Ricky352
Member
Registered: 6th Apr 07
Location: Northern Ireland
User status: Offline
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My Dad works for the DRD and gets accident reports etc. In one of them an accident was said to be caused because the car was lowered.
This doesnt happen in abs cars apperently.
What had happened was all 4 wheels locked because of the sensor which determines how much force should be on the brakes. Apparently this sensor works by measuring how low the front/back of the car are, so it can regulate the braking. Becasue the car was lowered this messed the sensor up.
Just wondering if anyone knew if this is possible, as its quite worrying!
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Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
User status: Offline
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yes its possible
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johnhara1
Member
Registered: 19th Oct 06
Location: Newcastle upon Tyne
User status: Offline
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Yeah, on a corsa b there is a rear brake sensor that assumes theres more weight in the back when its lowered.
Because it thinks theres more weight, it applies more breaking force to the rear locking the back wheels up.
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Daimo B
Member
Registered: 20th Mar 00
User status: Offline
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Rear brake compensator.
Bascially a spring which expands when theres more weight in the back of the car. It adjusts the braking balance to the back.
Took mine off years ago as I found it actually made the rear end more skittish with it on. MOT questioned it every year  but the back feels more planted without it.
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Edd
Member
Registered: 8th Nov 04
Location: Glasgow
User status: Offline
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brake bias
should always be adjusted same as you should always get you tracking done after lowering far too often people dont bother
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Dean_W
Member
Registered: 13th Dec 05
Location: Downham Market, Norfolk
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by VXR
Rear brake compensator.
I slammed my brakes on one day when somone pulled out on me. Doing abotu 50 at the time. Back end went light, locked up and the car spun.
Took the spring off the day after. Never had a problem again.
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andyc1234
Member
Registered: 7th Nov 06
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
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something about stiffer suspension and wet weather as well
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deex
Member
Registered: 9th Nov 07
Location: portsmouth
User status: Offline
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where abouts is this spring?
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FruitBooTeR
Member
Registered: 18th Jan 07
Location: Wolverhampton Drives: S15
User status: Offline
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Yeh id like to know how to take this spring off 
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Ricky352
Member
Registered: 6th Apr 07
Location: Northern Ireland
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by VXR
Rear brake compensator.
Bascially a spring which expands when theres more weight in the back of the car. It adjusts the braking balance to the back.
Took mine off years ago as I found it actually made the rear end more skittish with it on. MOT questioned it every year but the back feels more planted without it.
So without the spring im guessing theres no braking balance at all?
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andyc1234
Member
Registered: 7th Nov 06
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
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both my corsas have had the compensator and been lowered a lot at the back. even with discs on the rear now i dont really think its a problem
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Edd
Member
Registered: 8th Nov 04
Location: Glasgow
User status: Offline
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i really wouldnt remove the spring if you are involved in an accident they will use this against you imo
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andyc1234
Member
Registered: 7th Nov 06
Location: Lancashire
User status: Offline
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had some trouble a while back where the car was skidding all over the place with the fronts locking up and it turns out the compensator spring had snapped so the rear where not getting anything to them
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Ricky352
Member
Registered: 6th Apr 07
Location: Northern Ireland
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Edd
brake bias
should always be adjusted same as you should always get you tracking done after lowering far too often people dont bother
Is it a big/expensive job getting it adjusted?
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Daimo B
Member
Registered: 20th Mar 00
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Ricky352
So without the spring im guessing theres no braking balance at all?
Well before, when the car was standard, it was fine.
When I lowered it, the back end fealt like it always wanted to overtake you under ahrd braking. Many of us suffered the same problem.
Mine came off by mistake after a bodyshop didn't re-make me a bracket. But the back end fealt more planted.
Failed an MOT, had to get a braket made up to hold the mechanism, but I never re-fitted the spring, and never had any problems since. Even with the rear disks.
Not going to say to do it or not as it was a long time ago.
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Edd
Member
Registered: 8th Nov 04
Location: Glasgow
User status: Offline
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quote:
Originally posted by Ricky352
quote:
Originally posted by Edd
brake bias
should always be adjusted same as you should always get you tracking done after lowering far too often people dont bother
Is it a big/expensive job getting it adjusted?
no not at all
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Superlite Ltd.
Member
Registered: 9th Jan 07
User status: Offline
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tbh if you lower your car without checking/adjusting you load compensator valve your a moron and deserve to have a crash
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22B
Member
Registered: 9th Sep 04
User status: Offline
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definately the spring compensator on the rear of the car. After I lowered my old corsa sport(no abs), the car would always want to overtake the front end not great when you need to stop in a hurry. Always remember coming over the brow of a hill and seeing a tractor trailer combo doing a hairpin right into a junction completely blocking the road and queue of cars behind on my side, slammed the brakes on and sideways was not the word, somehow managed to get it straight and just stopped in time, people behind must have been sweating seeing me in that kind of shape coming towards them
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Daimo B
Member
Registered: 20th Mar 00
User status: Offline
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Its because the car acts as though its got a lot of weight as the suspension is lower. Its not weighty, its just that the car has been lowered. So the sping needs to be adjusted, or removed. Tracking needs to be redone.
How many people these days just bung on some springs and reckon thats it, the cars lowered
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Steve
Premium Member
Registered: 30th Mar 02
Location: Worcestershire Drives: Defender
User status: Offline
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me
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Superlite Ltd.
Member
Registered: 9th Jan 07
User status: Offline
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Load compensators are not just spring loaded ones.
Older astras have in-line ones, that need to be changed to a different compenation value when lowered.
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Steve X16XE
Member
Registered: 31st Dec 06
Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire
User status: Offline
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Mk4 Astra also have them. It's fun when you have to slam the ancors on on the motorway and there's a trailer behind you.
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