Xsara Picasso Shocks and Springs

[Tam]

Hi guys,
I have just replaced the front shocks and coil springs on my 2007 Picasso, they are the correct parts but the gap between wheel and top of the arch looks way too big.
It drives fine with no pulls, knocks etc.
Is this normal? If not, any ideas?

Thanks

Tam

[Huskyxantia]

Might be due to the fact your old ones where worn and making the car sit lower, lost my picasso a few moths ago same thing it was cheaper for me to get another car and less hassle doing the who front rebuild

[Tam]

Might be due to the fact your old ones where worn and making the car sit lower, lost my picasso a few moths ago same thing it was cheaper for me to get another car and less hassle doing the who front rebuild

I was thinking that but it looks like the wheels are too small for the car(Which they aren't)

[Huskyxantia]

Post up a photo, so we can see , check out hubnut on youtube


his car failed big time same thing but you have got yours sorted in time , the height will be noticed more now its been renewed

[Tam]

Will get a photo up mate

Thanks

[danlat1415]

New springs will take around 500 miles to settle in to their settled ride height

[Huskyxantia]

Very correct above. They have to settle then the gap your worried about wont look so hight

[Tam]

Thanks for the replies!
Unsure how to upload pics, do I need to host them somewhere first then post link? I have them on my pc.

[myglaren]

There is a guide to uploading images here

[Tam]

[myglaren]

That does look to be a very large gap.

[Tam]

That does look to be a very large gap.

That's what I was thinking, no noises, rubbing etc and it runs fine, handles as it should. Strange.

[danlat1415]

Did you check your had the correct like for like shock absorbers and not just 'compatible' ones? Same with springs.

Your new ones may be slightly longer.
Or it could just be because they're new and sitting higher than normal and will settle down over the next few hundred miles.


Once settled into the correct position - the standard gap is roughly the same in the whole arch (nice even semi-circle curve).
Yours currently has a wider gap at the top than the sides of the wheel.

[Tam]

Did you check your had the correct like for like shock absorbers and not just 'compatible' ones? Same with springs.

Your new ones may be slightly longer.
Or it could just be because they're new and sitting higher than normal and will settle down over the next few hundred miles.

I bought them(Shocks/Springs) from Arnold Clark parts mate, when I entered the reg, it came up with these. Is it possible they could be too big?
At first it was only one of the springs that were replaced as one had broke, I then decided to replace other spring and both shocks. The ride height was fine after changing just the one spring.
It is after changing the other spring and both shocks that the car now looks like this.

[danlat1415]

If you still have the old parts, and time on your hands - you may want to take one off and compare it against the old shock absorber.

Or if possible, just Jack the car up and use a tape measure to compare measurements between bottom of the strut and the bottom the the spring housing (measuring anything above that would change whilst on car due to spring compression - and if you're happy the springs were the same, the top compression part should be the same on both old and new)
So in theory, only the bottom solid part of the strut would be different lengths (if any difference).

If they're both the same, then it may just need settling in.