V8S straight line stability.

[Andy Lynch]

I dont know if I'm paranoid, but my V8S doesnt feel rock solid in a straight line on the motorway when doing about 70.....ish. The shocks are new Gaz pro's all set the same, so that should'nt be the problem. Can any one tell me if their's is very stable at speed. I'm about to get the tracking checked to see if thats out. Hopefully it is, and that will cure the problem. But as I have only driven this V8S I dont know if its right or wrong.

When I rock the front wheels there appears to be no play, and the stearing column was reconditioned 20K ago

Can any one recommend what the camber and toe in / out should be set to, for road use not track use.

Thanks

Andy

[HarryW]

my old one was rock solid well into 3 figures, you could, if you wanted to, literally take your hands off the wheel.
Get it 4 wheel aligned by someone that understands TVR's.

[Andy Lynch]

Will do thanks, I guess that at 70 I could not take my hands off the wheel for more than a few seconds. Will post the results, when I get it checked, if it ever stops raining.

Thanks

[GreenV8S]

Mine starts to get a little wayward in the corners at 120 or so, but in a straight line it's fine up to the rev limit. I think a lot of the sense of stability comes from confidence in the car, and if you aren't used to it things can get a bit un-nerving as the steering lightens with speed. But if you find you're having to make steering corrections to keep in a straight line, that's not quite right. Check the tyre pressures and wear, geometry, suspension bushes and steering joints.

[Andy Lynch]

I'm sure a lot of it may be confidence, my work car is a Mondeo, that eats the motorway miles at speed, and you can keep it in a straight line with one finger on the wheel. I will have it checked, as the worry is spoiling what should be a fun car.

Cheers

[v8s4me]

Mine is fine on motorways. It's just bumpy A & B roads where it gets "floaty". Have you checked your tyre pressures? See Phillpots cheap and simple spoiler post if its still wandering.

[Ragtop]

Your symptoms are certainly not normal, but it may be nothing more than incorrect tyre pressures:

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Good luck,
Graham

[tozerman]

My car is perfectly stable at any speed on the motorway, although above 100mph ish the steering is very sensitive and the slightest movement will affect the car, but I like that. On a bumpy A/B road then any modern hatchback will probably be quicker, our cars prefer smooth roads. I would check ride height, tyre pressures and alignment in that order and you should get to the bottom of things.
Cheers.....Tony..

[Longers]

I agree about the tyre pressures. Once I picked up my Chimaera after having 4 new tyres fitted it was tramlining all over the motorway. Pulled in at next service station and tyre pressures were massively over what they needed to be despite me telling them the correct pressures when I dropped it off....

Hope yours is as cheap to fix

[Dave_M]

Mine is stable at 120 although as said above she prefers smooth roads over the bumps

[mycroft]

Dave_M said:

Mine is stable at 120 although as said above she prefers smooth roads over the bumps

Dave i thought you liked to give the impression you were a bit of a captain slow like me , you will spoil your reputation talking of such high numbers ( assume your talking kmph)

[Dave_M]

mycroft said:

Dave i thought you liked to give the impression you were a bit of a captain slow like me , you will spoil your reputation talking of such high numbers ( assume your talking kmph)

One has to test the car once just to check

Naturally, we are limited to 70 most of the time though

[Andy Lynch]

Thanks for the reply's, I have lowered the tyre pressures to 20 on the front and 24 on the rears, Then took it for a spin down the motorway and back over a twisting country A road, it was a lot better especially on the motorway, I will still get the tracking done though just to make sure,

Thanks again