| Author |
Message |
    
oliver george
New User
Username: oliver1
Post Number: 6
Registered: 12-2024
| | Posted on Sunday, 19 July, 2026 - 23:05: |    |
Hello, I've recently completed work on brake system, replacing an accumulator and obviously draining and bleeding system. All seemed fine, but now I've noticed rear suspension is quite low, the level in No 2 reservoir went from about centre of marks on tank to above top mark. I was wondering what would be best thing to investigate. Also one of my height control valves has a broken lever, I've got lever positioned roughly in centre, matching the other one.
Any ideas appreciated |
oliver george
New User
Username: oliver1
Post Number: 7
Registered: 12-2024
| | Posted on Sunday, 19 July, 2026 - 23:07: | |
I forgot to add car's a 1976 Shadow 1 |
Geoff Wootton
Grand Master
Username: dounraey
Post Number: 2378
Registered: 05-2012
| | Posted on Monday, 20 July, 2026 - 01:06: | |
The ride height of your car is guided by the suspension springs. If the rear of your car is low, when the car is on level ground and unloaded, then the rear springs need to be replaced. This is a very common issue. You should not rely on the height control system to level the ride height.
As a rough rule of thumb, if you push your outstretched hand into the rear wheel arch the top of your hand should just touch the wheel arch whilst the bottom of you hand should be resting on the top of the tire. |
Brian Vogel
Grand Master
Username: guyslp
Post Number: 3469
Registered: 06-2009
| | Posted on Monday, 20 July, 2026 - 06:28: | |
Following on to Geoff's observation about the fact that the height control system should never be compensating for saggy springs, and should only ever activate when the rear (whether seat with passengers, trunk with "luggage", or both) is laden, it's also possible to use rubber spring spacers if you do not wish to replace the springs at a given point in time.
I had saggy springs on SRH33576, but the rams proved impossible to remove to do a spring replacement, so I used rubber spring spacers to get the required boost in height. I think I used two per spring, but don't remember the details all these years later. But what I do know is that they served their purpose for my 1.5 decades of ownership.
I had acquired a set of replacement springs which are now on Geoff's car since they never got installed on mine.
Brian |
|