Best suspension upgrade for a Tuscan

[RedRose123]

My Tuscan is a bit jumpy on country roads and I'm thinking of upgrading the suspension at the next service. Any recommendations?

[NCE 61]

If it's still got the original suspension fitted it may well be past it's best and most after market suspension will feel a lot better. I had Nitrons on my 2000 MK1 Tuscan and it was a huge improvement over the standard suspension (Harvey Bailey) , however My 2006 Tuscan S MK3 has Bilsteins similar to the Sagaris and I really quiet like them. The Bilsteins are also quiet a bit cheaper than Nitrons, but if money is no object Ohlins are meant to be very good.

[glow worm]

Raising the steering rack..or Str8*6 steering arm modification including raising the rack.

[BliarOut]

A trip to Centre Gravity will be the best money you spend on handling

[RedRose123]

It's a 2000 Tuscan 1 Red Rose with original suspension

[nrick]

I have to say I love my Gaz golds, but I can only ref against the original which was shot to pieces.

Div 1
Ohlins
Nitrons

Div 2

Racing Red
Protech
Gaz golds

Div 3

Originals

[dvs_dave]

RedRose123 said:

It's a 2000 Tuscan 1 Red Rose with original suspension

The very early cars are the root cause of the "Tuscans have scary handling" reputation.

On your car things to do are:
Latest alignment and corner weight settings
Any aftermarket damper is better than the originals
You may have the short cerbera steering rack which gives bad bump steer
3mm wheel spacers on the front.

Do the above and your car will feel way way better.

[plasticman]

I would normally change the top front wishbone for the later , longer one and have the upright remachined to suit .

[aubrey9160]

Dont bother with the expense of ohlins unless you know how to set them up for each and every road condition. They are really only required for track use.

[nrick]

plasticman said:

I would normally change the top front wishbone for the later , longer one and have the upright remachined to suit .

First I've heard of that David, what is the advantage, much difference? Have to add it to the list now!

Any news btw?

[dvs_dave]

nrick said:

plasticman said:

I would normally change the top front wishbone for the later , longer one and have the upright remachined to suit .

First I've heard of that David, what is the advantage, much difference? Have to add it to the list now!

Any news btw?

+1 Was aware of the different uprights but not the different wishbone.

[blueg33]

Owing to school costs and forthcoming holiday I have the budget for either Gaz Golds or STR8Six bump steer mod.

The car is a 2000 Tuscan on original style suspension, bump steer and tramlining are both issues on poor surfaces

Which of the two mods should I do?

[nrick]

Go for both, put it on the hidden auxiliary emergency credit card, do a balance transfer and pay it off over time.

Early christmas present? Birthday present? Fathers day present?

Ebay sell off of all things not needed? (Wife/Kids?)

Walford did the bumpsteer mod and my understanding is it is a combination of raising the rack, new sag steering arms and setting up. There are a couple of different racks though? You could get some of the benefit by raising the rack with a spacer as some have done. Changing the rack if you have an early cerb short rack or getting Jason to do it and finding an alternative finance arrangement?

I went for the Gaz golds, got a set of ebay for a good price and have been looking at the bump steer mod. The car is much much better now, still needs the geo doing, but does occasionally catch me out on a bumpy a road overtake.

Spacers
Suspension
Geo
Bump steer

Just imho

[TallMark]

I had Nitrons on my car but found them too hard for the roads around essex. Have switched to Gaz Golds now and am very happy with the result. I find them more compliant and better for day to day. If you do track work you may feel different though.

Nitrons will be up for sale as soon as I get round to it... (said the same last month too...)

[blueg33]

TallMark said:

I had Nitrons on my car but found them too hard for the roads around essex. Have switched to Gaz Golds now and am very happy with the result. I find them more compliant and better for day to day. If you do track work you may feel different though.

Nitrons will be up for sale as soon as I get round to it... (said the same last month too...)

How much do you want for the Nitrons?

[dvs_dave]

Nitron's are adjustable in firmness though; they go from really quite soft and comfy to very firm so not sure why you find them too hard? What spring rates do you have on them?

Anyway, get the new shocks first as they will have to have a full geo and corner weight set-up done as part of the installation. And whilst you're there, spend another 20 quid and get the front wheel spacers put on too.

I promise that your car will be transformed.

Assuming you have the correct size tires on the front, the bump steer mod is definitely secondary (tertiary after tires) to the above in terms of handling improvement and is more of a "nice to have".

[plasticman]

Using the later wishbones and modifiying the uprights reduces the kingpin inclination to the angle used by the T350s and later Tuscans .

[blueg33]

nrick said:

Useful stuff

Thanks Neill

Unfortunately the secret credit card has had a hammering already this year

I already have the spacers and the correct size tyres, so I think I will do the shocks next, not sure if I make a saving fitting them myself so I will phone round and get some prices.

[nrick]

Hi Nick

If you are buying new then I would suggest that a fitted price is hard to beat, TrackvsRoad still have an offer on (but other end of the country). I fitted mine, took a couple of hours but not really worth it. I think Forza wanted a couple of hours to fit, and you have to do a geo check anyway.

Suspension is really really worth it though...

Am now thinking new bushes as well

David's Kingpin mod looks interesting as well ?

[Smooth Smith]

nrick said:

Hi Nick

If you are buying new then I would suggest that a fitted price is hard to beat, TrackvsRoad still have an offer on (but other end of the country)

I recall seeing this offer. 700 but can't remember whether they were Racing Reds or Gaz Golds. Mines in there at weekend for its MOT & a couple of bits doing. Mmm new suspension