Handling

[waynester]

I'm getting a little fed up with my suspension on my 400 it's spoiling the drive. It feels floaty at speed and crashes badly over poor road surfaces to the point where i'm holding up traffic as i'm going so slow.
I would like to replace the shocks and springs but i am on a bit of a budget, what kit would be best with this in mind?
Cheers.

[cuneus]

The AVO's fitted to my 350 seem to work very well

[redcar]

Wayne.
Mine was as yours is,I had AVOs fitted to mine, once you get them settled in and adjusted properly they are very good, you can corner very quick.

[NHyde]

AVO's on the SEAC ,and also on MrsH's former 400 worked very well .

[firefox1712]

I had/have a similar problem and started a thread ("shakin' all over") sometime ago on the same subject. I was recommended to adjust shocks or change to EVOs etc..

Turns out the car has adjustable Konis all round, and these have now been turned back a couple of notches. My overall impression is it is a little better, but with the state of the roads around here it is still bouncy, and therefore a decision as to whether to take more off is a bit difficult.

Ideal situation is to play around with them until you have what you consider to be the optimum.

[19560]

firefox1712 said:

Turns out the car has adjustable Konis all round, and these have now been turned back a couple of notches. Ideal situation is to play around with them until you have what you consider to be the optimum.

Hmm; it's half revolutions on Konis, not notches. An excellent damper but a pain to adjust since you have to compress the spring and remove the top of the damper. I also have Konis...

[skyrocketship]

might not just be the shocks - might need new bushes too

>> Edited by skyrocketship on Monday 6th September 22:47

[firefox1712]

Johnathan -

Hmm - interesting. I didn't do the adjustment myself. I was told they were Konis. The mech tightened up all nuts/bolts and adjusted the shocks in half an hour while I waited. He said they were difficult to get to.

[waynester]

My car has Poly bushes fitted already, but i don't know how old they are?
Does sound like Avo's are the way to go, so how much? + Fitment cost?

[waynester]

My car has Poly bushes fitted already, but i don't know how old they are?
Does sound like Avo's are the way to go, so how much? + Fitment cost?

[NHyde]

IIRC about £90 per corner for AVO's , but worth doing the poly bushes at the same time for what it costs .

[redcar]

Depends how easy they are to get off, (rusty bolts and the like), if all is ok to supply and fit I was quoted £800.00 for bushes, AVOS and springs, however on mine things went down hill quickly and cost was made me start again.But it was worth it sir.
Martin

[19560]

firefox1712 said:

Jonathan - Hmm - interesting. I didn't do the adjustment myself. I was told they were Konis. The mech tightened up all nuts/bolts and adjusted the shocks in half an hour while I waited. He said they were difficult to get to.

It might be worth having a quiet word with him. You have to remove the wheel, compress the spring, slacken the bottom bolt, remove the top nuts, swing the damper out, remove the spring, extend the damper, remove the odd packing rubber/internal bump stop, compress the damper, locate the holes, rotate the damper then do the reverse of all the above before replacing the wheel. Half an hour per side is very good going. On the other hand you seem to be happy with your car's handling at the moment so why bother too much except for future reference.

[350zwelgje]

Uprated my springs at the front ('heavy duty'), and GAZ adjustable shocks all around. Front bushes still original. Cured my front (softness at speed and kick-back at low speed), and rear is now improved to put the power down. Agree that the setting of the adjustable shocks is a trail and error process to find your preferred setting. Problem when you get it right......, you will enjoy every corner and the cornering speed goes up with it.

Rob (350i)

[firefox1712]

Johnathan -

Sadly that mech has now left the establishment and moved on to greener pastures. He literally tightened up all bolts on the car AND adjusted the shocks all round in a half hour! I did think he said they were Konis.

[rev-erend]

I'll just confirm that the Shox on Firefox's car had an adjustment at the bottom of the shox.. not the usual Koni adjustment (top internal, take shock off etc..).

[jchase]

I need some Konis on the front of my 280i, does anyone know the numbers?
Incidentally, Koni make several types of damper, and they are adjusted differently - see www.koni.com/_cars/frame.html and navigate to adjustment section.

Regards, Jim

[redwedge5]

For the front:
TVR part no 039C092A

Koni no 80 2602

May be hard to find, TVR special I think. I heard you can get old konis reconditioned by Koni. I don't know if anyone has tried this.

[wedg1e]

redwedge5 said:

I heard you can get old konis reconditioned by Koni. I don't know if anyone has tried this.

I was advised by Koni UK that they can rebuild them, cost uncertain. They won't supply rebuild kits or parts for you to do it yourself though.

Both of my Wedges had the Koni rear dampers on the stiffest settings when I got the cars.
I set them to one 'click' from softest and left them there. Far too hard on the stiffest setting.

Ian

[Planman350i]

I've had redline shocks and new springs fitted by RT. All adjustable and ride height adjustable at the back. Still getting used to them, but definitely an improvement in handling and bump absorption compared to my old avos.