Giff handling advice please

[steve-v8s]

I have what I believe to be original dampers on my 42k, 98 Griff and now I an getting used to it, and starting to drive it with a bit more enthusiasm I find the handling is a bit disappointing. It is way off the planted feeling of my 530 Beamer, I think it even feels less stable than the V8s did. Advice indicates that a good starting point is a set of Nitron dampers and springs which should transform the car. Anybody been down the same route ? I don’t mind spending the money but don’t like wasting it. Currently it feels ok on a good smooth road, a bit unsettled over bumps and quite scary when pulling out to overtake. Also the rear end twitches when changing 2nd to 3rd if going for it. Any advice please, thanks.

[JonA]

Get the geometry checked out. Your car sounds like it's behaving like mine used to.
Cheers

[Guillotine]

good advice.

alot can be done by replacing bushes (for polys) and setting up the geometry.

on a 98, the handling should be an improvements on your V8S BUT if yours is a sorted car and this one aint..well you know the score.

Peninsula and Joospeed are very well thought of and a trcak day with them spent fettling will bring massive gains. there SHOULD not be a problem with your kit, if the cars been used normally. my shocks were fine when i bought it (six years old) but within 18mths the handling was going (seven and a half years old).

i didn't notice it as i was getting better as the car was deteriorating. photos of the car showed the springs to be worn. full nitrons, polys and a set up session sorted everything out and after that the cars fabulous. i can brake on turn in, put power on just off apex with a touch of understeer. superb.

peninsula's adjustable wishbone are useful as you can set camber easily and exactly to your own spec.

so have someone check/set it for you.

(i have driven some HORRIBLE cars...straight from the factory even! didn't take much to sort them out.)

[GarryM]

Not the same age ('96 and 25k miles) but mine feels fine. I've thought about Nitrons but just can't actually say there is anything wrong with what I have. Sounds like you need a geometry check by people who know how it should be done.

Edited to say: Just seen Andy's provided a far more useful response! Andy - what spring rates have you fitted?

>> Edited by GarryM on Friday 14th May 17:15

[Guillotine]

standard Griff package...+12% over TVR spec.

still abit soft for me, but a very good compromise fot road/track.

[shpub]

Before spending a lot of money... chcek the obvious things like bushes, tyre pressures (should be around 22lb), and geometry especially castor. Quite easy to knock the camber out as well. Also that you have the same type of tyres on each axle and that the rotation is correct. Tower View had a car come in last week where the rotation was wrong and the handling was diabolical. Swapped it round and problem went away.

[steve-v8s]

Thanks for all the advice. The tyres are all So3s and are correctly fitted. It feels much the same on the set of Ao32s I have (apart from the extra grip obviously). I see from the paperwork that the previous owner had a “full alignment” done whatever that is. But who’s to say that they actually set it correctly. None of the bushes look obviously sad and I can’t detect any excess movement. My gut feeling is that the right rear damper is not quite as it should be. Any way I now have a slot booked at Peninsular, popular opinion seems to indicate that the know what they are about, so I will keep you posted.

[19560]

42K on original springs and shocks is high for a TVR. Even if the geometry is spot on the handling will be poor because of lower (worn) parts and uneveness of wear. Look at springs and shocks as a service item.

[steve-v8s]

Yes opinion does seem to indicate that dampers will be fairly shot at 40K on a car that tends to be driven enthusiastically. I can’t figure out why a Griff should wear them out quicker than other cars, It still goes over the same bumps. Perhaps the effect is more noticeable, or a “performance” set-up will increase wear rates.

[shpub]

If you are running s03s, try dropping the tyre pressure to 20lb. They have a very stiff sidewall and don't like running at normal pressures.

[19560]

steve-v8s said:

. Perhaps the effect is more noticeable, or a “performance” set-up will increase wear rates.

Both but especially the latter. It sounds like you know what to expect. When is the car booked in?

[steve-v8s]

Booked in on Fiday 11th. Hope to have it sorted for Gurston the next weekend.

[Digga]

steve-v8s said:

Yes opinion does seem to indicate that dampers will be fairly shot at 40K on a car that tends to be driven enthusiastically. I can’t figure out why a Griff should wear them out quicker than other cars

I've owned my '98 Griff from new, it had one damper replaced under wty, within the first 6 months and even then, IMHO those Bilstiens are rattly, clonky (especially when cold) crap. So I don't think they were that great in the first place, perhaps.

The chassis alignment is also - as already mentioned here - often neglected, and makes a huge difference, but I have also found spending a few quid on decent shocks works wonders.

I upgraded to AVOs - not everyone likes them but again, IMHO they were better than the standard stuff - and now have Nitrons, which are fantastic. Other people also rate Ledas, and Ohlins (a bit too steep for my budget!) as replacements.