Spring has sprung!

[yellowz]

I'm starting to take a good look at my car now with a view to fixing things....... big list getting bigger and bigger.
Took a long look at the shocks and springs after thinking the car should not go bang when it goes over a bump, it should go boing - within reason.
Looked inside the front wing and in the first photo this is the amount of travel I have when the car is at rest. This gives the clearance in the second photo. Looked at Moggy240's gallery to see the type of strut fitted and it is the european strut (higher bottom perch). Somehow I think I need more travel! Has anyone got a pic of a european front strut under load please?
The ride height looks OK, I'm trying to reconcile how to get more movement out of the assembly because at the moment there is only about an inch of travel.
The back end is a whole different story..... photos three and four are the 2 sides! Rolled into the springs are spring assisters for a caravan!
Thanks

forgot to add wheels/tyres are 195 65 15s

 

[yellowz]

Kind of surprised no one has replied to this?

If possible all I need is a pic of the front suspension with the steering on full lock please?

Thanks in advance

 

[toopy]

Standard suspension, thats been lowered can only cope with so much, your car certainly looks quite low, so assuming shorter springs, if the shocks were not changed for suitable units i.e. at least Tockico HP or adjustables from elsewhere, then the shock piston travel will be very limited and you get the crash and banging you describe.

Mine used to crash and bang because the springs and shocks were tired, i fitted lowering springs and Tockico HP's and the ride is 100% better but now its 1.5 inches lower

 

[yellowz]

Thanks Toopy.

Given that the top of the strut is the same fixed point in either type of strut I just want to get an idea of what it should look like inside the arch. I have a set of USA struts and springs I can throw in at some point to see if that makes it any better.

 

[jonbills]

Is that pic of the 1" travel front or rear? I'm surprised to see the top mount so clearly visible, I'm sure on my 260 the top mount is several inches up in the strut tower and hard to get a photo off.
I know there are two types of strut top mount insulator, a tall one and a short one.
is it possible that you've got very short springs combined with too tall top mount insulators?

 

[yellowz]

It is on the front. Looking at the inner wing from inside the arch there is not much height in the tower on the side facing the wheel.

Using truly unscientific technology I pushed my finger right up into the tower and the side of the mount to take a measurement and it is just over an 1.5 inch so I think that corresponds to the short mount

 

[jonbills]

Yes, I agree. I'm intrigued - I'll have to take a look a mine at the weekend. mine's a similar height but I'm sure there must be more travel in it than an inch or so.

 

[jonbills]

The stock springs I think should have about 10 turns so I think yours have been cut down by a couple (at the top).
I'll get a photo of mine at the weekend.