Noises from front suspension/steering ?
Discussion
Any thoughts appreciated lads.
Protech Shocks,
Newish wishbones and all joints.
I live in road hump city and I have no choice but to use some pretty severe ones at that!
When the suspension is compressing as in when you first encounter the speed hump I'm getting noises,
I havnt looked yet so can't say more but it's almost like a broken Spring,
When turning tight st slow speed I get the odd sharpe clank and also a distinct tink, both sides are groaning as they load up, hmm not good.
I'll investigate at the weekend and see what I find!
Anybody else had noises from the front suspension and if so what was your particular prognosis,
Thanks Alun.
Protech Shocks,
Newish wishbones and all joints.
I live in road hump city and I have no choice but to use some pretty severe ones at that!
When the suspension is compressing as in when you first encounter the speed hump I'm getting noises,
I havnt looked yet so can't say more but it's almost like a broken Spring,
When turning tight st slow speed I get the odd sharpe clank and also a distinct tink, both sides are groaning as they load up, hmm not good.
I'll investigate at the weekend and see what I find!
Anybody else had noises from the front suspension and if so what was your particular prognosis,
Thanks Alun.
Broken drop link? Could be as simple as that.
You can hear the noise of my broken drop link and waggling ARB in the background.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asXMjE-4x9E
You can hear the noise of my broken drop link and waggling ARB in the background.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asXMjE-4x9E
Hi Alun,
Don't take this the wrong way mate but I think we all have to accept noises from the suspension just come with the territory on these cars. Any car with a separate body & chassis design is going to display creaking, clacking and a multitude of other noises.... it's simply unavoidable.
For years we've all become used to the very high levels of refinement offered by modern well developed monocoque cars, your TVR Chimaera is the polar opposite by design. Modern car manufacturers spend millions on reducing noise, harshness & vibration, indeed NHV as its known is a discipline and science in itself within the car manufacturing industry.
The truth is a modern monocoque car will be making many similar suspension noises itself, its just the passenger compartment is so well acoustically insulated you just don't notice them. The down side of all this refinement for us petrol heads is it isolates you from the machine and so the connected visceral driving experience we all seek suffers massively.
What I'm saying Alun is.... you can't have your cake & eat it, if you choose an old school back to basics car like a TVR don't expect modern levels of NHV.
My best advice is to stop worry about the type of noises you're describing when traversing speed humps, in my experience its perfectly normal and absolutely nothing to worry about. Obviously if there is genuinely something a miss with the suspension you need to sort it, but that aside you may just need to recalibrate your expectations of the car and its NHV performance. Accept the noises coming from the suspension are intrinsic to the design and construction of the car.
Ultimately such noises are a small price to pay for the connected old school back to basics driving experience and are an inevitable consequence of the very elements that give a TVR its unique character. It all boils down to how much you prioritise the TVR driving experience over refinement.
For example my wife simply does not get the TVR experience at all
Here are some of her comments that I hope will make you smile
Don't take this the wrong way mate but I think we all have to accept noises from the suspension just come with the territory on these cars. Any car with a separate body & chassis design is going to display creaking, clacking and a multitude of other noises.... it's simply unavoidable.
For years we've all become used to the very high levels of refinement offered by modern well developed monocoque cars, your TVR Chimaera is the polar opposite by design. Modern car manufacturers spend millions on reducing noise, harshness & vibration, indeed NHV as its known is a discipline and science in itself within the car manufacturing industry.
The truth is a modern monocoque car will be making many similar suspension noises itself, its just the passenger compartment is so well acoustically insulated you just don't notice them. The down side of all this refinement for us petrol heads is it isolates you from the machine and so the connected visceral driving experience we all seek suffers massively.
What I'm saying Alun is.... you can't have your cake & eat it, if you choose an old school back to basics car like a TVR don't expect modern levels of NHV.
My best advice is to stop worry about the type of noises you're describing when traversing speed humps, in my experience its perfectly normal and absolutely nothing to worry about. Obviously if there is genuinely something a miss with the suspension you need to sort it, but that aside you may just need to recalibrate your expectations of the car and its NHV performance. Accept the noises coming from the suspension are intrinsic to the design and construction of the car.
Ultimately such noises are a small price to pay for the connected old school back to basics driving experience and are an inevitable consequence of the very elements that give a TVR its unique character. It all boils down to how much you prioritise the TVR driving experience over refinement.
For example my wife simply does not get the TVR experience at all
Here are some of her comments that I hope will make you smile
- "This thing is like a tin can" - I don't have the heart to tell her its made from plastic
- "Why is this car so noisy?" - I'll never admit to her a few years ago I removed all the cats which made it a bit noisier
- "I just don't feel safe in this thing" - I avoid talking about TVR's idea of passenger side impact protection was a single paper thin skin of fibreglass
- "Why do you always accelerate so hard in this car?" - Normally I'm grinning with pleasure at this point so just leave it at that
- "Can we take the Prius next time, its so much more comfortable" - No!
- "Can you put the roof back on" - Errr.... No!
- "I'm cold" - Here put your jacket and hat on and I'll turn the heating up
- "I'm still cold, this car is a total piece of sh*t" - No real answer, I decide I value my marriage and promise to take the Prius next time which somehow never seems to happen
Edited by ChimpOnGas on Friday 27th May 10:29
ClassiChimi said:
Any thoughts appreciated lads.
Protech Shocks,
Newish wishbones and all joints.
I live in road hump city and I have no choice but to use some pretty severe ones at that!
When the suspension is compressing as in when you first encounter the speed hump I'm getting noises,
I havnt looked yet so can't say more but it's almost like a broken Spring,
When turning tight st slow speed I get the odd sharpe clank and also a distinct tink, both sides are groaning as they load up, hmm not good.
I'll investigate at the weekend and see what I find!
Anybody else had noises from the front suspension and if so what was your particular prognosis,
Thanks Alun.
Also check the tightness of the bolts on the front chassis cross member ( the one with the swirl pot on)Protech Shocks,
Newish wishbones and all joints.
I live in road hump city and I have no choice but to use some pretty severe ones at that!
When the suspension is compressing as in when you first encounter the speed hump I'm getting noises,
I havnt looked yet so can't say more but it's almost like a broken Spring,
When turning tight st slow speed I get the odd sharpe clank and also a distinct tink, both sides are groaning as they load up, hmm not good.
I'll investigate at the weekend and see what I find!
Anybody else had noises from the front suspension and if so what was your particular prognosis,
Thanks Alun.
Drop link, I've been suspecting them,, similar sound Peter, cheers, I got lost there, thats a cool track you were playing with but I've never seen anyone using that layout,
Big slick and nice oversteer control, haha,
Crossmember,,I'll check that as I'd not even considered it.
Dave, I get your point entirely and forgive the car everyday but I've never had knocking / tapping noises before so somethings loose or worn.
By the way the Brembo's are a joy to use or what, are you happy with yours as I adore mine. They look ace but they work even better than that.
I'd been interested in a brake upgrade but hadn't got my head around what was needed, your thread made it clear and easy to make a decision, thanks man.
Big slick and nice oversteer control, haha,
Crossmember,,I'll check that as I'd not even considered it.
Dave, I get your point entirely and forgive the car everyday but I've never had knocking / tapping noises before so somethings loose or worn.
By the way the Brembo's are a joy to use or what, are you happy with yours as I adore mine. They look ace but they work even better than that.
I'd been interested in a brake upgrade but hadn't got my head around what was needed, your thread made it clear and easy to make a decision, thanks man.
ClassiChimi said:
By the way the Brembo's are a joy to use or what, are you happy with yours as I adore mine. They look ace but they work even better than that.
I'd been interested in a brake upgrade but hadn't got my head around what was needed, your thread made it clear and easy to make a decision, thanks man.
Glad the thread helped but I really cant take credit forthe Brembo brake idea mate, plenty did it before me.I'd been interested in a brake upgrade but hadn't got my head around what was needed, your thread made it clear and easy to make a decision, thanks man.
Definitely a great upgrade though and at the right price.
If you felt the improvements, imagine how it felt for me going from my dreadful seizing and sticking callipers
My old ones worked pretty good but my right leg was getting bigger 
other than what looks like caliper position my Brembo's are spot on,
It's added to the driving pleasure I think we both enjoy so much Dave,, just touching the brakes for a slight speed change is a king of quality event,
it's noticeable and I never fail to feel a warmth from it. Mad but with a car as fast as ours it's very comforting to know we have such fine braking potential.
I've been contemplating the thoughts above and I'm feeling slightly more relaxed, moving at speed it's pretty good and quiet, it is only these infernal speed humps that induce the crunching/ grinding/ knocking /banging,, f
king destroying my suspension stupid things,
My drop links I've noticed before are already looking decidedly useless,
I've been wondering if maybe the shock mounting bushes might have cracked but I've swung both shocks about and they feel secure, need to stop talking about it and get a proper look.
other than what looks like caliper position my Brembo's are spot on, It's added to the driving pleasure I think we both enjoy so much Dave,, just touching the brakes for a slight speed change is a king of quality event,
it's noticeable and I never fail to feel a warmth from it. Mad but with a car as fast as ours it's very comforting to know we have such fine braking potential. I've been contemplating the thoughts above and I'm feeling slightly more relaxed, moving at speed it's pretty good and quiet, it is only these infernal speed humps that induce the crunching/ grinding/ knocking /banging,, f
king destroying my suspension stupid things, My drop links I've noticed before are already looking decidedly useless,
I've been wondering if maybe the shock mounting bushes might have cracked but I've swung both shocks about and they feel secure, need to stop talking about it and get a proper look.
ChimpOnGas said:
ClassiChimi said:
By the way the Brembo's are a joy to use or what, are you happy with yours as I adore mine. They look ace but they work even better than that.
I'd been interested in a brake upgrade but hadn't got my head around what was needed, your thread made it clear and easy to make a decision, thanks man.
Glad the thread helped but I really cant take credit forthe Brembo brake idea mate, plenty did it before me.I'd been interested in a brake upgrade but hadn't got my head around what was needed, your thread made it clear and easy to make a decision, thanks man.
Definitely a great upgrade though and at the right price.
If you felt the improvements, imagine how it felt for me going from my dreadful seizing and sticking callipers
I apologise for using a brembo photo as the AP's are my own again sorry for borrowing a brembo picture off the web
Edited by portzi on Friday 27th May 22:10
Removed left hand caliper and replaced upper ball joint then inspected my calipers, there fine, but my hub lugs that the caliper bolts to are slightly leaning out of line so as I have an extension bracket and 324 mm discs this gets magnified as you go further out from the wheel centre, this causes my caliper to be slightly out of alignment and the outside pad not biting as well as the rest,, can't do a lot about it unless I can find another hub to try!
Re assembled and bled brakes and they still feel sharpe and braking is pretty true oddly enough!
Re assembled and bled brakes and they still feel sharpe and braking is pretty true oddly enough!
I hope so Ian, to be sure I bled lots of liquid through the system and the pedal feels solid and it does feel like the brakes are more balanced,
Replacing the upper ball joint has helped, was it brakes pulling or the wheel moving out of line as the joint was loose and I've brake tested with hands off the steering wheel and it's going straight,,
I need to do some big brake tests to see if that's cured a big vibration I was getting at Hethel the other week.
Nothing else seems out of place but I'm slightly worried about the front lower wishbone bush on the near side,
I might pull the lower wishbone off if the vibration remains.
So looking at the near side suspension everything looks good but the drop links shot so I'm assuming that's what's grating slightly over speed humps,
I had a right game getting the old ball joint separated from the hub, started damaging the puller so gave up and removed hub so I could knock it out with a drift,, kin elk, but it then came apart easily enough, hmm!
I also undid all the wishbone bolts and jacked the wishbones until level before nipping up bolts again, I wasn't sure if I'd remembered to do this when I put the wishbones on previously but they felt free in movement any way so that's another thing I'm now sure of.
Now for another test run.
Replacing the upper ball joint has helped, was it brakes pulling or the wheel moving out of line as the joint was loose and I've brake tested with hands off the steering wheel and it's going straight,,
I need to do some big brake tests to see if that's cured a big vibration I was getting at Hethel the other week.
Nothing else seems out of place but I'm slightly worried about the front lower wishbone bush on the near side,
I might pull the lower wishbone off if the vibration remains.
So looking at the near side suspension everything looks good but the drop links shot so I'm assuming that's what's grating slightly over speed humps,
I had a right game getting the old ball joint separated from the hub, started damaging the puller so gave up and removed hub so I could knock it out with a drift,, kin elk, but it then came apart easily enough, hmm!
I also undid all the wishbone bolts and jacked the wishbones until level before nipping up bolts again, I wasn't sure if I'd remembered to do this when I put the wishbones on previously but they felt free in movement any way so that's another thing I'm now sure of.
Now for another test run.
N/S rear lower wishbone drop link mounting point,, so that's my pronounced tink when I go over speed humps or slowly up a curb then, kinda knew it was
Might get it repaired but as you can see it's really time I pulled this lot apart and tidied it up!
Drop links are about two years old.
Time for some proper ones rather than the chocolate O/E me thinks.
I'm pretty sure this happened at Hethel as I remember a loud crack as I went into the final right hander after the pit entry,
It was only a matter of time considering the rust!
Upside down,, obviously!
Might get it repaired but as you can see it's really time I pulled this lot apart and tidied it up!
Drop links are about two years old.
Time for some proper ones rather than the chocolate O/E me thinks.
I'm pretty sure this happened at Hethel as I remember a loud crack as I went into the final right hander after the pit entry,
It was only a matter of time considering the rust!
Upside down,, obviously!
Edited by ClassiChimi on Sunday 29th May 13:17
ClassiChimi said:
Any thoughts appreciated lads.
Newish wishbones and all joints.
I had a set of wishbones fitted to my car shortly after buying it, and after a while, I started hearing clunks as I went over speed bumps and the like. Newish wishbones and all joints.
I replaced the drop links and during many services, I always asked the garages to check, but nothing was found...until I had to have new shockers, and Neil Garner (who replaced the shockers) told me that the 'spacers' were missing from the wishbones. He felt that the 'specialist' who had replaced the wishbones had left them out as they can be a bit of a sod to fit.
Now, no more suspension noises.
I can confirm I have a lower wishbone bush that's not sitting centrally, tight washer and a loose washer,, I put them in only two years ago and it's somehow moved, I've been thinking of trying poly bushes recently and this is only confirming my thoughts. It's all a bit fluid and doesn't offer much absortion anyway so I might chop the metalasic ones out and try something else.
Having pulled these things apart a few times now it's not such a head ache really and doesn't have to take that long either so I'll start looking into the poly bush route.
Oh, I used some motorcycle invisible stick like st to a blanket chain lube on all the bits that move, suspension bolts and bushes etc, a lot quieter,
Also did some shock adjustments,, it's took me months but I've finally found the sweet spot with my Protech shocks,
I'm running soft springs so quite a high bump setting to resist bouncing and 3 clicks less on the rebound,,
Fooking mega and really compliant and quiet. Get in.
Having pulled these things apart a few times now it's not such a head ache really and doesn't have to take that long either so I'll start looking into the poly bush route.
Oh, I used some motorcycle invisible stick like s
t to a blanket chain lube on all the bits that move, suspension bolts and bushes etc, a lot quieter, Also did some shock adjustments,, it's took me months but I've finally found the sweet spot with my Protech shocks,
I'm running soft springs so quite a high bump setting to resist bouncing and 3 clicks less on the rebound,,
Fooking mega and really compliant and quiet. Get in.
I'm not sure about that now Rich, need to look again?
I'll get some drop links and then pull the shocks off to have a closer look over the next week or so.
I'll bell you as using the ramp would make life a bit easier mate, that old red one of yours must be playing up by now and need some labour
How is the car by the way,,,
I'll get some drop links and then pull the shocks off to have a closer look over the next week or so.
I'll bell you as using the ramp would make life a bit easier mate, that old red one of yours must be playing up by now and need some labour
How is the car by the way,,,
Al,just give me a shout when you want the ramp,back and forth to hospital a bit this coming week.car is fine not been out in it for a couple of weeks,got some shim to modify those pads cos they are still rattling a bit,changed the steering wheel and want to try that neoprene seal on the sump plus change the oil pressure sender due to leaks...apart from that she is just cracking !
Rich
Rich
Ah right, I can see the problem now, I've suffered the very same thing Alun.
Its a very common one and the ARB wishbone brackets offered now are reinforced to ensure it doesn't happen again.
Mine failed back in 2011 shortly after replacing my completely shot original drop links with a set of lovely Leven rose jointed ones, the Leven links got the ARB working as it should for the first time in years which had the knock on effect of breaking my brackets.
Clearly getting your Chimaera suspension working properly just reveals the weak link, which has been proven by many to be those feeble brackets. I replaced mine with the upgraded brackets five years ago and they are still in perfect order to this day.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=106...
Apologies for doubting you in my earlier post, noises and how loud/intrusive they may be are difficult to convey over a forum. All I was trying to say was even a Chimaera with perfect suspension will exhibit a lot more of these type of noises than a modern car.
'Ol Gasbags' suspension is in good order but she still creaks and squeaks a bit over speed humps from time to time, I see it as a character trait of the car's separate chassis & body construction rather than anything to unduly worry about.
Broken ARB brackets on your rear wishbones are of course something completely different, good luck with the fix if you haven't already sorted it mate
Its a very common one and the ARB wishbone brackets offered now are reinforced to ensure it doesn't happen again.
Mine failed back in 2011 shortly after replacing my completely shot original drop links with a set of lovely Leven rose jointed ones, the Leven links got the ARB working as it should for the first time in years which had the knock on effect of breaking my brackets.
Clearly getting your Chimaera suspension working properly just reveals the weak link, which has been proven by many to be those feeble brackets. I replaced mine with the upgraded brackets five years ago and they are still in perfect order to this day.
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=106...
Apologies for doubting you in my earlier post, noises and how loud/intrusive they may be are difficult to convey over a forum. All I was trying to say was even a Chimaera with perfect suspension will exhibit a lot more of these type of noises than a modern car.
'Ol Gasbags' suspension is in good order but she still creaks and squeaks a bit over speed humps from time to time, I see it as a character trait of the car's separate chassis & body construction rather than anything to unduly worry about.
Broken ARB brackets on your rear wishbones are of course something completely different, good luck with the fix if you haven't already sorted it mate
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