Anyone any Ideas on how to

Unread post by **martyhopkirk** » 19 Feb 2006, 16:22

Raise the suspension / ground clearance on the ZX / AX - both front and rear?
Only by about 3 or 4 inches really.

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 19 Feb 2006, 22:18

Bigger wheels!

Scrapheap challenge style tractor wheels!

Paul Mi16 · Unread post by **Paul Mi16** » 20 Feb 2006, 09:32

I don't have any helpful suggestions but I'd curious to know why you want to do this?

Unread post by **martyhopkirk** » 20 Feb 2006, 11:12

Paul Mi16 wrote:I don't have any helpful suggestions but I'd curious to know why you want to do this?

Because I would quite lick tyo do this in my ZX...

Class 1:
Front engine, front wheel drive production cars. This is now an up and coming class where Mk1 Golf GTIs are starting to show their merits. Other popular vehicles are Ford Fiestas, Peugeot 205s and Citroen AXs, 2CVs and one very competitive MG Maestro. A good place to start but not a class for the faint hearted!

Kowalski · Unread post by **Kowalski** » 20 Feb 2006, 12:12

The rear is pretty easy to do, the torsion bars are splined, so you pull them out and turn them a couple of splines then put them back in and hey presto the rear end is raised (or lowered).

The front is a bit harder, you could have some sort of spring spacer blocks made (thats a fairly common way of raising a 4x4) which sit on top of the springs. Alternatively you need longer / stronger springs. I wonder whether it would be worth looking at springs from a larger heavier car.

Has anybody tried doing that with a Xantia / BX? They'd probably be suitable if you could get the suspension up to the right height without losing the articulation and most of the weight is over the front driven wheels. You'll need some chunky tyres to be competitive.

Sturdybloke · Unread post by **Sturdybloke** » 20 Feb 2006, 12:14

Kowalski, you just beat me to the answer

.

bxbodger · Unread post by **bxbodger** » 20 Feb 2006, 13:27

3 or 4 inches is a HUGE amount to raise a ZX :shock:and still retain some suspension movement , and unlikely to be acheivable with the standard set up. To check-jack the car, see how much the wheels drop-probably not much more than the raise you want!!

Spring spacers won't work for that amount of raise on a street car-you'd just run out of damping and bump movement.

Its because once you've got the extra 4" of ride height,for the car to be at all useable you still need another 4" or so to allow for bump, otherwise it'd be like driving a BX or Xantia on full height-absolutely no movement........

You'd need to go and see a 4x4 specialist and get some longer struts made up or adapted: not cheap!!!

Save a few quid- get some caravan towing spring assistors for the front-they'll not give you that much of a rise, but will prevent bottoming out, and adjust the torsion bars for the back !!

You only really probably need an inch or so at the most- its more down to driver skill,and choice and pressure of tyres than ride height.

And that Golf looks pretty much standard!!!

Unread post by **martyhopkirk** » 20 Feb 2006, 14:43

Kowalski wrote: You'll need some chunky tyres to be competitive.

Nope, not allowed - standard road rubber only

Thats what makes it fun!

James.UK · Unread post by **James.UK** » 20 Feb 2006, 17:27

Marty! You can't do that to a nice ZX!!!

Buy a banger hack the wheel arches away a bit *lot!) and slap some balloon type 14X90x205 Tyres on it! heh heh...

Seems a daft set of rules, that allows raised suspensions, but forbids chunky tyres? Snow chains?

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 20 Feb 2006, 19:37

martyhopkirk wrote:

Class 1:
Front engine, front wheel drive production cars. This is now an up and coming class where Mk1 Golf GTIs are starting to show their merits. Other popular vehicles are Ford Fiestas, Peugeot 205s and Citroen AXs, 2CVs and one very competitive MG Maestro. A good place to start but not a class for the faint hearted!

My initial response would have been "buy a BX".

Having seen what you want to do then I would definately say buy a BX.

Stinkwheel · Unread post by **Stinkwheel** » 20 Feb 2006, 20:08

A BX 4x4 modded to look like its 2WD

Homer · Unread post by **Homer** » 21 Feb 2006, 03:50

I always found the 2WD BX pretty good in mud (and snow).