Vixen rear suspension
Discussion
OK, every time I try to do something, I find that this car has been "messed with"...
As I'm sure you'll realise, I'm no mechanic or TVR afficionado, hence I discover these things a bit at a time as I start a little job, only to find it's really a much bigger one, and learn as I go along.
Yesterday, was looking up some new shocks to complement the re-done wheels and tyres, in order to combat the "saggy arse" from which she suffers - I thought this was a simple matter of worn-out rear springs.
This is probably something I should have known before, but I had no idea it should have four rear dampers, rather than the 2 it currently sports (thanks, Mr Reid for a very helpful phone call, all of which was committed to memory even if not entirely understood, and will be regurgitated verbatim when required). A quick look underneath before work last night revealed few, if any, of the features I was looking for, making me think that, like everything else on the car, it's had a bit of a knife-and-fork job done on the rear end (ouch).
Question is, anyone know of a decent schematic diagram which will show me what it all should look like? There's a great mechanic round the corner who'll be more than able to sort out all the bits for which I don't have the kit (presses, etc), but I'd like to see what we're aiming at before we start ripping it to bits again (thank goodness I didn't pay out for the 4-wheel alignment yet).
(I'd always assumed, wrongly, that 4-shock rear ends were a conversion before )
As I'm sure you'll realise, I'm no mechanic or TVR afficionado, hence I discover these things a bit at a time as I start a little job, only to find it's really a much bigger one, and learn as I go along.
Yesterday, was looking up some new shocks to complement the re-done wheels and tyres, in order to combat the "saggy arse" from which she suffers - I thought this was a simple matter of worn-out rear springs.
This is probably something I should have known before, but I had no idea it should have four rear dampers, rather than the 2 it currently sports (thanks, Mr Reid for a very helpful phone call, all of which was committed to memory even if not entirely understood, and will be regurgitated verbatim when required). A quick look underneath before work last night revealed few, if any, of the features I was looking for, making me think that, like everything else on the car, it's had a bit of a knife-and-fork job done on the rear end (ouch).
Question is, anyone know of a decent schematic diagram which will show me what it all should look like? There's a great mechanic round the corner who'll be more than able to sort out all the bits for which I don't have the kit (presses, etc), but I'd like to see what we're aiming at before we start ripping it to bits again (thank goodness I didn't pay out for the 4-wheel alignment yet).
(I'd always assumed, wrongly, that 4-shock rear ends were a conversion before )
Hi. I have a friend who had similar trouble to you (although your car sounds more badly butchered :-(). His name is Russell and he runs a web site:- www.hockerley.freeserve.co.uk/pages/index.html Click on the chassis. There are even some fuzzy photos of me!
A chat to Ian Ban. of the North Yorks TVRCC would probably be very helpful, esp. in obtaining springs. IIRC the suspension won't work properly with springs softer than 90lbs/in (two each side so that it gives you 180 in total each side.)
I think that you may need photos for PHeads to help more. Good luck, Jonathan.
A chat to Ian Ban. of the North Yorks TVRCC would probably be very helpful, esp. in obtaining springs. IIRC the suspension won't work properly with springs softer than 90lbs/in (two each side so that it gives you 180 in total each side.)
I think that you may need photos for PHeads to help more. Good luck, Jonathan.
The std vixen has 4 dampers and 2 springs. The std location is spring damper unit on rear mounting and damper only on front mounting.
griffith has 4 springs and 4 dampers.
a lot of racing cars have the main spring damper on the forward mounting and a rear spring/damper unit that is for show only??
There are many ways to set up a vixen or griffith, non definitively right or wrong.
Std set up is as mentioned, resist going for 4 springs on a std car which will make it too stiff and not improve handling.
griffith has 4 springs and 4 dampers.
a lot of racing cars have the main spring damper on the forward mounting and a rear spring/damper unit that is for show only??
There are many ways to set up a vixen or griffith, non definitively right or wrong.
Std set up is as mentioned, resist going for 4 springs on a std car which will make it too stiff and not improve handling.
Have to agree with Nigel on this one and as I think I said to Alex some S3's had 4 shocks/2 springs and some had only 2 shocks(its a TVR). I have found that all 1800S's, S1, S2 Vixens and about half S3 Vixens have 4 shocks and 2 springs : All Tuscans V6 and V8 have 4 springs and 4 shocks as standard. My view on all these cars is to fit 4 springs and 4 shocks, obviously halving the spring rates. The chassis mountings are on all the cars and it balances the load on the tie bar. sTeVeR
"Looking at" duly arranged...
Might take some photos if all is not obvious, no rush at present, repeat the mantra:
"Thank goodness I didn't get it resprayed this winter"
('cause then I'd have a pretty car that didn't work, and no money left)
Thanks for all the help, as said before, much appreciated.
Might take some photos if all is not obvious, no rush at present, repeat the mantra:
"Thank goodness I didn't get it resprayed this winter"
('cause then I'd have a pretty car that didn't work, and no money left)
Thanks for all the help, as said before, much appreciated.
Vixen rear suspension....well, Tuscan V6 actually...I recently changed rear springs fitting four 14" free length 90 lb/in coils. The car seems harder than I remember at the back, is this because the old springs were totally shot or have I gone OTT on the spring rates? Anyone have any advice as to what's good for a 'road car only' set up?
ATE399J said:
Vixen rear suspension....well, Tuscan V6 actually...I recently changed rear springs fitting four 14" free length 90 lb/in coils. The car seems harder than I remember at the back, is this because the old springs were totally shot
yes
ATE399J said:
or have I gone OTT on the spring rates?
No, there is very little room for movement in the Vixen suspension and so 90(4 springs at rear)/180(2 springs at the rear) is about as soft as you can go before you keep hitting the bump stops.
ATE399J said:
Anyone have any advice as to what's good for a 'road car only' set up?
Yes, what you have now. Chers, J
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