Jaw on the floor - Syvecs/RG FFF/ACT content
Discussion
[bold_statement] Leave the suspension alone... [/bold_statement]
Was chatting to Graham Varley at Cadwell on Monday, and he has three way Nitrons fitted, and is having hell of a problem getting them set up right. He advised me to keep to the Billys.
It is apparently true that Bilstein and a rather talented bloke spent a lot of time at Bristol Avenue setting up the Sagaris suspension, and it certainly worked great for me at Cadwell (but I'm no racing driver !)
Was chatting to Graham Varley at Cadwell on Monday, and he has three way Nitrons fitted, and is having hell of a problem getting them set up right. He advised me to keep to the Billys.
It is apparently true that Bilstein and a rather talented bloke spent a lot of time at Bristol Avenue setting up the Sagaris suspension, and it certainly worked great for me at Cadwell (but I'm no racing driver !)
I have to say the reason I'm looking at the suspension is Mr Blacks fault. (Well, it's good to blame someone).
If his car can stay on the road using Nitrons and R888, then mine will (driver skill not withstanding of course).
RG are looking at / working with AST, and I believe the centre setting is identical to the standard Sag settings. They were told about AST by a famous racing driver. Some say he works not far away from RG, and is a lot faster than the old one...
If his car can stay on the road using Nitrons and R888, then mine will (driver skill not withstanding of course).
RG are looking at / working with AST, and I believe the centre setting is identical to the standard Sag settings. They were told about AST by a famous racing driver. Some say he works not far away from RG, and is a lot faster than the old one...
We are all entiteld to try different things... and it's great that we have these options...
Until I can drive to a degree that I feel the suspension is 'affecting' me, then I'll leave it alone. Obviously, Graham uses his car on the track a lot, and is therefore searching for a setting that he likes and suits him, and in no way was I saying Nitrons are not worth the investment. By all accounts, they more than often are.
Until I can drive to a degree that I feel the suspension is 'affecting' me, then I'll leave it alone. Obviously, Graham uses his car on the track a lot, and is therefore searching for a setting that he likes and suits him, and in no way was I saying Nitrons are not worth the investment. By all accounts, they more than often are.
Ive always used Ohlins on my three Tivs and found they really remove twitchiness from the car. I'm no specialist behind the wheel but you get the difference noticeably.
I think the set I currently have are adjustable as well but I've never checked as I'll never adjust them. My logic is that what I learn on the road I want to have on the track and vice versa, I don't want to learn two different characteristics.
I think the set I currently have are adjustable as well but I've never checked as I'll never adjust them. My logic is that what I learn on the road I want to have on the track and vice versa, I don't want to learn two different characteristics.
Don1 said:
I completely agree that the standard suspension is properly fit for purpose in a standard car.
But I'm starting to really feel the difference - where the suspension was one of the best parts of the car, it is now not the case.
I find it very hard to believe that a power increase in the % we are discussing here would cause that to be the case, but if it is, then I supsect you are on a long and difficult journey to get your car back to being the complete package it once was. Good luck But I'm starting to really feel the difference - where the suspension was one of the best parts of the car, it is now not the case.
To be fair it could be me needing to re-learn the car - especially as I'm arriving at corners far faster than I normally would have!
But then again, I am one of very few people who say that the 19" Jade wheel gives a much better feeling over the spiders, so it could be horses for courses and let's see what happens!
But then again, I am one of very few people who say that the 19" Jade wheel gives a much better feeling over the spiders, so it could be horses for courses and let's see what happens!
Very impressive, what kind of ballpark figure are we talking here price wise? 
18's are awful, but still surprised the 19's are better, you're losing alot of compliance through the sidewalls surely? I wouldn't be surprised if they're lighter than the 18s though... I'm not a big fan of the 18" spiders as a wheel, a shame they look soooooo good!
18's are awful, but still surprised the 19's are better, you're losing alot of compliance through the sidewalls surely? I wouldn't be surprised if they're lighter than the 18s though... I'm not a big fan of the 18" spiders as a wheel, a shame they look soooooo good!
spitfire4v8 said:
3 way dampers means the possibility of 3 times the opportunity to get it wrong at each end. If you don't know how 3 ways work, buy one way dampers. Graham has been badly advised, or given insufficient tuition on how to set them up. It's not the fault of the dampers.
One for Graham too... We found them to be marginally better than the original harvey bailey dampers on our T350 - and somehow massively uncomfortable. We then set them up as guided by Tailslide - who's done extensive set up work with them and they were much better... We've played since as our two cars set up differs quite a bit in terms of wheels and tyres - even more so recently... and they're better still IMHO. On our current wheel and tyres set up, they're remarkably compliant, yet the body control is fantastic. We've got a few different set ups saved that we like to use; Road comfort, sprint/hillclimb B road, Paul B road, track and drag. We rarely feel the need to go back to road comfort now, such is the quality of the damping. Basically, stick with it Graham, its a long and fun learning curve!
One other key thing to watch is that they're all set the same... sounds daft, but the amount of times I personally (and I am a bit particular with this stuff) have put set a corner slightly differently by accident - it makes a big difference IME.
Enjoy!
Everything including VAT was around the £15k area. Of that, the head was about a third of it.
Actually the 19" are heavier and more solid, and I think that is the key to it. They don't flex so much, thus allowing the rubber and suspension to do its thing.
But then again, I certainly have no idea for sure, it's not my field of expertise, and I know a lot of people on here poo-poo the idea that the 19s are better than the spiders. Although I'm not the only person on here running these wheels that says it...
Actually the 19" are heavier and more solid, and I think that is the key to it. They don't flex so much, thus allowing the rubber and suspension to do its thing.
But then again, I certainly have no idea for sure, it's not my field of expertise, and I know a lot of people on here poo-poo the idea that the 19s are better than the spiders. Although I'm not the only person on here running these wheels that says it...
Mine had TVR Power 19's on it when I bought it, and standard suspension, with Kuhmo Ecsta tyres, and all in all I think that is a very good set up - not had any casue to complain with last summers Track Days or spirited driving.
I've now put Hankook's on and they certainly look the business, have really good reviews, an although took a bit of scrubbing in, they were great at Cadwell last week.
Don I would suggest newer tyres would be the first change fofr you - 5 year old rubber probably not at it's best.
I've now put Hankook's on and they certainly look the business, have really good reviews, an although took a bit of scrubbing in, they were great at Cadwell last week.
Don I would suggest newer tyres would be the first change fofr you - 5 year old rubber probably not at it's best.
Don1 said:
Everything including VAT was around the £15k area. Of that, the head was about a third of it.
Actually the 19" are heavier and more solid, and I think that is the key to it. They don't flex so much, thus allowing the rubber and suspension to do its thing.
But then again, I certainly have no idea for sure, it's not my field of expertise, and I know a lot of people on here poo-poo the idea that the 19s are better than the spiders. Although I'm not the only person on here running these wheels that says it...
19"s shouldn't be better than 18" spiders, its just that the latter are so bad that they are. The flex, the weight, the strange tyre sizing (in other T cars atleast) - it all works against it. We've got a solution that most wouldn't entertain, but we're more than happy with it. If you've found the same in another wheel, stick with it and work on the other bits first. Once you're happy a big improvement has been made, try a set of lighter (non 18" spider)wheels... you'll be surprised.Actually the 19" are heavier and more solid, and I think that is the key to it. They don't flex so much, thus allowing the rubber and suspension to do its thing.
But then again, I certainly have no idea for sure, it's not my field of expertise, and I know a lot of people on here poo-poo the idea that the 19s are better than the spiders. Although I'm not the only person on here running these wheels that says it...
As I said before though, LOVE the look of the 18" spiders, just wish they were lighter/ stronger/ better made/ better specced in terms of offset+sizing. They do look right though, really stunning wheels.
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