My steering wanders

[chris547]

I have an annoying issue, in that my 93 Chimaera (30K)steering wanders as I go faster. Very difficult once you over the Ton.

Can anyone map out what to replace and in what order?

I realise I may need new tyres, replace the compacted springs, renew the shockers, check the steering UJ's and have the steering geometry checked.

Any experiences to be shared?

[K4TRV]

Got the tee shirt.........Its more than just tired springs, dampers and tracking.

You really need to attend to your bushes (check condition of the wish bones front & rear). New Poly bushes in front & rear, new shocks and matched springs(Avos are OK, Nitrons are much better, but you pay !!).

Was all over the place in my '93 until I got Pennisula to change it all out. Now a completely change car and a Track Day under its belt has shown what was "wrong".

Trev McM

>> Edited by K4TRV on Tuesday 3rd August 08:35

[ian8542]

Don't use polybushes on the suspension!(See earlier postings).
Use the standard TVR items with the black nylon spacerwashers.

[GreenV8S]

I suggest you check tyre pressures, geometry all round, front and rear ride height, front ball joints, suspension bushes all round, steering rack or U/J play, damper and spring condition. Best find the problem rather than change stuff just in case, because this lot will add up to a fair bit if you replace everything.

[tahiti450]

GreenV8S said:

I suggest you check tyre pressures, geometry all round, front and rear ride height, front ball joints, suspension bushes all round, steering rack or U/J play, damper and spring condition. Best find the problem rather than change stuff just in case, because this lot will add up to a fair bit if you replace everything.

Just to add on to this most excellent list / advice: Track-rod ends. My '99 450 has done just 18000m and I noticed whilst cleaning the chassis and inspecting recently that both the outer track rod end rubber boots were split, so they are not much longer for this world....

[chris547]

Thanks tahiti and others. GreenV8s has told me to go to a specialist and I think my nearest one could be Tower View Racing. Chatted to them and Mark there suggested fitting a splitter would stop the front end going light at speed. Sounds worth a try at £25 fitted. Any views? Have booked it in to Tower View to have suspension and steering checked out and also thinking of losing these dinky 240 mm front brakes. Anyone have positive feedback regards Tower View in general and their brake upgrades?

[JonRB]

I had something like this a couple of years ago and Dave Batty diagnosed the front wishbones sliding around and altering the suspension geometry under cornering. A set of neoprene spacer washers sorted that out and totally transformed the handling.

Lately the problem has returned, but it's with Dave for a service today so hopefully will be something simple like degradation of the aforementioned washers or maybe the odd bush.