original Koni damper aervicing on 4.3 pre cat 92 Griff ?

[Lone Granger]

supposed to say servicing in title..!

receiving differing opinions as to if these can be serviced.

A respected TVR specialist believes that they are not std aftermarket adjustables and therefore cannot be serviced however a Koni Serv agent felt they prob could be

Could anyone give definitive answer please before I go to trouble of stripping them out and driving them across country for Koni chap to look at

This is an original J reg car (23k mls) that has started to weave around following ride becoming excessively pitchy - all else looks fine

Edited by Lone Granger on Friday 3rd May 17:23

[Lone Granger]

Adrian@ said:

What has the weaving to do with the shocks?...BUT the Koni dealer should be able to give you a test graph, before and after their work. IF this is 23000 mls and still on 2 piece front top wishbones and no thrusts washer AND no rear ARB, I would expect it to weave.
Adrian@

Edited by Adrian@ on Friday 3rd May 17:32

Hi Adrian, long time no see! - near 20 yrs..Candy Apple Griff..came over to Meriden a few times

So they replaced that 2 piece design then...also as you say appears a good allowance for movement on top mounts front to rear - hadnt used to do it, now very pronounced as is the huge pitch up and down when going over undulations at any speed

What would be approx cost of upper wishbone with thrust washers and bushes, parts only?

TVR Pow, Jason felt that the Konis are not the serviceable variety, but wasnt sure - SPS thought he could...hence dilemma

All suspension looks A1, with negligible surface rust, why would 2 piece start to weave (prob only during acceleration?) after car laid up for long time?

cheers David

[Lone Granger]

Adrian@ said:

Hi David...long time...The thrusts washers hold the std bush stable in the for and aft plane, the one piece top wishbone stops the oscillation of the 2 pieces and gives you better castor (that follow on effect that you see in shopping trolley wheels..OR not when one is broken) and the rear ARB controls the rear end (add two brackets to the current rear wishbones and drill 4 holes in the body mount plate/wishbone lugs).
OK these days there is a fantastic poly/glacier bearing version of the std bush, that IMHO would negate the use of thrust washers as they are just a brilliantly designed replacement for the OE item.
Re the shocks...MY thought is that a Koni agent should be able to test the shock and return them to OE spec by reading the numbers off the shock (assuming pistons and seal are OK) to set them (adjust the internal valving) you need to compress the piston into the shock and this can only done at a Koni agent, with the correct machine.
Adrian@

Edited by Adrian@ on Friday 3rd May 20:48

Adrian, if cost is ok perhaps I should consider replacing upper wishbones fitted with the poly /glacier bushes when trying to service the konis - who would you suggest for supply, with all bushes fitted - and approx coast?

I must say that i have looked at the widening gap fore and aft of wishbone mounts and was considering packing with washers - could be that this is the bigger cause of the weave - prob get dampers done if I can too, plus have them a little firmer if poss - seems to me when originally testing the Griffs that the early pre cat had overly firm springs and under damped and the 500s were slightly over damped

Because car has spent so much time laid up in recent years the brakes need refreshing - needs very heavy pressure for moderate braking and it snatches the rear left - how best to put some much needed bias back to the front end, cure the rear snatching and improve performance to pedal pressure?

I was thinking of fitting softer pads and aeroquip on front only and a general service? - If you agree the above is enough for normal road driving - which (squeal free) soft pads would you use on front (and maybe a harder than std pad on rear?) - where to get these and braided front flexibles? - As you know Griffs tend to suffer a lot of weight transfer (bum leaps into the air) under braking, making the std set-up too eager to lock rears rather than fronts first - and with an already pretty bum stuck in the air becomes highly unstable if emergency avoidance steering required - I would favour far more front bias and greater efficiency without the cost and weight of fitting larger brakes - car wasnt bad when newer so small improvements should suffice

[Lone Granger]

I am beginning to think it may just be the wishbones sliding back and forward (thanks to dry shrinking bushes) changing the wheelbase, castor etc side to side creating steering effect - where do I get suitable thrust washers from to try first? - Do you put them fore and aft of each wishbone arm and pack any remaining gap with lubed spacer washers? - Trying to avoid having to press or burn out old bushes - would prefer to go for pre-fitted polys in one piece wishbones but feel trying the thrust washers and packing out the very visible gap first to see if it cures the problem makes a lot of sense, as even I could do that

[cavebloke]

Has anyone got the "thrust" washer dimensions (ID/OD)? Seems pointless paying shipping and £2 a washer when you could get them for 10p locally.