Yorick Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 Hello there, I'm totally new to this. I'm in Belgium and considering to buy a UK registered RHD K VVC. Due to some stupid new rule here, cars can't run adjustable suspensions anymore and need to have a ground clearance of 11 cm. At least when presented to our version of MOT. This car has the adjustable Bilstein dampers (with a blue ribbon at the bottom). Any recommendations which dampers I'll need to replace the Bilstein dampers ? They need to fit a widetrack suspension and provide 11cm ground clearance !! Thanks in advance ! Yorick. Edited by - Yorick on 4 Aug 2004 15:22:25 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorick Posted August 4, 2004 Author Share Posted August 4, 2004 Anybody ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jason Plato Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 OK , I'll give it a go ........ where abouts is the 110 mm clearance measured ? . If its on the chassis side then the normal height of a dedion K is round 120mm at the front anyway . If its under the sump then this will be more of a challenge . My dry sump is around 80 mm fron the road , so you are looking for 30mm . This extra 30mm of height will seriously reduce your handling and is not achievable unless you fit dampers with longer free length - not a good idea Or You could fit some larger wheels - maybe the 16" wheels for the MOT test and then wind up your present dampers about 10-15mm . I think this will achive the 110mm under the sump pan Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tom7 Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 I think you will find that the dampers are not adjustable. What you may have is adjustable spring platforms that you might need to change / disguise for your test procedure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marius Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 Caterham did offer some spacers to fit "old" (short) dampers to new chassis. They are available in 2 or 3 different sizes and should cure the problem. But your dampers would still be adjustable. I´m sure our belgian friend Stijn will be around this evening, you should get into touch with him. Marius Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yorick Posted August 4, 2004 Author Share Posted August 4, 2004 Thanks ! Tom7: indeed, adj spring platforms it are ! Dave: the test is to stupid to believe ! They make you drive over a piece of wood 11cm high. If the piece falls, you flunk the test !! Marius: Stijn might know, I await his ideas ... It's a new rule here to stop the Barryboys from out-tuning their cars, but this is the result ! I'm curious what they'll do with for example Citroen XM, Porsche Cayenne, ... all adjustable ride heights ?!?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul McKenzie Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 Yorick, I can't believe they can make something like that retrospective.....like you say what happens with the 'normal' cars that have adjustable suspension. I know they're pretty bloody beurocratic in Belgium (lived in Brussels 12 years ), but even our bunch of idiots don't make things like that retrospective. I'm sure you'll find that all you have to do is pass the height test... I'd bet you won't have to junk the adjustable suspension. If that's the case, then the thing to do is just provide a quick fix for the sake of the test. 16" wheels and jack the adjusters up as high as possible. Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Walker Posted August 4, 2004 Share Posted August 4, 2004 Remove the adjustable plaforms and refit the fixed platforms that come as standard with the caterham bilsteins. Then set the ride hieght by setting the fixed platform on the highest circlip groove that is machined into the damper body this will give you a ridiculously high ride hieght. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TorAtle Posted August 5, 2004 Share Posted August 5, 2004 Rob's advice is a good one. Apart from maybe our UK friends with their low volume approvals, it's getting nearer the time when the only sensible thing is to hold on to the car you already have. Regulations are getting more strict every year and leaves less chance of upgrading/customizing the car. Yorick's example is a tragic one. Because of the EU's bi-annual MOT there's only so much you can be bothered to reset to original spec just for the test. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elie boone Posted August 6, 2004 Share Posted August 6, 2004 Yorick, did'nt you red my reply on the Autoroule Forum ? Anyway there is a EU law that say that any car registered in a EU country must be accepted in another EU country. If you put big wheels on the seven you can never go back to small wheels because the tyre size ins marked on the "MOT" paper. The 11cm rule is only for the modifyed Golf,AX and other cutomized cars there is even a homologation cert. for the VVC in Belgium so i am sure that you will pass the test with the normal Caterham clearence. Be well prepared for the test and don't let them put you off by the testers saying that it will not pass. This is because most don't like those kind of specialist cars. Also Adj. platforms is an option on a Caterham so i can't see why they would refuse it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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