Orig springs... what are they?

[TVR Beaver]

Hi All

The next thing to do on my Griff is to re-furb the springs and re-bush / paint the upper and lower arms....
As I don't use this car for track days and I'm quite happy with the way it works now, I thought about just replacing the 10 year old springs with new ones (keeping the shocks etc)... The front are the worst as they have started to rust and it would be nice to see what a new set are like in comparison... I've also had some bad reports from after market units fitted... so guess it's a lot cheaper to do up the orig units..

I think you can get the springs from Demon Tweeks.. but does anyone know the size required and the rate?.. any help would be appreciated...
Car is a 99 reg BTW if it makes any difo... Cheers

[Uncle Fester]

Even if you don’t track the car, the difference a set of good shocks and spring will make is amazing. Not just handling, but comfort too.

Don’t mess around, put on a good quality shocks and springs.

After 10 years, the original shocks are unlikely to be much good.

[TVR Beaver]

Do you think?.. either shocks work or don't.. but springs loose their rate... I was just going to re-work the orig units... £100 all in? otherwise it's £500 plus set up for some nickels and I've been in a car with them on and was not impressed???

[HRG.]

TVR Beaver said:

Do you think?.. either shocks work or don't.. but springs loose their rate... I was just going to re-work the orig units... £100 all in? otherwise it's £500 plus set up for some nickels and I've been in a car with them on and was not impressed???

Oil loses it's damping ability over time. Shocks actually have three states. They work, they work poorly, or they don't work at all

[yellowgriff]

HRG. said:

TVR Beaver said:

Do you think?.. either shocks work or don't.. but springs loose their rate... I was just going to re-work the orig units... £100 all in? otherwise it's £500 plus set up for some nickels and I've been in a car with them on and was not impressed???

Oil loses it's damping ability over time. Shocks actually have three states. They work, they work poorly, or they don't work at all

Plus 1

[GreenV8S]

TVR Beaver said:

Do you think?.. either shocks work or don't.. but springs loose their rate.

Other way round. Dampers work best when brand new and gradually get worse and worse as they wear out. Springs usually keep the same characteristics through their entire life until corrosion gets bad enough to weaken them, or they are over stressed and sag or break.

[TVR Beaver]

So from what you say.. I should leave the exusting set up or get full new ones?.. they have only done 40K and work fine... so may save up for new ones over winter... (or may be I can find some low milage replacements)... what's a good road option here.. any thoughts??

[Uncle Fester]

Any suspension is only as good as the worst part.

Even if you have tried a car with new shocks/springs, if it's not correctly set up, or something else is worn, then you won't get the benefit.

Treat the suspension as a complete system. It's much cheaper in labour costs to take it apart once and do everything needed. If you keep taking it apart just to replace one bit at a time its a waste of time and money.

Check it all properly first and plan the whole job from there.

[TVR Beaver]

Was going to do the arms and bush units also... strip down and re-coat.. anf then re-build the shocks myself... done it lots of times on bikes etc... so labour is not a problem... but take your point on getting new.... although some posts on here don't sound good when shocks are sent for re-furb after only 1 season etc??

[Toffer]

HRG. said:

Oil loses it's damping ability over time.

Oil from the North Sea is mainly found in rocks that formed during the Jurassic period - about 150 million years ago, long before people appeared on Earth.

[HRG.]

:cough: I didn't specify a time period

[GreenV8S]

Toffer said:

HRG. said:

Oil loses it's damping ability over time.

Oil from the North Sea is mainly found in rocks that formed during the Jurassic period - about 150 million years ago, long before people appeared on Earth.