Suspension/Shocks

[themac]

I know this has probably been a topic many times before!
Need advice on the best options to improve the cars handling.
At present the drive is good, but a bit unpredictable when driving over uneven/crap roads.
I am looking at upgrading shocks and any other relevant suspension modifications that will improve handling etc.
I dont want a stiffened race set up,but an general road use spec.
Oh and on a budget if there is such a thing

Thanks

Vince

[infinity]

On my former Tuscan i first (also on a tighter budget...) went with GAZ, it was quite a change, but i was not very impressed.

Afters years of nagging i took the plunge and finally went for Nitrons. I transformed the car in something i did not dare to hope for, what a difference.....

In other words, GAZ or other "less expensive" solutions will definitely improve your car, but if you can stretch to it, don't hesitate, take Nitrons, because they will transform it and really make you happy.

Just my 2 cents of course.

[TA14]

TVR spec Bilsteins.

[leerdam23]

Whats your budget? Personally, I would make sure the bushes, dampers, wheel bearings,other suspension etc were not worn, 4 wheel geometry was spot on and so on before spending huge amounts on high spec stuff,
Still on my griff I have nitrons and on the tuscan ohlins. But getting the basics right first is the key to the car behaving well.
Imho.

[steve-V8s]

Carefully check and ideally replace all the suspension bushes.

Unseize the rear toe adjusters.

Adjust all 4 corners so the wheels are all pointing the right direction.

Fit Nitrons.

Don’t fit larger wheels with low profile tyres.

[SteveSPG]

new bushes and racing reds made a huge difference to mine.

this was made far better with a geo setup.

poly bushes all round 300
racing reds 500
proper geo 300


depends on your budget.

[MPoxon]

TA14 said:

TVR spec Bilsteins.

^^^^^^

I was quite impressed with the performance of my original Billies taking into account they were 13 years old and still working rather well. I didn't fancy adjustable suspension as I know I would be forever fiddling with it. Also I hear a lot of stories about people with leaking or broken dampers etc (not just Gaz some Nitrons as well) and they are all less than 5 years old. It is very rare that people ever report issues with the original billies and most of these or knocking on 15 years old now. I went for the Mk4 Bilstiens for mine:

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/default.asp?storyI...

Front C0422
http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...

Rear D0351
http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...

Springs Front & Rear
http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...
http://www.thetvrshop.com/TVR/Parts_details/TVR%20...

Nitrons are probably better but more expensive and I know I would be forever adjusting it. Nitrons also need servicing every 2 years i believe. Bilstiens fit are forget and a very good quality shock. My car has it's orignal Bilstiens on for over 13 years with no failures and no leaks, and to be honest although clearly past there best all things considered they still performed admirably.

An excellent choice for a road car IMO

[billy no brakes]

I have AST shocks on my Griff and they are really good, I was lucky as they was fitted to the Griff when I got it and they had only done about 60 miles, must say they seem excelent racing green fitted them and also done a geo set up, it has been driven by other Griff owners who have nitrons and they are really impressed racing green say they will not leak as much as other shocks but time will tell. I have Nitrons on my Cerbera and they are great but they have been refreshed.

[Chimjunkie]

Your budget is quite an important factor here. Things to sort handling are:

Shocks+springs - buy best you can afford. Nitron NTR's are fantastic.
Tyres + tyre pressures - work in conjunction with shocks + springs. Floppy sidewall tyres no good (i.e T1-R's)
Geo - dictates understeer/oversteer balance, steering feel, turn-in and predictability
ARB solid drop links - prevents 'delay' or slack in the operation of the ARB
Roll bar/cage - stiffens chassis
Bushes - makes sure geo remains true.
Driver training - learn feel and balance of the car. Understand the car and laws or physics.

[Hoover.]

Whilst I agree with Chimjunkie on many of the above,,,,,, I would say find an expert,NOT a sales man, who will listen to what you want to use your car for........ what is the point of a suspension set-up designed for extreme track use if your only going to be using it on the road, and vice vesra..... also tell them the budget, as there options ..... might not be perfect, but fit wallet and be good comprimise...


But make sure you get a full geo set-up what ever you do.... that is where I would put my money, regardless of what I put on

[SILICONEKID350HP]

These are my babies



I`ve had the lot Nickels,Pros and Monos ...never again ..

The Monos could be good but the spring rates supplied to me were far to stiff for road use !500/400lb

[spend]

Chimjunkie said:

... Floppy sidewall tyres no good...

Lightweight car, quite wide tyres you certainly don't want stiff rubber, IME it's quite hard to get tyres with a suitably low Load Index for the cars weight.

Seems to me like there has been a dramatic reduction in the number of ditchfinder threads since owners stopped fitting Porsche Pole Position bricks.

[spitfire4v8]

Indeed. The advice about floppy sidewalls being no good is bad advice. Build in some compliance for comfort and progressive breakaway.

[themac]

Thanks for all the advice

I am in no rush to upgrade my suspension, but the more i drive the car the more i want to change the set up!
The budget i have in mind is £500, but looking at PMoxons links it may need to be topped up!
I am not really up to much on the mechanical front, so adjustable shocks etc are out.
The nitron shocks look fantastic and would probably be the best, but i think the Bilstiens would be best for my budget

Once Again
Thanks

Vince

[FlipFlopGriff]

themac said:

Thanks for all the advice

I am in no rush to upgrade my suspension, but the more i drive the car the more i want to change the set up!
The budget i have in mind is £500, but looking at PMoxons links it may need to be topped up!
I am not really up to much on the mechanical front, so adjustable shocks etc are out.
The nitron shocks look fantastic and would probably be the best, but i think the Bilstiens would be best for my budget

Once Again
Thanks

Vince

I'd save up a bit more before you change them. Are they leaking/springs broken/MoT fail? If not I'd hang on a bit.
I've got Nitrons on the 500 and Gaz Gold Pros on the pre cat and the Nitrons IMO are miles better and worth the extra money. We had the Nitrons rebuilt after 5 years of daily use (about 40k miles) so not too bad given the state of the roads. The rebuild was £50+VAT per corner which is very reasonable.
FFG

[Chimjunkie]

spitfire4v8 said:

Indeed. The advice about floppy sidewalls being no good is bad advice. Build in some compliance for comfort and progressive breakaway.

bks! Have you seen how much side to side movement there is with T1-R's on 15" wheels? Pissed myself laughing when i used 2 fingers and wobbled the car. Agree with Spend that Pole Position tyres are ditch finders, but stiffer sidewalls for me were much better.
Agree that there is 'handling' and 'handling properly' though.

[spitfire4v8]

bks back at you.

[BliarOut]

themac said:

Thanks for all the advice

I am in no rush to upgrade my suspension, but the more i drive the car the more i want to change the set up!
The budget i have in mind is £500, but looking at PMoxons links it may need to be topped up!
I am not really up to much on the mechanical front, so adjustable shocks etc are out.
The nitron shocks look fantastic and would probably be the best, but i think the Bilstiens would be best for my budget

Once Again
Thanks

Vince

My geo cost the best part of £400, it was the biggest improvement I got and that includes replacing all the suspension hardware!

[Chimjunkie]

spitfire4v8 said:

bks back at you.

Build in some compliance yes. Floppy sidewalls no. My Chim handled very well. Not the best for comfort. But thats not handling.
Maybe i've spent too much time with lotus's now...

[TA14]

Chimjunkie said:

Agree with Spend that Pole Position tyres are ditch finders, but stiffer sidewalls for me were much better.

Make your mind up!