Things to be sorted, advice gratefully received...
Discussion
Chaps,
Went out for a decent drive for the 1st time in my 1990 S2 today and I've got a couple of things that need attention, if anyone has any comments or tips I'd be really interested....
1. I have a slight 'blow' from the exhaust somewhere between the head and the joints at the front (where it goes from manifold to exhaust) - it can be heard under light accelleration, a sort of 'chuffing' noise. I can't see where it's leaking, any tips on how to find where it's blowing?
2. I have the dreaded steering shake under braking, I've looked at the discs and they look as if they've not been used much - a receipt in the history confirms this as they were renewed less than 5k miles ago. Initially I thought the pads were low as I had the feeling on the pedal that there was metal to metal contact. Plenty of pad left, so will they bed in as I use the car more, or should I consider balljoints and the like to be the cause?
3. The suspension was raised by the previous owner 25mm front and back by inserting a spacer at the bottom of the springs - the springs look to me to be almost now fully compressed and the ride over bumps is jarring - is this normal to raise the ride height in this way or should I ditch the lot and get new springs/shocks fitted?
It's a lot I know, but I'd feel a lot better if i had some advice before spending out loads of money!
Thanks in anticipation,
Minghis.
PS I was congratulated by an RS Turbo driver for not being able to keep up with me on a stretch of dual carriageway today. Apparently he followed me for a while waiting for the chance to have a go and when it came he was surprised -"I am impressed, what is it" he said.
Went out for a decent drive for the 1st time in my 1990 S2 today and I've got a couple of things that need attention, if anyone has any comments or tips I'd be really interested....
1. I have a slight 'blow' from the exhaust somewhere between the head and the joints at the front (where it goes from manifold to exhaust) - it can be heard under light accelleration, a sort of 'chuffing' noise. I can't see where it's leaking, any tips on how to find where it's blowing?
2. I have the dreaded steering shake under braking, I've looked at the discs and they look as if they've not been used much - a receipt in the history confirms this as they were renewed less than 5k miles ago. Initially I thought the pads were low as I had the feeling on the pedal that there was metal to metal contact. Plenty of pad left, so will they bed in as I use the car more, or should I consider balljoints and the like to be the cause?
3. The suspension was raised by the previous owner 25mm front and back by inserting a spacer at the bottom of the springs - the springs look to me to be almost now fully compressed and the ride over bumps is jarring - is this normal to raise the ride height in this way or should I ditch the lot and get new springs/shocks fitted?
It's a lot I know, but I'd feel a lot better if i had some advice before spending out loads of money!
Thanks in anticipation,
Minghis.
PS I was congratulated by an RS Turbo driver for not being able to keep up with me on a stretch of dual carriageway today. Apparently he followed me for a while waiting for the chance to have a go and when it came he was surprised -"I am impressed, what is it" he said.
Hi Minghis and welcome.
1. Talcum powder around the joints, look for soot marks or powder being blown away.
2. Don't know, but may be related to 3.
3. I doubt he's raised it for the right reasons. More likely that the springs are shot and he did it to be able to get the ride height back to where it should be. This may also be the cause of the braking judder as the shocks can't cope with the springs anymore.
Andy
1. Talcum powder around the joints, look for soot marks or powder being blown away.
2. Don't know, but may be related to 3.
3. I doubt he's raised it for the right reasons. More likely that the springs are shot and he did it to be able to get the ride height back to where it should be. This may also be the cause of the braking judder as the shocks can't cope with the springs anymore.
Andy
The original springs are rising rate and you should fine the top third of the spring is more or less coil bound at normal ride height. If you've got 1" spacers with the original springs and dampers the car should be very high indeed. If the ride height is about right it may be the bushes have collapsed or the springs are sagging. Your local TVR specialist would tell you whether or not this was the case. I reckon a good set of dampers have a typical life of about 30k miles so if they are original and have done around this you might want to think about changing them some time soon. The ride is pretty firm anyway, but worn dampers do make the ride feel much harsher and less controlled.
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