Aesthetics and suspension

Aesthetics and suspension

Author
Discussion

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

177 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
I've been thinking for a while that the rear end of my S3C sits too high and doesn't look right.

The gap seems much too big between the top of the tyre and the arch. It would look much better if the gap was the same all around. It is currently195mm between the arch and the wheel rim., which doent seem too far off most other cars when I look at the suspension wiki.




had a mess around last night and temporarily lowered the rear end unitil it looked better.



Trouble is, the rear suspension units were then on their bump stops and there was no movement left.

The car was fitted with Gaz Monotubes (the correct kit for the car, according to the Gaz website - GP82286NP) by a previous owner in 2006

The original springs were 350lb rear / 375lb front. The fronts were very tightly wound and clearly too weak for the weight so I changed them last year, shortly after buying the car, to 375lb rear / 425lb front. I was careful to keep the ride height the same, but even then, I didn't like the way the car sat.

I've just put the ride height back to where it was.

Is that just the way it has to be?
Would a different make of shock allow a lower ride height and still let the suspension work?
Any observations appreciated.
Ta.

Alan461

853 posts

130 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
Difficult to tell from the photos but what profile tyres are you using? They look a bit on the low side.
What is the ride height floor to outrigger? Looks very high with the wheel in the arch like that.
The distance from tyre to top of arch on the S I have is about 50mm but I'm not saying this is best.

glenrobbo

35,083 posts

149 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
Hi Andy,
Yes, I agree, your ride height does look too high.

I have just been out to measure Austin's (S1) rear height using your method ( arch lip to wheel rim ) and it's 170 mm ish.
Arch lip to top of tyre 53mm measured vertically.
The suspension Wiki figures are measured from the underside of the outrigger corners to the floor.

I wonder if you do have the correct length dampers fitted, because I believe there were different mounting bracket positions as the S Series developed. Or perhaps your monotubes are for a 3000S?
Your spring rates sound good, you should be able to adjust height without compromising suspension/damper travel if they are the correct ones.

I have no problems with Austin's set-up, plenty of travel left, if anything it is a bit too low at the front for the exhaust to clear censored speed bumps.



magpies

5,129 posts

181 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
mine is about the same as Glens - if not a little lower - check the wikki for floor to chassis dims




Alan461

853 posts

130 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
Off topic sorry.
Hi Mick, What size are those wheels?
And when's the Equipe on the roadsmile

magpies

5,129 posts

181 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
they are 17's....but I do have a set of 15" slots and minilites

The Bond is not mine, is in the final throws of a rebuild and is for sale - I can get details if required.

Alan461

853 posts

130 months

Tuesday 20th January 2015
quotequote all
Haven't space, nice thought all the same.

Eta.
Andy, I have a set of old Konis you can have if you want to compare them.

Edited by Alan461 on Wednesday 21st January 09:30

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

177 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
Thank you all for your replies. I must say what a friendly much I've bought into with my S.

I'm now seriously beginning to think I have the wrong shocks on the car. WhenI mentioned that I had lowered the rear, the fact of the matter is that, on winding down the collars on the body of the shocks to check out the 'aesthetics', the spring unseats at the top collar (i.e. the damping rod can extend further than the length of the spring - this is okay when the weight is on the springs in the garage, but then the wheels go down a hole on a drive out, the springs could unseat (does that make sense?)).

As for the front, I've realised that the damper body is pushing against the rubber bump stop anyway in the current position. No wonder the front feels a bit harsh.



Looks like my Gaz GP8's might be going....



glenrobbo

35,083 posts

149 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
Andy,
last night I was re-visiting the December issue of Sprint, and in Steve Bruce's excellent article on restoring his S1 to multiple prizewinning standards, he mentioned that when he fitted new ( S3 ) rear trailing arms, the back end sat way too high due to the different damper mounting bracket locations. The shorter S3 dampers were the answer to the problem.

I reckon you probably have S1 dampers on your car.

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

177 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
I think you're right Glen.
The Gaz website offers the same damper kit for each S model.
I need to do some serious thinking....

AutoAndy

2,265 posts

214 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
Ok Glen and Mick, I will be checking my ride heights with the new suspension this weekend, and I think I need to lower to the levels you have as they look good....but one thing worries me...how high is your exhaust above the road level on these...ideally at the hockey sticks as these are the vulnerable bits?

Cheers

phazed

21,844 posts

203 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
You say the Monotubes were fitted in 2006 but they weren't for sale to the public till about 2008/9.

Not being picky but you may have a different damper.

I have a pre production set that I bought around late 2008 or 2009.

Barry S1

1,709 posts

188 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
When I fitted my GG pro's they are 180R and 170F don't ground out much now, new suspension helps a lot.

glenrobbo

35,083 posts

149 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
Yes, well, err.......there's the rub as they say Andy.

There were a succession of ridiculous speed humps on my satnav's chosen route into Aldeburgh, and each one was causing the exhaust centre box to ground. frown
These were proper humpety humps, wide & high, but short, specially designed to cause maximum damage to low slung sportscars underthings.

The ones that get the hockey stick clamps are the "cow pat" type of sleeping policemen where your wheels pass either side but your exhaust.....doesn't! So for safety, you just have to drive in the middle of the road to avoid this, into the oncoming traffic.
The average S1 does sit lower than subsequent models, but I will have to raise the front by 10mm or so.
On normal roads and on the track, my ride heights are pretty good and Austin handles well.

Edited by glenrobbo on Wednesday 21st January 21:46

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

177 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
phazed said:
You say the Monotubes were fitted in 2006 but they weren't for sale to the public till about 2008/9.

Not being picky but you may have a different damper.

I have a pre production set that I bought around late 2008 or 2009.
Hi Peter.

I hear what you say, but I have the receipt from Horizon Motorsport dated 7th March 2006 in the car's history file showing that, amongst other things, it was fitted with "Gaz shock absorber set GP82286NP" at a cost of £450.21.

Looking at the current Gaz online catalogue, it appears to be the same kit.

Barry S1

1,709 posts

188 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all



NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

177 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
glenrobbo said:
Yes, well, err.......there's the rub as they say Andy.

There were a succession of ridiculous speed humps on my satnav's chosen route into Aldeburgh, and each one was causing the exhaust centre box to ground. frown
These were proper humpety humps, wide & high, but short, specially designed to cause maximum damage to low slung sportscars underthings.

The ones that get the hockey stick clamps are the "cow pat" type of sleeping policemen where your wheels pass either side but your exhaust.....doesn't!
The average S1 does sit lower than subsequent models, but I will have to raise the front by 10mm or so.
On normal roads and on the track, my ride heights are pretty good and Austin handles well.
Hmmm....there's part of dilema Glen. With the high ride height on mine, there are only very few occasions when the exhaust is in danger of being left behind on those feckin speed humps. Admittedly, with a full tank of fuel, me and the bride on board, plus a bit of luggage for a dirty weekend away, at Skeggy it would be a bit lower. It just looks a bit saft unloaded at the roadside (the car, not the wife).....steady...she might read this....

NaCl

Original Poster:

286 posts

177 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
Barry S1 said:
Thanks Barry. Thats very clean!
How much clearance is there between the top of the damping reservoir and the bump stop when the weight is on the wheel/car? Have you a photo of that?

Barry S1

1,709 posts

188 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
No sorry but will have a look tomorrow night, and take some photos, its not that clean now :-)

phillpot

17,105 posts

182 months

Wednesday 21st January 2015
quotequote all
NaCl said:
the spring unseats at the top collar
My old AVO's did that, they offered me two options:

1. They could shorten the piston rods.

2. They could supply some of these to take up the slack on full drop... helper springs