To B ush or not to B ush that is the question?

[wee man]

With the first malady of my first wedge hopefully on the way to being sorted I need to turn my attention to updating some tired Shocks, Springs and Bushes.
Do springs have to be changed with shocks?
Which shocks? Avo has been suggested, but do I need adjustables?
Are the springs a standard "rate"? Or should I change this and why?
Should bushes be of the common all garden black variety or the new fangled poly versions and why?
Any suggestions on from who or where to buy the above?
Anything else I should update in this department which will improve the general ride and handling?
The car is a 350i series 2 1987. And will be used on the road 99% of the time (as opposed to the track).
Questions, always Questions........I know, Iknow I've got an inquisitive nature!

The diminutive one.

[NHyde]

Went poly bush all round with AVO's , springs were OK , transformed the car .


http://myweb.tiscali.co.uk/wedgies/gallery%20400SE.htm

The AVO's are adjustable.

>> Edited by NHyde on Wednesday 28th July 22:29

[HeyAndy]

I want to do the same with my bushes. But was the transformation on the road or track?

>> Edited by HeyAndy on Wednesday 28th July 22:37

[NHyde]

............ road , after having spent that much money on the car ,not going to risk breaking it !!!

[wedg1e]

wee man said:

With the first malady of my first wedge hopefully on the way to being sorted I need to turn my attention to updating some tired Shocks, Springs and Bushes. Do springs have to be changed with shocks? Which shocks? Avo has been suggested, but do I need adjustables? Are the springs a standard "rate"? Or should I change this and why? Should bushes be of the common all garden black variety or the new fangled poly versions and why? Any suggestions on from who or where to buy the above? Anything else I should update in this department which will improve the general ride and handling? The car is a 350i series 2 1987. And will be used on the road 99% of the time (as opposed to the track). Questions, always Questions........I know, Iknow I've got an inquisitive nature! The diminutive one.

You can change the springs independantly of the shocks, but as you have to take them off anyway you may think it worth the £25 or so a corner to do the job properly. If not, compare the length of the springs off the car and change if they vary by more than a few mm.
AVO shocks are commonly suggested. I haven't tried them on the TVR, though I have heard some people love tham and some hate them. All I can say is that I have them on my Esprit, they have done minimal road time and the finish is atrocious. I do know of one guy who was so unimpressed that he drove 200 miles, banged them on the counter at AVO HQ and demanded his money back.
If you can still find any, Koni were always regarded as the better variety (though a bit tricky to set up right).
Polyurethane bushes can introduce extra stresses into suspension mounts etc by removing some of the compliance that damps vibration, impacts etc. They are worthwhile in certain applications such as antiroll bar mountings - otherwise it can be a case of sucking and seeing.
Part of the problem lies in identifying what a particular problem is and what might cure it...

Ian

[wee man]

[quote=NHyde]The AVO's are adjustable.

quote]
Do i need adjustable shocks?? Surely once they are fitted that's it?

[19560]

wee man said:

Do i need adjustable shocks?? Surely once they are fitted that's it?

Gee, so many questions. It is the damping that is adjustable with dampers - I think that you may be getting confused with adjustable spring mountings. (Although with adj Konis once you've fitted them that's it until you take them off.)

[19560]

wedg1e said:

You can change the springs independantly of the shocks, but as you have to take them off anyway you may think it worth the £25 or so a corner to do the job properly.

280 lbs/in front and 210 rear?

[19560]

wedg1e said:

Polyurethane bushes can introduce extra stresses into suspension mounts etc by removing some of the compliance that damps vibration, impacts etc. They are worthwhile in certain applications such as antiroll bar mountings - otherwise it can be a case of sucking and seeing.

The superflex ones are fairly soft although stiffer that the originals and should last longer. www.superflex.chriswitor.co.uk/

[wedg1e]

19560 said:

wedg1e said: You can change the springs independantly of the shocks, but as you have to take them off anyway you may think it worth the £25 or so a corner to do the job properly. 280 lbs/in front and 210 rear?

On my car, 'crapped-up' at the front and 'rusty asf***' at the rear! Spring rates undetermined, been on the car since I got it (though there may be a receipt in the box-files somewhere...)

[wedg1e]

19560 said:

wedg1e said: Polyurethane bushes can introduce extra stresses into suspension mounts etc by removing some of the compliance that damps vibration, impacts etc. They are worthwhile in certain applications such as antiroll bar mountings - otherwise it can be a case of sucking and seeing. The superflex ones are fairly soft although stiffer that the originals and should last longer. www.superflex.chriswitor.co.uk/

I used Poly's for the ARB to drop-link as the old ones were Kerry Packer-ed. When I took the raggy remains out, I discovered they WERE Poly...
I think what happens is that the ARB goes rusty and acts like a file, wearing the bushes away. I cleaned the ARB up, painted it and used silicon grease on the bushes.

Ian

[19560]

wedg1e said:

I used Poly's for the ARB to drop-link as the old ones were Kerry Packer-ed. When I took the raggy remains out, I discovered they WERE Poly... I think what happens is that the ARB goes rusty and acts like a file, wearing the bushes away. I cleaned the ARB up, painted it and used silicon grease on the bushes. Ian

I think that those are the worst bushes on the car. They look half knackered when new.

[NHyde]

..the rear AVO's on the 400

[wedget]

I have Rt Racing sprins and shocks on mine that are ajustable for height and firmness, Alot of people say RT springs are sh1te but i personally rather like them but i have nothing to compare them to, I paid £100 ea for shocks and £25 for spings And had poly bushes fitted, The car now will go round corners very fast indeed and i have had no probs in 2 years, exept the odd squeeky bush but my mates Cerbera does exactly the same.