S3 suspension upgrade
Discussion
I'm starting to think that my suspension needs sorting out as the car feels really squirrelly over undulating roads. As far as I can tell it's still running the original dampers, so they may well be due sorting. If I fit a set of Nitron or Gaz coil overs, will I need to source a spring compressor of some sort? Or do the wishbones drop down far enough to just slot them in?
You need to jack the car up to take the weight off the wheels, this will leave the suspension on full droop. The spring/damper coilover units are mounted by a bolt top and bottom and will come off easily once you have the weight off the wheels. Remember that for the front in particular, you will need to jack up BOTH sides otherwise the anti-roll bar will stop the suspension from unloading.
With the spring/damper coilover units off the car you would need a spring compressor to remove the spring from the damper. Do not assume that the original springs are suitable for use with the new dampers. They may be the wrong rate, dimensions, or simply not in good enough condition to reuse. Springs are relatively cheap and it would be sensible to buy suitable new springs with your new dampers. Most aftermarket dampers have adjustable spring seats and on many of them this screws down far enough to completely unload the spring i.e. you can install the spring unloaded and then wind the spring seat up to give the required preload. If you don't know what the preload should be then consult your damper supplier.
With the spring/damper coilover units off the car you would need a spring compressor to remove the spring from the damper. Do not assume that the original springs are suitable for use with the new dampers. They may be the wrong rate, dimensions, or simply not in good enough condition to reuse. Springs are relatively cheap and it would be sensible to buy suitable new springs with your new dampers. Most aftermarket dampers have adjustable spring seats and on many of them this screws down far enough to completely unload the spring i.e. you can install the spring unloaded and then wind the spring seat up to give the required preload. If you don't know what the preload should be then consult your damper supplier.
Edited by GreenV8S on Sunday 19th October 15:22
Recently I purchased Gaz gold shocks/springs for all four corners to replace the original units (one of which was leaking). This is a massive improvement - no bottoming out and cornering is much more composed. I purchased from Absolutely shocks (Tel: 0800 121 4924). The springs were already fitted so no need for a compressor.
I would definitely use absolutely shocks again because the service was first class...Derek will give you the rough settings to get the shocks set up correctly when putting them on the car. For me this meant that the ride height was spot on without need for adjustment after fitting and taking the car out for a spin (see other threads on PH I understand this can be a bit of a faff).
I think a full set of Gaz classic shocks is ~£500 the Gaz golds which are lighter cost ~£600. Next option is Nitrons which cost £1000+?
Ralph.
I would definitely use absolutely shocks again because the service was first class...Derek will give you the rough settings to get the shocks set up correctly when putting them on the car. For me this meant that the ride height was spot on without need for adjustment after fitting and taking the car out for a spin (see other threads on PH I understand this can be a bit of a faff).
I think a full set of Gaz classic shocks is ~£500 the Gaz golds which are lighter cost ~£600. Next option is Nitrons which cost £1000+?
Ralph.
Cheers for the info. I've seen those Gaz golds on ebay for 300 odd quid. Don't know if there are any hidden costs there. Maybe I'll look at Gaz instead of Nitrons, we'll see. They say the Nitrons come already set up .Probably a job for after xmas though, still a couple of months of chassis cleaning and painting to do as well.
Thanks again
Phill.
Thanks again
Phill.
Spathodus77 said:
Recently I purchased Gaz gold shocks/springs for all four corners to replace the original units (one of which was leaking). This is a massive improvement - no bottoming out and cornering is much more composed. I purchased from Absolutely shocks (Tel: 0800 121 4924). The springs were already fitted so no need for a compressor.
I would definitely use absolutely shocks again because the service was first class...Derek will give you the rough settings to get the shocks set up correctly when putting them on the car. For me this meant that the ride height was spot on without need for adjustment after fitting and taking the car out for a spin (see other threads on PH I understand this can be a bit of a faff).
I think a full set of Gaz classic shocks is ~£500 the Gaz golds which are lighter cost ~£600. Next option is Nitrons which cost £1000+?
Ralph.
How hard is the ride now?? I took my S out on the weekend around Dartmoor(bumpy old roads) and my teeth almost feel out!I would definitely use absolutely shocks again because the service was first class...Derek will give you the rough settings to get the shocks set up correctly when putting them on the car. For me this meant that the ride height was spot on without need for adjustment after fitting and taking the car out for a spin (see other threads on PH I understand this can be a bit of a faff).
I think a full set of Gaz classic shocks is ~£500 the Gaz golds which are lighter cost ~£600. Next option is Nitrons which cost £1000+?
Ralph.
=
It's not that it's a hard ride, so much as it gets unsettled easily. That said if I hit a sudden bump in the road my eyeballs quiver and it sounds like the chassis is trying to escape from under the body. If I inadvertantly stray over 60mph(100 ish) it starts to tramline over every ridge and camber. This could be the Goodyear tyres on the front though.But it's definately squirrelly at higher speeds.
wanacoop said:
How hard is the ride now?? I took my S out on the weekend around Dartmoor(bumpy old roads) and my teeth almost feel out!
The ride is less hard, the ride height is lower, I get less bottoming out and I have had less scary moments = so good news all round!
This is n't really my field but the absorbancy of the shocks is much more progressive...so the car soaks up the bumps much more readily (esp small and medium ones).If you've got tired old shocks I can't reccommend replacing them strongly enough - you'll definitely notice the difference.
I'II get off of this
now...Ralph.
Bonefish said:
I'd check your front wishbone bushes too whilst the car is jacked up. If they're worn, this can also give that wandering experience at speed when on bumps/ bad roads...
It's dead easy to remove the old bushes.Get a long 12mm bolt (say 100mm, B&Q do them), put a nut on it about 1 inch up the bolt.
Put the wishbone in the vice, put the bolt in the bush and hammer it through - all mine came out easily.
There is no steel outer ring on the front bushes (it says in the bible there is but there isn't) - so once they are out as above you're ready to fit new ones.
Make sure if you get poly bushes for the front ( look at http://www.superflex.co.uk ) that you get some PTFE grease with them - a certain supplier in Devon forgot to send me some and I couldn't figure out why it was so difficult to fit the new bushes in the wishbone till I rang Superflex to ask.
Just had mine in to a Tiv independent for a check over as i thought it wasn't handling quite as it should.
They pointed out the leaking front shock then pulled the car up and down and pointed out the worn out front springs, then went to the back to point out the original rear Koni's and springs 18 years old. Also a worn top ball joint. Bushes and steering etc ok thankfully. They reccomended the basic Gaz shocks at £500 + fitting and setting up. I'm going with that.
They pointed out the leaking front shock then pulled the car up and down and pointed out the worn out front springs, then went to the back to point out the original rear Koni's and springs 18 years old. Also a worn top ball joint. Bushes and steering etc ok thankfully. They reccomended the basic Gaz shocks at £500 + fitting and setting up. I'm going with that.
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