Suspension parts/advice

[ClassicChimaera]

You've missed one

[angus337]

Anyone tried AST? Did see they had TVR packages on their website.

Price range from £1,386 - £3,318 per set

[QBee]

Get a Porsche and you can buy yourself these Ohlins dampers

damper linky

A snip at only £9,992

[asd2001]

Very tempted with the new billie set up for general running around. I had someone reputable suggest new springs weren't required unless the originals were badly rusted / broken if changing OE billies for the new mk4 shocks. Would certainly help keep cost down but probably worth doing the job properly. Any thoughts? Anyone tried with and without?
Cheers

[QBee]

Springs are not expensive, and at least if you put new ones in you will know what weight of spring they are and can suit them to the dampers you install and your intended use of the car.

I make the point about suiting springs to dampers - my Racing Reds need softer springs than my Gaz Gold Pros used to. And if you are going to race the car, as an extreme example, you would probably fit something like 800 lb springs, compared with 400 lb for mixed track and road use.

Talk to your damper supplier - if you are going to be a Mk4 Billie waver, ask the guy who Chimpo went to (name is on the thread), tell him what you are going to be doing with the car, and fit what her advises, which will probably be stronger front than rear.

Springs are only £25-35 each - cheap compared to dampers.

One final and utterly irrelevant point (except to the 95% of TVR owners who are mad keen polishers) - new springs are nice and clean and colourful, and look nice when you open the bonnet to show off your gleaming engine bay.

[motul1974]

I've currently got a threat open re my protechs, but reading up o these Billies, I really like the fit and forget approach to them and maybe it's better to have very good quality non adjustable's over cheaper adjustable ones.....???
I'm not into messing around with stuff, I like it right first time. I'm now wondering now how easy it be to sell these protechs! lol

[ClassicChimaera]

I've been in a number of minds over this one,,,
I have Protech twin adjustable shocks fitted to my Chim, I opted for a soft spring rate because I was chasing compliance but that was the wrong choice, softer springs, the car reacted very similar to harder springs on sudden bumps or road indifference. I've had original Billies, GGP and now Protech.
They all exhibited the same traits regardless of spring rate ( note non of my springs are race hard springs, highest is 400 f so nothing that aggressive)
Recently as I've mentioned before changing tyre's to super soft ones has all but removed these little niggles I had.

All these shocks are at the lower end of the price range and there all very similar.
If the valving works as designed they all do the same thing.
The biggest difference in Billies is the rubber bushes which will last longer and more than likely be better at absorbing vibrations but they all damp the same way!

I was advised to go softer on the springs but it's not the way to go IMO
I've decided since putting softer tyre's on I'm liking my Protechs a lot, the damping works very well so I'm going to get them refurbed with bigger springs and try again

I've got this sneaky feeling with the right springs I can get the best out of my Protechs and be more than happy with them.
If it doesn't work I'll be on here telling people,,,, don't you worry about that

[portzi]

QBee said:

One final and utterly irrelevant point (except to the 95% of TVR owners who are mad keen polishers) - new springs are nice and clean and colourful, and look nice when you open the bonnet to show off your gleaming engine bay.

Your quite correct Anthony we are a marque of polishers , but l must admin l cannot afford the engine rebuilds and chassis maintainance which is all part and parcel of pushing your car to its limits, believe me l tried it afew times and almost ended up in a costly engine rebuild for me!!, Glady a top end rebuild was only required

[ClassicChimaera]

portzi said:

One final and utterly irrelevant point (except to the 95% of TVR owners who are mad keen polishers) - new springs are nice and clean and colourful, and look nice when you open the bonnet to show off your gleaming engine bay.

Your quite correct Anthony we are a marque of polishers , but l must admin l cannot afford the engine rebuilds and chassis maintainance which is all part and parcel of pushing your car to its limits, believe me l tried it afew times and almost ended up in a costly engine rebuild for me!!, Glady a top end rebuild was only required

It's a matter of time before the paint flakes off springs anyway.
That's a very good point there Mark because id love to track my car more but reality is another thing.

This track V road thing re shocks,,, unless you go for proper hard springs you havnt got race shocks, just adjustable ones.
This itself points towards Bilstein in many ways and once you've got your ride height sorted your not likely to adjust it.

My next question was going to be
Has anyone tried different make springs of a higher quality on any of the lower end adj shocks.

[phazed]

I am still running my nine year old Eibach uprated springs .

[QBee]

phazed said:

I am still running my nine year old Eibach uprated springs .

Yes, but you and I are part of the 5% who are more bothered about how it drives.....

[ClassicChimaera]

phazed said:

I am still running my nine year old Eibach uprated springs .

[Matthew Poxon]

Each to their own regarding how people use their cars. So long as they are being enjoyed whether that be polishing or driving.

The Mk4 billies are great for both polishers and casual trackdayers as they are very compliant on the road and hold their own on track.

[QBee]

Matthew Poxon said:

Each to their own regarding how people use their cars. So long as they are being enjoyed whether that be polishing or driving.

The Mk4 billies are great for both polishers and casual trackdayers as they are very compliant on the road and hold their own on track.

[ClassicChimaera]

Today I re assembled my steering arm and joints, I'd lifted the car to remove all 4 shocks but only really the o/s front was making a few clunk / grinding noises so as was in that area I removed that shock first.
Seized botton rose joint.
Soaked it in 3-1 oil ( remember that stuff and used a long bolt to wiggle it around and sure enough it feed up easily.

Decided I'd put it back on and test it.
Low and behold not only good steering but silent shocks

So some of the grumbles about noisy shocks could simply be seized rose joints.
I've looked closely at both sets of shocks I own with rose joints and other than this one they are good, possibly one on the GG but I actually think it's ok.

I've packed the lower rose joint with grease to seal off against water and road grit as that's the one that failed.

More evidence to suggest for a long term solution Bilsteins are as good as any.

Anyway I'm happy as I'm driving about on a compliant car that turns in like a cat and my Protechs are doing a good job..... for now.
The Gaz look better rose joints though.

[ClassicChimaera]

Oh,,, Anthony I haven't used the wheel spacers as I'm thinking of leaving it and having more camber instead
That and it takes the wheel centre just off the hub so centreing the wheel let alone holding it there seems naughty.

My son will use them on his focus or something

[QBee]

ClassicChimaera said:

Oh,,, Anthony I haven't used the wheel spacers as I'm thinking of leaving it and having more camber instead
That and it takes the wheel centre just off the hub so centreing the wheel let alone holding it there seems naughty.

My son will use them on his focus or something

I will buy them off you Alun. I could always use more, as some of my second set are now on my trailer.

[portzi]

QBee said:

Springs are not expensive, and at least if you put new ones in you will know what weight of spring they are and can suit them to the dampers you install and your intended use of the car.

I make the point about suiting springs to dampers - my Racing Reds need softer springs than my Gaz Gold Pros used to. And if you are going to race the car, as an extreme example, you would probably fit something like 800 lb springs, compared with 400 lb for mixed track and road use.

Talk to your damper supplier - if you are going to be a Mk4 Billie waver, ask the guy who Chimpo went to (name is on the thread), tell him what you are going to be doing with the car, and fit what her advises, which will probably be stronger front than rear.

Springs are only £25-35 each - cheap compared to dampers.

One final and utterly irrelevant point (except to the 95% of TVR owners who are mad keen polishers) - new springs are nice and clean and colourful, and look nice when you open the bonnet to show off your gleaming engine bay.

http://www.tvrchampionship.co.uk

http://www.tvrchampionship.co.uk

For all Phers who love tracking your cars, with TVR specialists like Matt & Jason getting involved with the privateers

When l lived in Surrey l went to Brands hatch afew years ago to watch , and they are back their again this year, very entertaining and all the competitors were so welcoming to look around their cars

Edited by portzi on Sunday 19th February 10:01

[ClassicChimaera]

QBee said:

I will buy them off you Alun. I could always use more, as some of my second set are now on my trailer.

No worries, you can have em but I might look at fixing them to the wheels as Perry does first. Didn't look to closely tother day as I was keen on getting it running.

[portzi]

ClassicChimaera said:

QBee said:

I will buy them off you Alun. I could always use more, as some of my second set are now on my trailer.

No worries, you can have em but I might look at fixing them to the wheels as Perry does first. Didn't look to closely tother day as I was keen on getting it running.

Are these spacers being incorporated to stop the upgraded larger calipers fouling on the wheels? Or to centre the brake disc to the caliper?