IceBlue8 Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 I've got a 2002 A8 Sport and I'm having real problems with some speed bumps. No matter how slowly I drive over them, the car 'bottoms out'. The local council doesn't give a stuff. Does anyone else have the same problem and/or know if there's a route to get these things removed or a claim for compensation for the inevitable damage? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 I don't think anyone with the standard ride hight has had this problem before, even with the sports set up. Perhaps the bumps are non conformance and need to be raised to the ground(like most other speed bumps). Or may be your shocks are on the way out. Where does it touch on the car? Front sound baffle is common anything else is a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceBlue8 Posted March 7, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 The contact seem to come from the rear, but thanks for the advice - I'll get the shocks checked. I don't suppose the suspension is adjustable any way is it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Don't think it is but there's a bit of trim under the bumper/spare wheel well that might have lost a couple of fasteners, perhaps thats hanging down, worth a look see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sloss Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 The shocks have absolutely no effect on ride height..... There are rules governing the construction of 'speed bumps' traffic calming euqipment. I met some really evil ones while visiting my son while he was in the army. They almost took the bottom out my Cosworth and that was years ago! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FBFsussex Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 you can make a claim against the local authority but only if the speed bumps dont follow the set guidelines. ie if they are too high etc. this works in the very same way that you can claim for buckled alloys if there is a large pothole. that said i had heard that the council will only pay out on pot holes if it has been reported to them before the event Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Where are the speed bumps? Maybe me or Mike can have a quick detour to see how bad they are in our '8s to see if it's just an '8 thing, your car, or the speed bumps in general. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
robinchappell Posted March 7, 2008 Report Share Posted March 7, 2008 Check your Tyre Pressures: I had similar problems when my tyres were too low and it affected ride height. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ska Posted March 8, 2008 Report Share Posted March 8, 2008 [ QUOTE ] The shocks have absolutely no effect on ride height..... There are rules governing the construction of 'speed bumps' traffic calming euqipment. I met some really evil ones while visiting my son while he was in the army. They almost took the bottom out my Cosworth and that was years ago! [/ QUOTE ] You are right, Shocks are dampeners so I should have said bumper rebound stops if the 8’s have any, perhaps his car is bottoming out due to a defective shock/bump stop. Whats to say the work men follow the rules, There are numerous streets in London where the some bumps are easier on your car than other and are clearly different in size curvature - personally I think they should be a tear drop shape with trailing egde of the shape coming first. What ever you think I agree I had the same issues with my 24v Cosworth and had to replace exhaust at least twice Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LostKiwi Posted March 9, 2008 Report Share Posted March 9, 2008 Shocks will have an effect on how a car goes over speed bumps. At rest or in a steady state shocks will have no influence on ride height. Moving over a speed hump is a dynamic event so all suspension components will have some part to play. If the shocks are too soft then the suspension will move upwards quicker than if they were stiffer, but the body will continue on its original trajectory for longer, raising the possibility of contact. Check dampers, sagging springs (check ride height to verify this), loose or missing trim bolts, loose or damaged exhaust hangers. Also note that third party exhausts may well hang down lower than standard ones (my centre box is about an inch lower than standard due to it being larger than standard) and as a result it does occasionally rub on bad humps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IceBlue8 Posted March 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2008 Thanks for all the input on this one. I'll be under the car at the wekend with a tape measure! As to location, one is right outside the Apex Hotel car park in Dundee and the other is in the car park of the Dundee Hilton, just past the barrier. Perhaps a Dundee Hotel thing! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PsYcHe Posted March 14, 2008 Report Share Posted March 14, 2008 Ah... they're in car parks. Had quite a few that are way too big in car parks as they're not usually built to the same standards as proper road ones. I'm in Dundee week after next, will try and pop in to the hotels and see how they go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjmmarsh Posted March 23, 2008 Report Share Posted March 23, 2008 I have problem with some of the rubber speed bumps you see in car parks, but only if the ride height is in 'dynamic'. There is one I go over every week that I need to stop with my wheel on top of the bump and roll very gently down the other side otherwise the bottom of the car grounds out behind the front wheels. Either that, or I jack the car up bu going back to automatic. I'd leave it in auto mode were it not for the fact that the lower ride height only seems to switch in above 75mph.... Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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