Technical Accidentally seemed to have slammed my Punto!

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My Punto seemed to have a funny ride height, the front looked on stilts and the rears looked acceptable. So I came across some H&R springs on eBay for a reasonable price checked the part no. was a match for my HGT JTD and eventually got round to fitting them.

Now when I changed them over the old springs were broken X1 rear, and broken X1 on the front, opposite sides. That would explain the strange stance!

So now I have the new springs fitted and the rear looks good, but the front has dropped to about 2cm clearance to the arches. Cool I thought, more than I was after but I like it.

Driving 20 to work all last week has shown that on a smooth road the car is firm but nice. Hit any kind of undulation or pot hole and the whole car feels like its hit a wall. Big bangs and very uncomfortable.

So I've had a look and as far as I can tell it's basically been riding on the bump stops or not far off. I've cut them down by an inch chunk as I need to be able to drive it for the next 5 days. But it leaves only about a cm of foam left. Is this what people have done in the past?

Turns out H&R do two different springs with the same part no. But a -1 or -2 on the end. This bit isn't printed on the springs .

So I like the back, but the front could do with being higher. Can I mix coilovers at the front and keep the rears?

 

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Well I've fitted a set of FK coilovers to my Point. I can thoroughly recommend them. They soak up the pot holes with not a crash of shocks bottoming out at all, very smooth and comfortable ride due the full travel of the shock struts available even though I have set the custom ride height lower than standard. Not too low but so it looks right in the arches.

I saved some £ by buying direct from FK's German site but be aware HMRC will tack on a good chunk extra and Royal Mail charge their admin fee as well. But £260 for all corners refreshed doesn't seem too bad.