Vixen suspension, how difficult can it be. :(
Discussion
After taking delivery of my Vixen I came to the conclusion that the suspension could be better.
On investigation the front Avos had 120lb springs fitted and the rear had just one pair of dampers with an unknown low poundage pair of springs fitted.
The rear pair had their springs wound up the thread adjuster to the top and therefore the obvious conclusion was that the springs were inadequate for the job.
Wind on a few days and I had a good conversation with Adrian Venn.
He explained why there are four suspension units on the rear and went into good detail about the set up .
Consequently, I approached Avo and purchased a new pair of dampers for the front with a pair of 200lb springs which seem fine with good movement in them and I'm sure they will do the job.
I fitted the existing front pair of dampers, ( which seemed identical in size, looks and age) to the rear which gave me four identical dampers.
I fitted to these four dampers, four 80lb 10.5" springs.
The result is a front-end with plenty of movement and a rear that is as solid as my old school semolina!
There is practically no movement in the rear at all. The ride is really appalling to say the least!
It actually makes my Chim which has 450/400 springs on it seem like a limousine.
What is going on here? By the feel of the rear it seems I should have no more then something along the lines of four 40-60lb springs.
Does anyone have the correct set up.?
Help...............................
For TVR to sell these cars back in the late 60s and early 70s they must have been special, surely.
I recall my dads 1600 GT Cortina Mk1 and his 1600 E Mk2 of the same era which rode beautifully from memory.
On investigation the front Avos had 120lb springs fitted and the rear had just one pair of dampers with an unknown low poundage pair of springs fitted.
The rear pair had their springs wound up the thread adjuster to the top and therefore the obvious conclusion was that the springs were inadequate for the job.
Wind on a few days and I had a good conversation with Adrian Venn.
He explained why there are four suspension units on the rear and went into good detail about the set up .
Consequently, I approached Avo and purchased a new pair of dampers for the front with a pair of 200lb springs which seem fine with good movement in them and I'm sure they will do the job.
I fitted the existing front pair of dampers, ( which seemed identical in size, looks and age) to the rear which gave me four identical dampers.
I fitted to these four dampers, four 80lb 10.5" springs.
The result is a front-end with plenty of movement and a rear that is as solid as my old school semolina!
There is practically no movement in the rear at all. The ride is really appalling to say the least!
It actually makes my Chim which has 450/400 springs on it seem like a limousine.
What is going on here? By the feel of the rear it seems I should have no more then something along the lines of four 40-60lb springs.
Does anyone have the correct set up.?
Help...............................
For TVR to sell these cars back in the late 60s and early 70s they must have been special, surely.
I recall my dads 1600 GT Cortina Mk1 and his 1600 E Mk2 of the same era which rode beautifully from memory.
So, you're suggesting that possibly one pair of 80 lb on the rear might be sufficient?
Rule of thumb, if the front is 200lb then I would've thought 160lb would be perfect for the rear ?
Adrian informed me that the original 4 unit design was to stop the hub assembly twisting in a fore to aft plane.
This would happen if you only had two springs on the rear.
This is a learning curve and I am open to all suggestions.
I have the new 80lb springs on the rear but I also have a pail of 120lb springs which I could try on the rear I guess?
Rule of thumb, if the front is 200lb then I would've thought 160lb would be perfect for the rear ?
Adrian informed me that the original 4 unit design was to stop the hub assembly twisting in a fore to aft plane.
This would happen if you only had two springs on the rear.
This is a learning curve and I am open to all suggestions.
I have the new 80lb springs on the rear but I also have a pail of 120lb springs which I could try on the rear I guess?
tomtrout said:
I run quad spring/shock set up with no problems. 80lb springs with adjustble avos.Firm but exactly what you would expect from a 60s sports car.
If you hanker for a car that handles like a mk2 cortina then you've got the wrong car. I presume your spring platforms have been wound back and the shocks adjusted to their softestest settings?
I was just using the Cortina as an indication to what is acceptable in the era.If you hanker for a car that handles like a mk2 cortina then you've got the wrong car. I presume your spring platforms have been wound back and the shocks adjusted to their softestest settings?
As to the rest of what you said, yes damping turned right out and springs not wound right up, tension taken up and a few turns more.
Just removed all four 80lb springs and fitted one pair of 120lb springs, hardly any improvement at all.
I then removed the rear set of dampers which didn't have any springs on and tried that, marginally better but still not what I would call a decent ride.
I think the new set of dampers on the front are valved much softer and I may put those on the rear tomorrow with the appropriate springs and try it out as the rear should be softer than the front.
Moto said:
I'm running the same setup as Tomtrout and it's a perfect setup for the car. Are you sure you have the parts you think you have. Also seems odd, if you spoke with Adrian@ why didn't he supply them?
Moto
It was his first day back last week and as I wanted parts straight away he advised me to go straight to Avo.Moto
I have a feeling that my existing dampers are valved for two stiffly .
I'm sure the dampers are valved wrongly.
I might as well take the four originals of now and send them to Avo for revalving and servicing.
Also going to fit new tyres as the originals are I am reliably informed probably over 30 years old!
And thinking about it, I will probably repaint the wheels while they are tyreless.
I might as well take the four originals of now and send them to Avo for revalving and servicing.
Also going to fit new tyres as the originals are I am reliably informed probably over 30 years old!
And thinking about it, I will probably repaint the wheels while they are tyreless.
ClassicChimaera said:
You need to know what you've got, good idea re damper re valve.
What a car Peter, I'm sure you'll get it set up right sooner than later.
What tyre's are you choosing, are you setting it up for private roads
I'm sure your far to busy with my ramblings but hey what a car
Yes Alun, better to know what you have?What a car Peter, I'm sure you'll get it set up right sooner than later.
What tyre's are you choosing, are you setting it up for private roads
I'm sure your far to busy with my ramblings but hey what a car
I'm inclined to fit Rainsport 3s as the car will be used on the road at the moment until I get everything sorted.
According to Adrian Venn, the existing Goodyear tyres ceased being manufactured in around 1980! How correct that is I don't know.
My four dampers were returned from Avo on Friday suitably re-valved to a softer standard setting.
I assembled these with the 80lb springs and fitted them to the car. I then spent a while levelling up all four corners until the car sat level.
I fitted the newly refurbished wheels which look brilliant especially now that they have been shod with a set of Vredestein tyres.
The proof was in the pudding and I took it for a spin. Gone is the kangarooIng from an exceptionally firm damped set up and now the car drives well although surprisingly still firm given the low spring rates that are fitted.
All in all, a positive afternoons work with the weird suspension problem solved.
I assembled these with the 80lb springs and fitted them to the car. I then spent a while levelling up all four corners until the car sat level.
I fitted the newly refurbished wheels which look brilliant especially now that they have been shod with a set of Vredestein tyres.
The proof was in the pudding and I took it for a spin. Gone is the kangarooIng from an exceptionally firm damped set up and now the car drives well although surprisingly still firm given the low spring rates that are fitted.
All in all, a positive afternoons work with the weird suspension problem solved.
Fiscracer said:
I'm interested in your comment 'I then spent a while levelling up all four corners until the car sat level'
Exactly as stated.When the suspension was fitted the car was very much out of level. I then spent some time adjusting the spring seats of the dampers so that I had 110 mm under the nearside corner plates and about 113 mm under the offside corner plates .
This gave the car a very level look as well as producing a little bit of additional height on the drivers side to allow for my weight in the car when driven solo.
I take your point about corner weighting especially when applied to track car, but for this little car given that I am still experimenting with settings, what I have done is more than adequate and probably better than most cars are set up!
As a habitual track dayer and occasional sprinter I set up my chimaera in exactly the same way.
The car has had four wheel alignment but not corner weighting. It really is a fantastic handling car and whether corner weighting would make any noticeable differance is I believe debatable.
One day, I might.....................
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