AVO SHOCKS FOR WEDGES

[J ATKINSON]

I recently replaced all the shocks on my 350i with AVO'S, had difficulty in finding a supplier, Richard Thorpe used to supply but doesn't any more. Found a company called Proven Products in Tavistock, they're on the net, EXCELLENT SERVICE NEXT DAY DELIVERY, KEEN PRICES, front shocks £45 each, £7.70 carriage, rears around £80 each. All fully adjustable, got the springs bushes etc from Richard Thorpe, very pleased with the result. Car is now 4.6litre (Ray Webb supplied & Mark Adams tuned), running 17 inch wheels with F1 245/45/17's on the back, F1 235/40/17's on the front, modified brakes etc, now handles extremely well & put's the power down well.
www.proven-products.co.uk
tel. [phone]

[shpub]

If this is a 350i you might want to have a peek at the back of the car and make sure that the 245 width tyres are clear of the rear tie rod bar and the hub carrier. It is not uncommon for them to touch. The solution is to space them outbut then they can hit the wheel arch.

I would also recommend checking ball joints and the chassis for cracks, based on the 520 experience when it had its tweeked 390 engine. If the car hasn't got the big UJS and drive shafts, then these need chceking frequently as they were marginal with the 350i engine let alone anything bigger.
Steve
www.tvrbooks.co.uk

[J ATKINSON]

Thanks for the info, already sorted the problems 400 series drive shafts were fitted to the car by it's previous owner £1100, I've got the bill. Wheels had to be carefully chosen using a Mercedes fitment & a 10 mm spacer, turned & fitted to the wheel location diameters in aircraft grade ally, by my own fair hand. I'm looking to upgrade the front brakes by increasing diameter, can anyone supply me a drawing of a 400 series bell, I can make my own from a fag packet sketch. That will allow me to fit much larger rotors, I can soon machine up a new caliper mount to accomodate the Princess 4 pot's already fitted. Mine are fitted properly no pad overhang, but please note I do have access to full machining / fabrication services, plus I am a Rolls Royce trained engineer.
Many thanks for the info though I'm always ready to learn from anyone, it's really nice to know there's, so many enthusiasts out there willing to pass on their knowledge.

[TIM WOOD]

I found the people at AVO in Northampton very helpful & they have no problem with you buying direct at a nice little discount.

What really annoyed me at the time was that it was impossible to find anyone with an old fashioned spring rate guage, even AVO who manufacture the bl**dy things ( springs that is )!

Cheers

Tim 450SE

[Wedg1e]

Couple of things: Steve, what dimensions are the 400SE shafts relative to the smaller ones?

Second, I get to a few Rolls Royce plants. Once, servicing the X-ray kit at a certain aero engines refurb plant, I was being observed by a couple of Scots on their fag break. To make conversation I said something along the lines of "I always think of the great job you guys do whenever I'm flying".
They looked at the other, and one said "Whinerr' we git oan a plane, we allus mek shoor it hasnae got nae Roalls Royce engines oan it...."

;-)

Ian

[shpub]

Basically bigger everything: UJs, yokes and so on. Your 390 should have the bigger shaft BTW.