Almost sold my Tuscan due to poor handling! Fixed for £20!
Discussion
JR said:
iain25tuscan said:
Would there be any benefit to fitting a set to the rear wheels as well? any thoughts guys?
No but some may be better fitting a second set to the front.Re fitting a second set to the front I'm assuming that was meant to be a joke!? Fitting the spacers corrects the offset to what it should be. Adding more spacers would make it worse again! (and there wouldn't be enough thread engaged by the nut).
MPETT said:
JR said:
iain25tuscan said:
Would there be any benefit to fitting a set to the rear wheels as well? any thoughts guys?
No but some may be better fitting a second set to the front.Re fitting a second set to the front I'm assuming that was meant to be a joke!? Fitting the spacers corrects the offset to what it should be. Adding more spacers would make it worse again! (and there wouldn't be enough thread engaged by the nut).
To save you searching:
Full SP said:
The 18” Spiders are fundamentally different to the 16” version in a very critical respect on the front wheels. When the 18” Spider wheel was first trialled it used the same offset as the 16” wheel (offset is the distance between the theoretical centreline of the wheel and the mating face of the wheel – where it mates to the hub), but the wheel protruded beyond the arches and therefore the car would not meet type approval requirements. Therefore the offset had to be increased (narrowing the track) to bring the wheel inboard in order that it would fit appropriately. This narrowing of the track causes the steering to become nervous.
Early in the life of the Tuscan the brake discs evolved, moving to a single piece disc construction.. The one piece disc centre however is much thinner than the original aluminium centre (aka “bell”) of the two piece disc, which effectively narrows the track (by effectively increasing the offset) further. The result? Even more nervous steering!
Early in the life of the Tuscan the brake discs evolved, moving to a single piece disc construction.. The one piece disc centre however is much thinner than the original aluminium centre (aka “bell”) of the two piece disc, which effectively narrows the track (by effectively increasing the offset) further. The result? Even more nervous steering!
JR said:
I a little surprised that more people haven't posted on this. Setting aside the possible bodywork problems on a rolling chassis many tuscans would benefit from a different thinkness of spacers than the 3mm ones as your statement that the 3mm spacers corrects the offset is not applicable for all Tuscans; see page 1.
Only if you have the old style brake bells which are thicker (not sure by how much) than the later single piece units, or if you're already running the original 16" rims, in which case the spacers are presumably not necessary at all.Edited by dvs_dave on Friday 10th September 17:42
JR said:
iain25tuscan said:
Would there be any benefit to fitting a set to the rear wheels as well? any thoughts guys?
No but some may be better fitting a second set to the front.The results of a single 3mm spacer each side speak for themselves. It seems everyone agrees that they work, but not everyone agrees on why!!
Yes, it really does work!! Fitted mine to my Tuscan II S and took her off for 2 weeks to Lake Garda the next day. The handling is greatly improved both for motorway driving and on the mountain passes - which I did several times just to make sure. Still twitchy enough to remind you that your not in some dull German sports car, but you don't feel like she's trying to kill you!
Edited by Car Mat on Monday 13th September 22:05
shortlad said:
Just thought I would add my experiences here.
I've owned my TVR Tuscan Mk I 2000 W reg for 3½ years and I'm on the verge of selling it not becasue I don't like it or the 'interesting' handling (now sorted) but just feel it's time to move on.
God I wish I had found these spacers when I got my car not 3½ years later (not sure how I missed this thread!!).
When I got my car it was very very twitchy. I found a number of things that have got it to the point it's at today and I'll list these as they're worth looking into on your own car.
First off. I had odd tyres on the front of my car so matched them with the same make and new so wear was even (all 4 tyres are matched). Felt an improvement.
The breaks were next. The front disks and pads were replaced as the off side was dragging and had worn unevenly. Felt yet another improvement.
Next Tyre Pressures. I read a lot on here about this subject and played around until I found something that worked for me and my car (which changed a little when the next stage was done).
Next suspension. The car went to Derek for some Gaz Gold fully adjustables. And wow what a differentce this made and I guess it should as was the most expensive bit to do. Derek set my car up by 'feeling' the set up by test driving and fine tuning it. Felt a big improvement.
This brings me to today and about 2 years after all of the above. My car was much much better than the day I got it but the spacers were the cherry on the cake for my car.
The car now handles the way I wanted it to 3½ years ago. It's not modern stable like my new shape Audi TT but then I would never expect it to be. But there's much more stability which is noticeable when at speed and under breaking, it just holds its line better.
I wish I had the money and the knowledge to have done all of this when I got the car 3½ years ago but I guess half the fun I've had with the car is the journey I've been on with it.
I guess I'm not too un-happy as I know when I sell it the new owner will have a car with all the oily bits sorted and a car that handles the way it should.
If you have a Tuscan my opinion is you should at least try these as for the cost it could make you feel more comfy behind the wheel. If they don't work for you/your car I'm sure you'd sell them on eBay no problems.
I hope this helps.
Funnily enough I was talking to Derek @ Abs Shocks today and your car came up as one he'd worked on. If you do decide to sell it I would be extremely tempted to buy it back again. After selling it originally I missed it so much I bought an almost identical car 12 months later. Sadly a bus drove into it and wrote it off, so I'm now onto my 3rd Tuscan, and while its a great car I don't love it like I did my first - especially the reflex purple colour.I've owned my TVR Tuscan Mk I 2000 W reg for 3½ years and I'm on the verge of selling it not becasue I don't like it or the 'interesting' handling (now sorted) but just feel it's time to move on.
God I wish I had found these spacers when I got my car not 3½ years later (not sure how I missed this thread!!).
When I got my car it was very very twitchy. I found a number of things that have got it to the point it's at today and I'll list these as they're worth looking into on your own car.
First off. I had odd tyres on the front of my car so matched them with the same make and new so wear was even (all 4 tyres are matched). Felt an improvement.
The breaks were next. The front disks and pads were replaced as the off side was dragging and had worn unevenly. Felt yet another improvement.
Next Tyre Pressures. I read a lot on here about this subject and played around until I found something that worked for me and my car (which changed a little when the next stage was done).
Next suspension. The car went to Derek for some Gaz Gold fully adjustables. And wow what a differentce this made and I guess it should as was the most expensive bit to do. Derek set my car up by 'feeling' the set up by test driving and fine tuning it. Felt a big improvement.
This brings me to today and about 2 years after all of the above. My car was much much better than the day I got it but the spacers were the cherry on the cake for my car.
The car now handles the way I wanted it to 3½ years ago. It's not modern stable like my new shape Audi TT but then I would never expect it to be. But there's much more stability which is noticeable when at speed and under breaking, it just holds its line better.
I wish I had the money and the knowledge to have done all of this when I got the car 3½ years ago but I guess half the fun I've had with the car is the journey I've been on with it.
I guess I'm not too un-happy as I know when I sell it the new owner will have a car with all the oily bits sorted and a car that handles the way it should.
If you have a Tuscan my opinion is you should at least try these as for the cost it could make you feel more comfy behind the wheel. If they don't work for you/your car I'm sure you'd sell them on eBay no problems.
I hope this helps.
Wow! What a difference to handling. Matt at Silverstone Performance (07724 571437) fitted my spacers last week. I can now drive the Tuscan one handed down some of Britain's worst country lanes without fighting the steering any more.
Highly recommended for very little cost. No more skittish road handling.
Highly recommended for very little cost. No more skittish road handling.
'finally' my spacers are fitted, and am pleased to report a huge difference. I can now relax a little instead of the white knuckle exhuaustion that used to be my only problem with the Tuscan!!
It feels lovely and has made a big difference in stability on all roads, today i ventured to speeds i would have not dared to apporach before the spacers...feels so much more stable and solid...
It feels lovely and has made a big difference in stability on all roads, today i ventured to speeds i would have not dared to apporach before the spacers...feels so much more stable and solid...
After a long time off the road during a top-end rebuild, I drove it for the 1st time today and decided to put the spacers on straight away rather then scare myself more than necessary.
It felt a lot more "chuckable" and just more confidence inspiring. Great stuff !
If you are on the fence whether to get these, spend the £20 IMO. Well worth it.
It felt a lot more "chuckable" and just more confidence inspiring. Great stuff !
If you are on the fence whether to get these, spend the £20 IMO. Well worth it.
I'll add my two pennyworth to this one because these spacers could be part of the solution but not the complete answer.
I fitted some shocks on a Tuscan this week and while about it fitted the spacers, I drove the car before and after and it tramlined as bad as any Tuscan I have ever driven but when I put it on the Hunter machine down at Wheels in Motion in Chesham the alignment was all over the place with 3mm of toe in on one side on the rear and parallel the other and the front was parallel with wierd cambers. Once set-up the car was much better. The only thing I didn't touch of course was castor and places like the TVR centre do advocate reshimming the upper balljoint to get the castor closer to 5 degrees and I suggest that would make Tuscans even more stable.
I fitted some shocks on a Tuscan this week and while about it fitted the spacers, I drove the car before and after and it tramlined as bad as any Tuscan I have ever driven but when I put it on the Hunter machine down at Wheels in Motion in Chesham the alignment was all over the place with 3mm of toe in on one side on the rear and parallel the other and the front was parallel with wierd cambers. Once set-up the car was much better. The only thing I didn't touch of course was castor and places like the TVR centre do advocate reshimming the upper balljoint to get the castor closer to 5 degrees and I suggest that would make Tuscans even more stable.
dvs_dave said:
Can one of you suspension specialists (SP or Ab) do a bump steer measurement as you've got easy access to the kit required?
This seems to be the only area that everybody talks about but nobody seems to have actually measured or conclusivley come up with any definative answers to.
I would take each car on an individual basis rather than make a sweeping statement about bump steer brackets being required on all Tuscans.This seems to be the only area that everybody talks about but nobody seems to have actually measured or conclusivley come up with any definative answers to.
What I would say is that even with 400lb springs and higher output dampers than standard I can see a tendancy towards bump steer on a pull down test and on worn OEM dampers and tired springs I would expect to see a definate toe out in bump. That is why I always now stick to the March 2005 factory settings on road cars at 12 minutes (overal) toe in on the front, even on new dampers and springs.
Patently I am biased towards upgrading springs and dampers because that's my job but moving the rack is always an option on Cerbs and Tuscs if costs were an issue but I still point to lack of caster possibly not helping the situation.
Agree with Derek.
My MKII S was already good to begin with, hardly any bumpsteer. But changing the geometry (to what Derek recommends), decent dampers (with a softer set up, standard is sooo hard on an S) and Eibach springs and increasing the castor took it to another level (or two). It is now very good. Curious to know if the spacers will change anything, will report back.
My MKII S was already good to begin with, hardly any bumpsteer. But changing the geometry (to what Derek recommends), decent dampers (with a softer set up, standard is sooo hard on an S) and Eibach springs and increasing the castor took it to another level (or two). It is now very good. Curious to know if the spacers will change anything, will report back.
Edited by GT TVR on Thursday 16th September 18:35
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