105 Rear Suspension Ride Height

Started by njh1964, January 08, 2020, 10:16:59 AM

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njh1964

Hi All,

I have a "fast road" suspension set up on my GT1300 Junior, and I'm very happy with the ride and handling on nice smooth road surfaces. However, on rougher surfaces and over bumps, speed humps, etc it's just too low in the rear end. Bottoming out is a real issue, particular if I put anything heavier than a picnic basket and a bottle of prosecco in the boot :-)

From pavement to the top lip of the rear wheel arches measures 590-595mm. I'd like to lift that ride height by 40-60mm to provide a little extra ground clearance. I assume I'll either need to install spacers or replace the existing rear coil springs, but I'm hoping I won't also have to replace the rear shock absorbers. The existing shock absorbers (Koni Reds) are not that old and appear to be working fine, but of course they can't stop the rear end from bottoming out on their own.

Can anyone suggest a spring/spacer combination that would give me the extra 40-60mm rear ride height, hopefully without having to replace the existing rear shock absorbers? A local supplier in Melbourne would be preferable.
Now:
1968 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior - Complete Restoration Project
2002 Alfa Romeo 147 Twin Spark - Track Day Car
Previously:
1974 Alfasud TI - First Car

Paul Gulliver

Springs are a lot cheaper than shockers, so I would be starting there. Check and see if the springs have been chopped and if so by how much.
Paul Gulliver
Present
2017 Silver Giulia Veloce
1979 Silver Alfa 116 GTV Twin Spark
1973 Red Alfa 105 2.0 GTV

Past
2013 Giulietta QV
2006 Black 159 2.2 J
1970 Dutch Blue Series 2 1750
1975 Blue Alfetta Sedan 1.8
1981 Piper Yellow Alfetta GTV 2000
1985 Red Alfetta GTV2.0
1989 White Alfa 164
2000 156

njh1964

Hi Paul,

Thanks for the response. My existing rear springs haven't been chopped as such, they are lower/fast road suspension spec springs. The problem is that they're just too low for my general driving usage.

I'd like to avoid a convoluted trial-and-error fitting process if possible, so I'm hoping someone can recommend a supplier and/or part number for a pair of rear springs that will give me an additional 40-60mm of rear ride height... perhaps a pair of factory standard springs?

As you can imagine, I don't want to buy a pair of springs, fit them, drop the car and find that I'm still too low (or too high), and then have to remove and return the new springs.

Cheers,


Nick
Now:
1968 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior - Complete Restoration Project
2002 Alfa Romeo 147 Twin Spark - Track Day Car
Previously:
1974 Alfasud TI - First Car

Colin Byrne

hi nick, are you happy with the actually spring rate? if so a spacer may be an easier option, and will give you the same ride height change as the spacer, so no trial and error. Unlikely the dampers will run out of travel if they are standard, infact sounds like you'll move them back into their correct working range. 
72' 105 2000 GTV Red (tarmac rally/race car)
74' 105 2000 GTV Blue (road car)
68' 105 1600 Giulia Super White (Not sure yet)
01' Nissan Pathfinder (Tow car/Alfa support vehicle)

njh1964

Hi Colin,

I reckon the spring rate is okay because the car rides and handles really well on smooth surface roads. I suspect the problem is there's just not enough suspension travel available to avoid bottoming out.

If fitting spacers can get me an additional 40-60mm of rear suspension ride height, that would be ideal. Any advice as to where I can buy suitable spacers? Also, do the spacers fit at the top or bottom of the rear springs... or both ends?

Regards,


Nick
Now:
1968 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior - Complete Restoration Project
2002 Alfa Romeo 147 Twin Spark - Track Day Car
Previously:
1974 Alfasud TI - First Car

Colin Byrne

Not sure about availability, I made some for my car, fitted at the top. How about just putting standard springs back in, at least a known quantity then? Just to confuse the issue I did have a set of konies that failed in a way that made it feal like the car was bottoming out on speed humps ect. Do the bump stops look like they have been getting a hard time?
72' 105 2000 GTV Red (tarmac rally/race car)
74' 105 2000 GTV Blue (road car)
68' 105 1600 Giulia Super White (Not sure yet)
01' Nissan Pathfinder (Tow car/Alfa support vehicle)

njh1964

Unfortunately, I don't have the original factory springs anymore, so I would need to buy new factory spec springs to see if that increases the ride height. The bump stops do have contact marks, so the rear end is actually bottoming out.
Now:
1968 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior - Complete Restoration Project
2002 Alfa Romeo 147 Twin Spark - Track Day Car
Previously:
1974 Alfasud TI - First Car

njh1964

Has anyone fitted the below "standard height" King Springs rear coil springs to a 105 coupe? If so, what was the ride height (ie from ground to under the lip of the rear wheel arch) after fitting?

https://automotivesuperstore.com.au/king-springs-kars-04?gclid=CjwKCAiAmNbwBRBOEiwAqcwwpUPZtQS6bd6-AkuJH7IQ3dzZTA1TfPWeORngb6YTGfnavLhzBBr4wBoCZ0YQAvD_BwE
Now:
1968 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior - Complete Restoration Project
2002 Alfa Romeo 147 Twin Spark - Track Day Car
Previously:
1974 Alfasud TI - First Car

GG105

I have standard front and rear springs on my stepnose Junior. They have never been replaced.

If you like, i'll take measurements on Saturday.

Cheers
John
1959 Giulietta Sprint
1969 GT 1300 Junior
1970 Giulia 1300 TI
1975 Ferrari 365 GT4
1990 Mazda MX5
2005 BMW 330Ci
2014 Porsche Turbo

njh1964

Hi John,

Thanks... I would be interest in the rear ride height from the ground to the underside of the rear wheel arch lip.

Regards,


Nick
Now:
1968 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior - Complete Restoration Project
2002 Alfa Romeo 147 Twin Spark - Track Day Car
Previously:
1974 Alfasud TI - First Car

GG105

Hi Nick, I have measured the height from floor to wheelarch lip on my car. It is 66cm.

I've also taken a picture fyi.

For those interested I also measured the height from the floor to wheelarch lip of my Giulia sedan. Its not standard, but hasn't had the wheel arches stretched and runs 5.5" steel wheels. its 54cm.

Cheers
John
1959 Giulietta Sprint
1969 GT 1300 Junior
1970 Giulia 1300 TI
1975 Ferrari 365 GT4
1990 Mazda MX5
2005 BMW 330Ci
2014 Porsche Turbo

njh1964

Thanks, John. As mentioned, my rear ride height measurement is about 59cm, without anyone or any luggage in the car. I'm thinking a height of around 63cm might be a good compromise between good handling and not bottoming out. I'm currently investigating rear spring spacers to see if that does the trick before possibly changing the rear springs.
Now:
1968 Alfa Romeo GT 1300 Junior - Complete Restoration Project
2002 Alfa Romeo 147 Twin Spark - Track Day Car
Previously:
1974 Alfasud TI - First Car