Random TVR Chim Question on Handling!?!
Discussion
I wondered if anyone has ever experienced this with their Chim and if so can shine a bit of light on what it might be...
When hitting around 70mph my Chim becomes very light on the steering (kind of like I've just hit water) its fine up until higher speeds but then feels very very light.. a little scary so I keep my speed low currently! I have a slight bit of play in the steering rack (it wobbles slightly but nothing major) I wondered if anyone has had this with their Chim and what it could possibly be?
When hitting around 70mph my Chim becomes very light on the steering (kind of like I've just hit water) its fine up until higher speeds but then feels very very light.. a little scary so I keep my speed low currently! I have a slight bit of play in the steering rack (it wobbles slightly but nothing major) I wondered if anyone has had this with their Chim and what it could possibly be?
Hey Nick, thanks for that..
No, I don't have the bib spoiler. And the car was fitted with new springs before I bought her she's all is on very low millage, it's only done say 5000 in the last few years.
But I think your right, maybe get it up and double check there's no play in anything and the springs ect are still all good.
My first thought was the steering rack as I heard they can sometimes go?
No, I don't have the bib spoiler. And the car was fitted with new springs before I bought her she's all is on very low millage, it's only done say 5000 in the last few years.
But I think your right, maybe get it up and double check there's no play in anything and the springs ect are still all good.
My first thought was the steering rack as I heard they can sometimes go?
Mines a bit like that. I think it's probably a combination of PAS with a really fast rack and tyre pressures. Just a couple of PSI make a difference. When I bought mine I took it on the motorway to get home and it was a bit scary. Checking the tyre pressures, the garage I bought it from had put 32 PSI in the fronts. Knocking that down by 10 PSI made a big difference. Mines on Toyo Proxes T1R's. 225/50/15.
If the steering wheel is shaking at speed, then getting the tyres rebalanced would be my suggestion. (Before going to the expense of a 4 wheel alignment).
If the steering wheel is shaking at speed, then getting the tyres rebalanced would be my suggestion. (Before going to the expense of a 4 wheel alignment).
Edited by ou sont les biscuits on Wednesday 6th July 11:02
Get the spoiler fitted, I've driven my Chim for thousands of miles without it and since fitting a new one the car feels more planted, especially over 70 mph, it really does work.
As the rack is so direct any play in the steering arm joints etc wil be magnified as will any suspension bushes or joints etc,
As said above make sure everything is tight first.
What size wheels and tyres are you running on the fronts.
As the rack is so direct any play in the steering arm joints etc wil be magnified as will any suspension bushes or joints etc,
As said above make sure everything is tight first.
What size wheels and tyres are you running on the fronts.
Yes, not on Chim, but I've lost the spoiler under my Griff a few times and it always feels significantly lighter at front at speed without it. Do fit one the correct way round though so it is acting like a wind brake. For some reason the same spoiler is fitted to Cerbs the other way around, but that is TVR for you!
Start with ride height. There should be a little 'rake' in that the underside chassis should be about 140 mm from a level surface where the front wheels are, and 150 mm at the rear.
From there on, it's a matter of more detailed checking of wheel alignment. If your dampers are still the originals, now would be a good time to replace them with the current Bilstein spec.
My Chimaera doesn't have the front spoiler (and as far as I know, never had; it's a very early example) and it's totally stable on the motorway at any speed.
From there on, it's a matter of more detailed checking of wheel alignment. If your dampers are still the originals, now would be a good time to replace them with the current Bilstein spec.
My Chimaera doesn't have the front spoiler (and as far as I know, never had; it's a very early example) and it's totally stable on the motorway at any speed.
Englishman said:
Yes, not on Chim, but I've lost the spoiler under my Griff a few times and it always feels significantly lighter at front at speed without it. Do fit one the correct way round though so it is acting like a wind brake. For some reason the same spoiler is fitted to Cerbs the other way around, but that is TVR for you!
Some cerberas. I think they may have been knocked off and refitted. I believe as your's is the correct way.Whats the ride height on a chim? On a cerbera it's better to have the rear higher than the front by about 10mm
Suspension geometry being what it is, these cars require at least level wishbones when setting them up, 135 mm seems so low I'd imagine the wishbones are at a slight angle upwards even in a static weight position ie as in when stationary,
Add some suspension travel on top of that and your wishbones will be at a severe angle going in an upwards and inwards angle which simply doesn't add good cornering characteristics on the road,
That angle will induce huge stresses in the wishbones on bumpy roads and transmitt Many vibrations through them rather than the shock absorber.
If your getting level wishbones at 135 mm then all's fine.
Ideally you'd want the wishbones sitting in a slightly downward fashion so they go through a nice ark but that's contrary to popular opinion on ride height.
As much as any camber changes that might occur for me it's actually the transmission of road bump vibration that keeps me away from low ride height, but each to there own
Add some suspension travel on top of that and your wishbones will be at a severe angle going in an upwards and inwards angle which simply doesn't add good cornering characteristics on the road,
That angle will induce huge stresses in the wishbones on bumpy roads and transmitt Many vibrations through them rather than the shock absorber.
If your getting level wishbones at 135 mm then all's fine.
Ideally you'd want the wishbones sitting in a slightly downward fashion so they go through a nice ark but that's contrary to popular opinion on ride height.
As much as any camber changes that might occur for me it's actually the transmission of road bump vibration that keeps me away from low ride height, but each to there own
ClassiChimi said:
Suspension geometry being what it is, these cars require at least level wishbones when setting them up, 135 mm seems so low I'd imagine the wishbones are at a slight angle upwards even in a static weight position ie as in when stationary,
Add some suspension travel on top of that and your wishbones will be at a severe angle going in an upwards and inwards angle which simply doesn't add good cornering characteristics on the road,
That angle will induce huge stresses in the wishbones on bumpy roads and transmitt Many vibrations through them rather than the shock absorber.
If your getting level wishbones at 135 mm then all's fine.
Add some suspension travel on top of that and your wishbones will be at a severe angle going in an upwards and inwards angle which simply doesn't add good cornering characteristics on the road,
That angle will induce huge stresses in the wishbones on bumpy roads and transmitt Many vibrations through them rather than the shock absorber.
If your getting level wishbones at 135 mm then all's fine.
Making the ride height lower than it already is as standard is not a good idea if you want decent - and most of all consistent - handling, for the above reason.
no pics im afraid did i speak to you at the neil garner open day last year mettalic grey is the colour. i think the standard ride height makes the cars to high at the back so with the height the same allround makes for a much better looking stance.any way thats my opinion but each to there own
mjlloyd said:
no pics im afraid did i speak to you at the neil garner open day last year mettalic grey is the colour. i think the standard ride height makes the cars to high at the back so with the height the same allround makes for a much better looking stance.any way thats my opinion but each to there own
Maybe but the car has got that stance for a reason, these cars don't have a lot of leeway for deviations from the optimal wheel geometry before they become rather iffy at either end of the already less than ample suspension travel and I suspect many cars have gone through hedges backwards as a result of dealers/owners lowering the suspension for looks...Forums | General TVR Stuff & Gossip | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff