Anybody running Ohlins suspension?
Discussion
Well, I'm preparing for the next purchase for Cerby, and it has to be a suspension kit. My best mate is an ex TVR technician and was involved in some of the development of the Ohlins kit which he ran on a racing Cerb. He assures me its worth the investment, but I'm reliably informed its around £1400 (haven't checked yet!) It wasn't long ago I would buy whole cars for that! He does admit though that it was a few years ago, and times may have changed. Any opinions on what to go for? Being a biker too, Ohlins reigns supreme in my mind!
Well they get my vote. And I also found out that all Press TVRs were always fitted with Ohlins. So they must be doing something right.
Had Ohlins fitted a few months ago and the car feels so much better (they replaced AVOs). She feels so planted and stiff but very comfortable over the bumps and humps. No tramlining at all. I was always correcting the steering before as she wandered all over the place. With the Ohlins she'll run true even over a bumpy and uneven road with no hands on the steering wheel!! Completely transformed my Cerb.
Cost £1800 supplied and fitted by Andy at APM - who also gets my vote
And they can always be rebuilt in the future. £100 a corner premium over Nitrons is money well spent IMO.
Oh, and I had the front drop links replaced at the same time for some Steve Heath rose joint ones. They'll also help to get the best out of the suspension.
Had Ohlins fitted a few months ago and the car feels so much better (they replaced AVOs). She feels so planted and stiff but very comfortable over the bumps and humps. No tramlining at all. I was always correcting the steering before as she wandered all over the place. With the Ohlins she'll run true even over a bumpy and uneven road with no hands on the steering wheel!! Completely transformed my Cerb.
Cost £1800 supplied and fitted by Andy at APM - who also gets my vote
And they can always be rebuilt in the future. £100 a corner premium over Nitrons is money well spent IMO.Oh, and I had the front drop links replaced at the same time for some Steve Heath rose joint ones. They'll also help to get the best out of the suspension.
Edited by thegreengoblet on Thursday 3rd January 21:07
Another set here (and also fitted by Andy ) - very happy and once you are into Nitron money as GG says it is not a huge amount more anyway. Andy gets them built to order and therefore can spec them to suit (rather than relying solely on the adjustability part) got mine road biased rather than track and they are great down bumpy lanes etc, on the old stuff I would have a nasty corkscrew going on if I hit a bump mid corner and you could really feel the cars weight moving around and unsettling the rear, now just fairly serene with no brown trouser moments - probably making me a worse driver as I can take liberties with the car now that I shouldn't be 
) - very happy and once you are into Nitron money as GG says it is not a huge amount more anyway. Andy gets them built to order and therefore can spec them to suit (rather than relying solely on the adjustability part) got mine road biased rather than track and they are great down bumpy lanes etc, on the old stuff I would have a nasty corkscrew going on if I hit a bump mid corner and you could really feel the cars weight moving around and unsettling the rear, now just fairly serene with no brown trouser moments - probably making me a worse driver as I can take liberties with the car now that I shouldn't be I have toyed with the idea of upgrading, again. I puchased AVO setup 3 years ago, and was happy at the time, as it did give a good improvement. However I still chicken out of rapid B road driving, as mine just doesn't feel sufficiently planted.
Would a decent setup get the Cerb close to say (for example) the handling of a 350z or E46 M3 ?? I driven both, and felt so much more confident through the twisties. . if so, I'd invest.
Would a decent setup get the Cerb close to say (for example) the handling of a 350z or E46 M3 ?? I driven both, and felt so much more confident through the twisties. . if so, I'd invest.
Raw Cerb said:
Would a decent setup get the Cerb close to say (for example) the handling of a 350z or E46 M3 ?? I driven both, and felt so much more confident through the twisties. . if so, I'd invest.
That's an interesting debate! Having owned an E46 M3, which i didn't particlularly enjoy for various reasons, i would be very suprised if a cerbie fitted with god's own suspension could offer the sure-footedness of an M3, or equivalent, being as TVR's are inherently flawed when it comes to handling!Edited by Peasantplucker on Friday 4th January 12:24
Raw Cerb said:
Would a decent setup get the Cerb close to say (for example) the handling of a 350z or E46 M3 ?? I driven both, and felt so much more confident through the twisties. . if so, I'd invest.
The AVOs on mine scared me. I could - just - keep up with my mate in his T350 if I was following him. I wouldn't be so coinfident out in front. However the Ohlins are in a totally different league. I'm still building confidence at the mo - and Winter doesn't help!Purely due to the power difference between Cerbs and other "normal" sports cars, its hard to compare handling characteristics. With normal sports cars I've always felt in control - everything is gradual and manageable (especially the speed) making the cars easier to drive at their limit. You feel like you're getting the most out of the car.
The Cerb on the other hand, takes great skill to drive at it's limit - something I can only aspire to. The speed delivery is aggressivly quick requiring great concentration when going around the twisties. I know I'm nowhere near the Cerbs limit but even so the AVOs always scared me and I knew MY limit. This lack in confidence with the AVOs could well mean that I would be slower than if I was driving a normal sports car. However I would be very suprised if this was still the case with the Ohlins. They inspire confidence. I was shocked by the difference compared to the AVOs - which I must admit were on their last legs on the rear (wound fully). I guess the only way to really tell is to get timed on a circuit.
I'm running Ohlins on the racing Cerb this year.
The car started with AVOs, then Nitrons, then GAZ and now the remote adjustables from Ohlin, fitted of course by Andy at APM who prepares the car.
Testing in February so will let you all know what I think, they (Ohlins) are very confident that I will see an improvement.
Jonny
The car started with AVOs, then Nitrons, then GAZ and now the remote adjustables from Ohlin, fitted of course by Andy at APM who prepares the car.
Testing in February so will let you all know what I think, they (Ohlins) are very confident that I will see an improvement.
Jonny
JonnyW said:
I'm running Ohlins on the racing Cerb this year.
The car started with AVOs, then Nitrons, then GAZ and now the remote adjustables from Ohlin, fitted of course by Andy at APM who prepares the car.
Testing in February so will let you all know what I think, they (Ohlins) are very confident that I will see an improvement.
Jonny
How about i give you a race! O wait.......The car started with AVOs, then Nitrons, then GAZ and now the remote adjustables from Ohlin, fitted of course by Andy at APM who prepares the car.
Testing in February so will let you all know what I think, they (Ohlins) are very confident that I will see an improvement.
Jonny
JonnyW said:
I'm running Ohlins on the racing Cerb this year.
The car started with AVOs, then Nitrons, then GAZ and now the remote adjustables from Ohlin, fitted of course by Andy at APM who prepares the car.
Testing in February so will let you all know what I think, they (Ohlins) are very confident that I will see an improvement.
Jonny
Are you testing at brands? The car started with AVOs, then Nitrons, then GAZ and now the remote adjustables from Ohlin, fitted of course by Andy at APM who prepares the car.
Testing in February so will let you all know what I think, they (Ohlins) are very confident that I will see an improvement.
Jonny
JonnyW said:
I'm running Ohlins on the racing Cerb this year.
The car started with AVOs, then Nitrons, then GAZ and now the remote adjustables from Ohlin, fitted of course by Andy at APM who prepares the car.
Testing in February so will let you all know what I think, they (Ohlins) are very confident that I will see an improvement.
Jonny
Were you sitting down when you read the entry fees for pro-mil ? Are you coming to race back in tuscans n sagarisssss? The car started with AVOs, then Nitrons, then GAZ and now the remote adjustables from Ohlin, fitted of course by Andy at APM who prepares the car.
Testing in February so will let you all know what I think, they (Ohlins) are very confident that I will see an improvement.
Jonny
Mike, I will be testing at Brands as that takes me out of the equation having been around it a thousand times.Probably late Feb.
Jools, expensive versus the Tuscan prices last year but masses of track time over the two days, TV coverage and full hospitality and all the beer and wine etc..I'm going to do both series as much as I can, the dates are pretty good and work out for me as I don't do Anglesey and the ones Iwould need to travel on Fridays as Fridays are my busiest days at work.
It will be interesting to see how much the Tuscan Sagaris Cerb T350 S Tasmin Griff Tamora Taimar Chimera etc Challenge will be as it is now two days with 2? practice and timed on the Saturday? I imagine it is going to be a lot more than last year.
I like both series and the Cerb is looking a different animal now (literally!) and is able to mix it in both Group B in the Tuscan Challenge and C in the GT Cup and fight above its weight in the other classes.
All depends on how far the budget will get me in the end?
The one day practice & races on some of the circuits that I know help enormously and three events at Brands really aleviate the domestic pressure.
I'm going to try to get out for 10 to 12 events.
What are your & Cliff's plans, it would be good to coordinate ourselves?
Cheers
Jonny
Jools, expensive versus the Tuscan prices last year but masses of track time over the two days, TV coverage and full hospitality and all the beer and wine etc..I'm going to do both series as much as I can, the dates are pretty good and work out for me as I don't do Anglesey and the ones Iwould need to travel on Fridays as Fridays are my busiest days at work.
It will be interesting to see how much the Tuscan Sagaris Cerb T350 S Tasmin Griff Tamora Taimar Chimera etc Challenge will be as it is now two days with 2? practice and timed on the Saturday? I imagine it is going to be a lot more than last year.
I like both series and the Cerb is looking a different animal now (literally!) and is able to mix it in both Group B in the Tuscan Challenge and C in the GT Cup and fight above its weight in the other classes.
All depends on how far the budget will get me in the end?
The one day practice & races on some of the circuits that I know help enormously and three events at Brands really aleviate the domestic pressure.
I'm going to try to get out for 10 to 12 events.
What are your & Cliff's plans, it would be good to coordinate ourselves?
Cheers
Jonny
itsallyellow said:
Thats because ohlins are "better" however for a road car then a good set of Gaz will be more than adequate and a lot cheaper!
To be honest, I am confused. I am mostly interested in improving on the road driving, but wanna be sure before parting with more dosh. Come on guys, who's driven a few of the alternatives on the twistes B roads, and can offer an informed opinion in achieving decent handling?itsallyellow said:
I have nitrons on my road car and they are very good. For a road car i honestly think that you dont need to spend ohlin money.
Havent even done that on the race car (may regret that though) we shall see.
As said before, if you're thinking of Nitrons, then you may as well go for the extra outlay which - in Cerb temrs - is relatively small.Havent even done that on the race car (may regret that though) we shall see.
A few comments to get the debate going again:
All of the dampers I have had need servicing at some stage, although racing does put a massive amount of stress on these items as will track days.
The combination of damper, spring, geometry, anti-roll bar, rose jointing/rubber etc..is best served by getting a proper expert to fit them such as APM Andy who knows all of the geometry of the car and has played at the track with the relevant experts/technicians from the damper manufacturers.
On top of this is loading,rebound etc..
Basically there are infinite options but there are only so many combinations that work and they are simply not just dampers. My experience is one of progression with an expert, this costs but can save you in the long run, but you need to start with a shock that has the ability to be adjusted itself and the combination of spring and geometry need sorting by someone who has done it before.
Jonny
All of the dampers I have had need servicing at some stage, although racing does put a massive amount of stress on these items as will track days.
The combination of damper, spring, geometry, anti-roll bar, rose jointing/rubber etc..is best served by getting a proper expert to fit them such as APM Andy who knows all of the geometry of the car and has played at the track with the relevant experts/technicians from the damper manufacturers.
On top of this is loading,rebound etc..
Basically there are infinite options but there are only so many combinations that work and they are simply not just dampers. My experience is one of progression with an expert, this costs but can save you in the long run, but you need to start with a shock that has the ability to be adjusted itself and the combination of spring and geometry need sorting by someone who has done it before.
Jonny
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