 model if that sheds any light.
Thanks again.
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gozz
Senior Member
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Posts: 3475
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #6 on: Sep 1st, 2008, 10:43pm » |
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muskrat.
Just look at the rear shockers,if they haven't got airbags round them they aren't self levellers.
GOZZ.
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Highlander
Moderator
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13 Scorpios, XR4x4, Suzuki SJ413 for off road :)
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #7 on: Sep 1st, 2008, 11:22pm » |
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Thats only the very early models that ran with a compressor Gozz, later models dont have that set up.
The self levelling was available for the saloon but never heard of one that had it
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on Oct 17th, 2011, 12:35pm, Simmo wrote:| I give up ! Too much for an old boy! |
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gozz
Senior Member
Been around awhile
Posts: 3475
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #8 on: Sep 2nd, 2008, 9:27am » |
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Highlander.
All my hearses and limos have got the system from 95 to 97,I dont have any 98 cars.In the 97 handbook you will find the relay and fuse shown
GOZZ.
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #9 on: Sep 2nd, 2008, 1:45pm » |
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Without self levelling suspension, which I very much doubt your saloon has, then the ride height is purely down to the springs. Some springs seem to be tougher than others, hence the higher ride height.
Ford did produce heavy duty springs for the saloon which were fitted to models that had a factory fitted tow bar, but unfortunately these along with all Scorpio rear springs are no longer available from Ford. I have personally hunted high & low for a pair of HD springs but have never managed to find a pair yet.
There are after market standard springs available, but there is no guarantee that these will make the rear sit any higher. I think it's just pot luck if you get a stiffer pair or not 
I think it's just a case of spotting a Scorp saloon that sits higher at the back & asking the owner if they'd like to part with their rear springs  .........
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muskrat
Newbie
Living in 'Ding is such a pleasure
Posts: 10
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #10 on: Sep 2nd, 2008, 2:05pm » |
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Many thanks for all of the advice, much appreciated.
I asked about this when the car went through its MOT in July and they said the springs were OK. But that was not when loaded and so it would have sat higher anyway.
Shame about the springs no longer being available as that was my next plan - to just have them replaced regardless and hope it solved the problem.
In the handbook it says that the self levelling suspension on saloon models activates when the engine is running. As I only ever checked the height without the engine running is it worth putting some load on the back and seeing what happens when I start it up?
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cuzza
Junior Member
NEVER SURRENDER 95 ultima 24v shogun 3.5gdi
Posts: 92
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #11 on: Sep 2nd, 2008, 8:22pm » |
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there use to be spring assisters available some years back ....look around caravan type places these where simple to fix and remove they where designed for towing and heavy loads ...like i say these things may no longer be out there but it would help you when loading up for holidays ....??
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Highlander
Moderator
Expert
13 Scorpios, XR4x4, Suzuki SJ413 for off road :)
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #12 on: Sep 2nd, 2008, 8:51pm » |
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on Sep 2nd, 2008, 9:27am, gozz wrote:Highlander.
All my hearses and limos have got the system from 95 to 97,I dont have any 98 cars.In the 97 handbook you will find the relay and fuse shown
GOZZ. |
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Maybe a special for the stretched stuff??
I've never seen that system on any of the scorpios i've had or seen, only heard a handful of people on the forum who actually had it and then only on very early models, anyone else seen it?
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on Oct 17th, 2011, 12:35pm, Simmo wrote:| I give up ! Too much for an old boy! |
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gozz
Senior Member
Been around awhile
Posts: 3475
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #13 on: Sep 2nd, 2008, 10:10pm » |
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Muskrat.
You could always get a pair of Grayston spring assisters,simple to fit,just jack the car up,let the springs drop,and wind them in between the coils.They are hard rubber,and do work.Grayston 020 8974 1122.www.springassisters.co.uk
GOZZ.
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Jonnycab
Senior Member
Former owner of 2.3 Ultima Facelift saloon
Posts: 3900
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #14 on: Sep 3rd, 2008, 1:01am » |
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Scorpio spring assistors are available on Ebay ...........
........HERE
Been thinking about getting a pair myself, but I'm not sure that they will really lift the rear that much, maybe half an inch possibly ?
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muskrat
Newbie
Living in 'Ding is such a pleasure
Posts: 10
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #15 on: Sep 3rd, 2008, 1:20pm » |
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Thanks for the info on the spring assistors. I'd take a half inch improvement to be honest, so it's something that I'll look at.
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cuzza
Junior Member
NEVER SURRENDER 95 ultima 24v shogun 3.5gdi
Posts: 92
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #16 on: Sep 3rd, 2008, 9:16pm » |
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spring assistors wont lift your car a great lot but they do exactly what it says on the tin ...stop you sinking so low under load 
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Highlander
Moderator
Expert
13 Scorpios, XR4x4, Suzuki SJ413 for off road :)
Posts: 8244
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #17 on: Sep 5th, 2008, 11:46am » |
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on Sep 3rd, 2008, 1:20pm, muskrat wrote:| I'd take a half inch improvement to be honest |
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Wouldnt we all!!
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on Oct 17th, 2011, 12:35pm, Simmo wrote:| I give up ! Too much for an old boy! |
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gozz
Senior Member
Been around awhile
Posts: 3475
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #18 on: Sep 5th, 2008, 2:14pm » |
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Highlander.
D'ye mean aroond or alang ?
GOZZ.
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v4-max aka Cheekyboy1
Full Member
focus cc mk3 mondeo 2.0 auto cbx750 vt600
Posts: 563
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Re: Very low ride height
« Reply #19 on: Sep 5th, 2008, 5:19pm » |
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sill y question but does your scorp have the standard wheels on it? and are you sure the previous owner never fitted a lowering kit?
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