saggy bottom

[Magenta Sunset]

query;
are there any rear shocks that would help the rear ride-height for towing/holiday luggage?
I know the rear beam is going, and have a spare one ready to refurb when I've some spare cash, but i'd like 'something extra' for those odd occasions i'm carrying extra load.

[cully]

shocks will settle to where the springs/bars hold the car

so shocks alone wont raise the hight of the car

[Toms306]

The height is set by the bars and the lean of a dodgy beam, not the shocks, all stiffer shocks would do is make the rear end skittish over rough ground. You need thicker TBs and a beam that isn't broken...

[Alan_M]

You may want to consider an estate set-up, designed for heavier rear axle loads. Although, AFAIK the only difference is the thicker bars.

[Magenta Sunset]

pity*. anyway, thanks guys!
*(I recall older cars with coil or leaf springs had more options.)

[Toms306]

Coil springs on the rear are a far better design as used on pretty much every other small hatch in the 00s... Torsion beams are horrible and only fitted to save space, but at least the boot space is good on a 306...

[Magenta Sunset]

Coil springs on the rear are a far better design as used on pretty much every other small hatch in the 00s...  Torsion beams are horrible and only fitted to save space, but at least the boot space is good on a 306...

I agree with that (5pc drumkit or full pa system)

[Toms306]

Yeah I miss the boot space of the 306 estates. Will probably buy a cheap one for my next house move I reckon haha.

I do not miss torsion beam suspension though!

[Magenta Sunset]

not tried one of them.

[Toms306]

There's not much that doesn't fit in them... Every part on a mk4 Golf for a start lol, huge lumps of tree and bush (don't ), the majority of my Nans cottage, etc, etc. Never had to use the trailer once I had an estate, just used it for things like lawn mower to save mess inside.

[Redordead89]

not tried one of them.

Do it, they're great load luggers!

[Magenta Sunset]

just found this via Google;
http://www.springassisters.co.uk/31B09%20INST.pdf

[tigerstyle]

Yeah, no.

[Seb_Ryan]

just found this via Google;
http://www.springassisters.co.uk/31B09%20INST.pdf

They are good.. But you need springs for them to work lol

[Poodle]

Get a late estate rear beam, they have thicker torsion bars and arb iirc.

[Magenta Sunset]

according to their spec, designed for torsion bars -
http://www.springassisters.co.uk/menu.htm
will mull it over AFTER getting the beam sorted

[Matt]

Yeah im not sure how those would work on torsion bars

[powerandtorque]

Yeah im not sure how those would work on torsion bars

Looks like it's a spring that fits between the trailing arm and the body, effectively increasing the spring rate.

http://www.springassisters.co.uk/31B09%20INST.pdf

[Rippthrough]

Coil springs on the rear are a far better design as used on pretty much every other small hatch in the 00s...  Torsion beams are horrible and only fitted to save space, but at least the boot space is good on a 306...

They're no better than the torsion bars.

For the 90th time, the rear of a 306 is NOT a torsion beam. That's fitted to shitty Fords/Kia's etc, to save cash, it works nothing like the rear 306 suspension. BEAM =/= BAR. Completely different systems.

[Magenta Sunset]

is there a thread covering the differences? i'd like to learn.

[Rippthrough]

Could do with one, half the people on here still bang on about going fully independent at the rear too....

[Magenta Sunset]

IRS? needs an old Jag or sierra I believe.
slightly off subject, best rear end I've ever had my spanners on was an SD1. Live rear axle, coil springs, Watts linkage.
   

[Toms306]

Coil springs on the rear are a far better design as used on pretty much every other small hatch in the 00s...  Torsion beams are horrible and only fitted to save space, but at least the boot space is good on a 306...

They're no better than the torsion bars.

For the 90th time, the rear of a 306 is NOT a torsion beam. That's fitted to shitty Fords/Kia's etc, to save cash, it works nothing like the rear 306 suspension. BEAM =/= BAR. Completely different systems.

Cheaper and easier to replace.
Cheaper and easier to lower or upgrade.
Doesn't give you a sideways bounce on rough corners.
Don't give you a twitchy arse on long sweeping bends.
Don't give LOOS if you run out of balls on a corner.
Don't give the terrifying 'roll' when you apply the handbrake and let off the footbrake on hills

I'll stick with coil springs any day...

[Magenta Sunset]

Finally! got my picture to show up!  

[powerandtorque]

Actually Tom, most of those "faults" aren't down to the basic torsion bar setup at all... but don't let that get in way of what you're saying or anything.

[Toms306]

A couple are down to old beam mounts if that's what you mean...but that's still part of the beam and not applicable to coil rears...

[Magenta Sunset]

here's a thought,
Nivomat type shocks for when towing (?)

[Rippthrough]

Coil springs on the rear are a far better design as used on pretty much every other small hatch in the 00s...  Torsion beams are horrible and only fitted to save space, but at least the boot space is good on a 306...

They're no better than the torsion bars.

For the 90th time, the rear of a 306 is NOT a torsion beam. That's fitted to shitty Fords/Kia's etc, to save cash, it works nothing like the rear 306 suspension. BEAM =/= BAR. Completely different systems.

Cheaper and easier to replace.
Cheaper and easier to lower or upgrade.
Doesn't give you a sideways bounce on rough corners.
Don't give you a twitchy arse on long sweeping bends.
Don't give LOOS if you run out of balls on a corner.
Don't give the terrifying 'roll' when you apply the handbrake and let off the footbrake on hills

I'll stick with coil springs any day...

 All of which is nothing to do with having coil springs.
And some of which are everything to do with f*cked/knackered parts.

I did do some rear dampers for 306's which had internal springs to boost the spring rate, but the price of them now would make most people think twice.

[Magenta Sunset]

i'm going to see what a refurbed beam will do before I do anything else

[Rippthrough]

IRS? needs an old Jag or sierra I believe.

The 306 is already IRS

Yes, rebuilt beam and go from there, no point upgrading something that's already tired.