Discussion
Do a search (also in Griffith, General TVR and in Cerbera if you want to know chapter and verse) on AVO (budget adjustables), Nitron, Gaz, Bilstein.
Any Independent (and some dealers) will supply and fit. Dave Batty (The Garage) and Andy at APM are probably not far from you (if only I had the first idea where Southend is
). Most Indies will quote you about the same price. Beware, if you find a deal that sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
Joospeed is TVR independent with a special interest in suspension, so look out for his posts (he's up in Chesterfield though, so not exactly your neck of the woods)
Any Independent (and some dealers) will supply and fit. Dave Batty (The Garage) and Andy at APM are probably not far from you (if only I had the first idea where Southend is
). Most Indies will quote you about the same price. Beware, if you find a deal that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Joospeed is TVR independent with a special interest in suspension, so look out for his posts (he's up in Chesterfield though, so not exactly your neck of the woods)
You can have two AVOs for ~£200 vs one TVR shock for ~£175. Add to this that the AVOs are reckoned to be an improvement over the standard items and the decision to me is a no brainer. Call David on 01483811995 or also alternatively Austec Racing (nr Gatwick) on 01293 531080 who also do AVOs.
Cheers,
Steve.
>> Edited by Steve_T on Thursday 26th August 17:46
Cheers,
Steve.
>> Edited by Steve_T on Thursday 26th August 17:46
Steve_T said:
the AVOs are reckoned to be an improvement over the standard items and the decision to me is a no brainer.
True, I put a pair of AVOs on when one of my rears was leaking at MOT. Much better than the standard, but now I have the shiny new Joospeed kit all round which transforms the car and is a step change again. You've got Nitrons haven't you Steve?
rude girl said:
Oi Rude girl
Sorry honey, I just don't do 'South'. My brain gets mashed when I have to navigate beyond Guildford
And I'm not keen on the seaside either (I think it was being born in Skeggy wot did it!
I can see the point with Skeggy...
Southend beyond/near Guildford
that explains why that guy was in your car for so long the other week 
seasider said:
that explains why that guy was in your car for so long the other week
Which one? The one that posted on PH (in which case all ok because he needed to go to Leicester, which is definitely north of Guildford), or the one that's supposed to be a secret?
d'oh
Oh, just multimapped it. North of Guildford but it's still bottom right-hand-corner. That's always confused me ever since I had to do an audit on an engineering place in Rainham about 15 years ago. Maybe we can spend a couple of hours poring over a map next time I see you - or maybe we could just crack open a bottle and lament my geographical numptiness instead
>> Edited by rude girl on Thursday 26th August 20:05
just to put a counter to the pro-AVO support. I had them put on the rear of my 450 to replace "apparently worn" TVR originals and the AVOs were naff. Seems like you need to change the springs as well otherwise they are incompatible. After 6 weeks of crap ride quality I changed them for new TVR ones and the smile returned.
The "apparently worn" qualification was because this was the diagnosis for the knocking from the back end, especially when cold, i.e. the first 10 miles and v especially when the hardtop was fitted (seems to accentuate the noise). The new shocks seemed to improve this for the first 50 miles but then we were back to the same point, so I suspect the root cause of the Chimaera rear end knocking is defective bushing that is temporariy mitigated after dismantling and re-assembly.
The "apparently worn" qualification was because this was the diagnosis for the knocking from the back end, especially when cold, i.e. the first 10 miles and v especially when the hardtop was fitted (seems to accentuate the noise). The new shocks seemed to improve this for the first 50 miles but then we were back to the same point, so I suspect the root cause of the Chimaera rear end knocking is defective bushing that is temporariy mitigated after dismantling and re-assembly.
Interesting you bring this up. Austec mentioned to me that AVOs are quite dependent on a matched spring rate to work well, what you say bears this out. Nitrons are decidedly more pricey but do seem better able to handle variations in spring rates - I've upped the rates on mine with no noticeable problems.
Steve.
Steve.
I had same dilema with leaky shock. I guessed part of the handling woes might be something to do with std springs (Chimera) being dual rate. I changed springs and dampers for AVO (springs are cheap). Not immediately impressed, although after much twiddling have now reached the stage where the car gives me much more confidence than it did in standard setup. I still feel there is room for improvement, however.
Front springs 300 lbs, rear 250.
Dampers wound up hard then wound back: front 8 clicks, rear 6 clicks.
Front lowered one turn fron std.
Full geometry setup.
Currently crashes and bangs a bit under 30, feels a bit floaty past 100 or 120. Pretty good on give-and-take A and B roads now, the only thing that makes me hold back on these types of road is that the suspension has reached the stops a couple of times.
Better but still tricky on-limit (having said that, it hasn't caught me out since new SO3 PP fitted a month ago)
>> Edited by deeen on Friday 27th August 11:43
Dampers wound up hard then wound back: front 8 clicks, rear 6 clicks.
Front lowered one turn fron std.
Full geometry setup.
Currently crashes and bangs a bit under 30, feels a bit floaty past 100 or 120. Pretty good on give-and-take A and B roads now, the only thing that makes me hold back on these types of road is that the suspension has reached the stops a couple of times.
Better but still tricky on-limit (having said that, it hasn't caught me out since new SO3 PP fitted a month ago)
>> Edited by deeen on Friday 27th August 11:43
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