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Some details on my rear spring/damper set-up.

The rear springs on my Mk2 have an uncompressed length of 254mm (10").

As can be seen from the photo, the compressed length of the main spring plus the helper spring is just over 9" - about 1/2" of that is the helper, so the compressed main spring length would be about 8 1/2". The photos are taken with the car on its wheels in normal parked position.

On full droop, the helper spring is almost fully uncompressed at just under two inches, so suspension travel from static compressed to full droop is about 3 1/2". (1 1/2" main plus 2" helper.

I have the spring seats at their lowest setting. Without the helper spring they have to be wound up over 2" to keep the main spring located, which obviously raises the rear ride height by that amount. I did consider having some springs made with a greater range, but I've been happy with the way the car handles with these springs so opted to fit the helper springs. They are from Faulkner springs, and take 4lbs to compress. Dampers are AVO.

Thanks Jon,
That's a great help with measurement being shown. Are the springs 1.9inch or 2.25 inch internal diameter? Do you also know the spring rate of the main Spring?
Thanks for your
Alan

I'm going to guess at 80lb/in and 1.9" I/D.

Stuart's right, they are 1.9" ID. I have no idea what the spring rate is.

You may be able to get 2.25" springs in there, but they would rub on the tyres with the wheel/tyre/spacer combination I've got. When I got the car it had those awful one inch spacers with screw on stud extenders. It only needed 10mm spacers (in addition to the fat drums with built in 1" spacer) to give adequate clearance, with longer studs.

Just spotted an old photo of mine online and thought this thread would be a good place to share it again, it's of a Gaz damper on full bump with no spring fitted, 165/60x12 tyre, as you can see the standard Gaz damper is a bit long.

Hello guys,

I'll soon have to find suitable rear shock absorbers for my Mk2 : she is fitted with a pair of pretty rusty Avos, they are excessively long, with a total, fully extended lengh at 44cm (17.32Inches), less 10cm (4 Inches) of travel (without spring) once fully compressed.


I may buy slightly shorter than originals front shock absorbers, so, what do you think I could use to the back ?



(PS : sorry if my English is rather poor, I'm not British !)

Chris your English is perfect, I didn't realise you weren't English.

This thread should point you in the right direction, including links to other threads of relevance too.

viewtopic.php?f=53&t=2929

Many thanks Stuart, I saw this thread a few days ago, using the search facilities provide by this forum.

But, honestly, I'm not sure to understand everything : apparently, Spax could be the right choice but the down side may be a car excessively high, so what about the KYB you were talking about, are they lower ?

Whatever, I won't order rear shocks at the moment, as I need to finish the front end first, to see the lengh rear ones need to be.

Thanks for your compliment, glad you never heard me trying to speak English

The KYB's I mention could well be too long Chris, and will also require a threaded spring retainer sleeve adding, perhaps a bit ambitious and challenging.

Perhaps AVO may be a choice alongside the Protech's

http://www.avouk.com/Products_COIL-OVER_TWIN_TUBE.htm

Okay Stuart, thanks for your advice, I'll get in touch with AVO.


PS : I've now joined the FB group