Suspension setup Middlesex?

[Pum]

Hi again, to the wise and worthy of this hallowed forum :)
I may be in a position very soon to have some suspension work done on my 1994 Grif 500. All is currently original and the top suspension wishbones are a bit corroded. I hope to be able to afford new top suspension wishbones, and whilst we're at it, new poly bushes and shocks all round. If I can also afford it, uprated brakes on the front. I already have excellent advice about the brakes from a previous thread, which were top of my list before I found out about the suspension corrosion.

After getting whatever I get done, I believe an expert suspension geometry setup is needed, possibly over and above what a TVR garage that fits the stuff may be able to do. Do I understand this right? Can anyone recommend where best to get it done, within reach of the Middlesex area please? I am considering getting the fitting done at Tower View, but will they be able to do the suspension geometry setup? (no offense intended to their expertise, but I got the impression this might be very specialised).

Also, from reading other threads, I get the impression that Nitrons are strongly recommended for the Grif, as opposed to AVO or others - is this still the case? I do a few trackdays a year, and otherwise only fair weather leisure driving in the Grif. I basically want something that behaves pretty much as standard on the road, but I can stiffen it up at the track. The Nitrons may simply be out of my budget at the mo, but cheaper options seem to be very poorly regarded hereabouts. I get the impression that I might be better off waiting till I can afford Nitrons, rather than going for, eg, AVOs now.

Thanx in advance, Pum.

[bugsy]

Have a word with TVR fix

[David H]

I have recently received a set of GAZ dampers and springs from Derek (Bugsy) at Absolutely Shocks Ltd (01707 334819) and I am very impressed with the quality of these items and the great/friendly service. The GAZ units have improved alot of late, although they were never bad.

If you do alot of trackdays or have a bit of cash to spare (over twice the cost of GAZ) then the Nitrons may be the better option (although I believe alot of drivers over rate their ability to analyse the results, Pepsi challange anyone?), but i'm not on track every week and don't have cash to spare unfortunately

I will give an update when I have them on the car (I think others will beat me to it) but at the moment top marks to Absolutely Shocks and GAZ

[bugsy]

Nice to get good feedback but I'm not here to crow but to hopefully answer some of the questions.
1) Nitrons are great but provide only part of the answer, springs are all important and its likely that uprating the springs is half the improvement when changing both.
2) Replacing bushes is a good idea, I've seen some pretty poor examples lately on griffs and chims.
3) Four wheel alignment is a must when you change the set up but its not difficult to find a good specialist.
4) Oil shocks are fine for most applications, as long as you get the right springs.
All this IMHO

[Pum]

bugsy said:

3) Four wheel alignment is a must when you change the set up but its not difficult to find a good specialist.

Teasing me with almost an answer my question in my original post! So how do I find a good one? I've read in previous threads about people who got a bad setup - they presumably thought they were getting it done properly; how do I tell I'm going somewhere that is going to do it right? Ideally, could people that have had a good setup done within reach of Middlesex/NW London say where they had it done please?

thanx, Pum.

[bugsy]

Try TVR Fix, he might have to arrange the the 4 wheel alignment elsewhere but he knows Griffs and Chims inside out.

He is just about to put some nice alloy shocks on his own 500 Griff

[Olly-B]

Pum,

Topcats Racing say they do the whole caboodle including adjusting adjustables (obviously). They are in Aylesbury (40 mins from Watford, 27mins if 'making progress'

01296 655 109

I am going to have them poly and Nitron the 'Plastic fantastic' as soon as the bank allows.

Good luck

[Paul V]

I’ll second a vote for Topcats, they setup my Griff after I fitted adjustable shocks, the difference was unreal, it’s worth hanging about while having the work done and talking to them about what you want from the car, I was very pleased with the results.

[Big bore]

Just had Nitrons bit to my pre cat griff by Warren at top cats they are well worth the money the car handles better the ride is better and top cats do a full set up sheet

[Koolstude]

Bushey Hall Garage in Bushey, Middx. do 4 wheel alignment Tel [phone]. Or Fairway Tyres in Rickmansworth, Herts. (near Watford)do it - Tel [phone]

[Pum]

Ah, thanx chaps! Aylesbury, Bushey and Watford are all getable to for me

Pum.

[bugsy]

Pum said:

Ah, thanx chaps! Aylesbury, Bushey and Watford are all getable to for me Pum.

I was in seeing the boys at Topcats today and I think you will find that he has an mid priced alloy shock now that might be of interest, I was very impressed with his set up.

[Pum]

I spoke to the chap at TopCats. He says they have a new shock from GAZ at £550. That's the right kind of price for me. Can anyone comment of relative merits?

thanx, Pum.

[OLLY-B]

Koolstude said:

Bushey Hall Garage in Bushey, Middx. do 4 wheel alignment Tel [phone]. Or Fairway Tyres in Rickmansworth, Herts. (near Watford)do it - Tel [phone]

Fairway bloke is a nice chap and stocks most Toyos, I can recommend except that you have to tell him the tyre pressures required (he didn't beleive me and had to phone Toyo to check) His fitters always pump to 32lbs plus if not instructed.

[bugsy]

Pum said:

I spoke to the chap at TopCats. He says they have a new shock from GAZ at £550. That's the right kind of price for me. Can anyone comment of relative merits? thanx, Pum.

That will be the new alloys that are only available from approved dealers, Its a great alloy shock with rose bearings.

Its going down very well with the indi's

>> Edited by bugsy on Friday 24th June 17:34

[NormanButcher]

I would go for a make that has a track record and some sort of safety certification (German TuV is the best). Gaz is a tiny outfit with no design or development capability, it seems. They started recently copying AVO dampers. I bought a set od Gaz for an old Mini (they were cheap) and sent them straight back. They sent a dyno chart with the dampers that showed one was over 20% different from the other. Hardly confidence inspiring on a product that can kill you if it fails. Would you buy discs and pads from Gaz if they sold them tomorrow?

[bugsy]

NormanButcher said:

I would go for a make that has a track record and some sort of safety certification (German TuV is the best). Gaz is a tiny outfit with no design or development capability, it seems. They started recently copying AVO dampers. I bought a set od Gaz for an old Mini (they were cheap) and sent them straight back. They sent a dyno chart with the dampers that showed one was over 20% different from the other. Hardly confidence inspiring on a product that can kill you if it fails. Would you buy discs and pads from Gaz if they sold them tomorrow?

Actually, if Gaz are really popular its in mini circles,look at the forums.As for design and development, they have employed Dave Friar from Leda, who has made wholesale changes in the last year.
I'll happily put them on my S and sell 10 sets a week to the TVR crowd with no reported faults.
I would respectfully suggest that your opinion may have been right a year ago but is no longer valid, by the way Gazzard Engineering used to make components for Avo and Spax and have been trading for 30 years.
They also make 700 to 1000 shocks a week and sell them all over the world.

>> Edited by bugsy on Friday 1st July 18:29

>> Edited by bugsy on Friday 1st July 18:32

[shpub]

Tower View can certaily do the setup. They have the corner weighting scales and bits and pieces to set the car up. They have done mine on several occassions before I had all the gear.

As for GAZ. been using them for years and very impressed. been the only shock I haven't been able to break on the 520SE.