Chrimaera suspension

[paramount1443]

Recently bought a 1998 4.0Lt Chrimaera with 36000 miles but the ride on normal roads is terrible, o`k on smooth motorways.
Could it be the rear shocks need replacing although low milage ?

Thought of replacing with new adjustable GAZ shocks - Any advise would be welcome

Paramount 1443

[sapper]

Check your drop links and bushes, with 36000 your shocks should be ok. If not it might be worth getting them refurbed.

[jamienshelly]

Hi, How do you mean terrible?. does it wallow round corners and you can feel the rear end rolling, or is over pot holes etc it rattles and feels hard with bump steer?.

[paramount1443]

Hi,
Does not wallow but has a knocking on the n/s rear. Its driving over unevan / potholed roads that the problem feels like there is no damping

[OleVix]

low milage or not, 15 years on the same shocks is not good, change them for fresh bilsteins or adjustable nitrons/AST. People seem to be having issues with the Gaz's... squeeking, bouncy ride etc.

[jamienshelly]

paramount1443 said:

Hi,
Does not wallow but has a knocking on the n/s rear. Its driving over unevan / potholed roads that the problem feels like there is no damping

I would check your anti roll bar link arms or bushes, if it was your shocks it would more than likely be very bouncy and wallowy.

[QBee]

I'd take it to a man who knows what he is looking at, ie a TVR specialist, and see what he says. And if he says all is well with the shocks and other suspension joints, get a four wheel alignment done - changed mine from dangerous to fun.

[paramount1443]

Taken your advise & taken it to a Garage in Cardiff who knows about TVRs

[TJC46]

Check your tyre pressures!

A good start point is 22psi front and 24 psi rear.

To much tyre pressure makes these cars an absolute pig to drive!

[QBee]

TJC46 said:

Check your tyre pressures!

A good start point is 22psi front and 24 psi rear.

To much tyre pressure makes these cars an absolute pig to drive!

That's a good point. If it has been near any Kwik Fit (other high street tyre places are available) recently, the tyre pressures will be at bouncy castle settings.

[paramount1443]

So far the garage has found one of the exhaust pipes has no support bracket, seized suspension bushes
& front wheel tracking out so all suggestions were correct, Thanks guys.

Paramount1443

[QBee]

paramount1443 said:

So far the garage has found one of the exhaust pipes has no support bracket, seized suspension bushes
& front wheel tracking out so all suggestions were correct, Thanks guys.

Paramount1443

Good - still check the tyre pressures are 22/24 as stated above - most non-TVR garages are surprised when you tell them these settings, but the previous poster is correct - too much air in the tyres makes it bounce like hell!

[paramount1443]

The garage in Cardiff are TVR specialist so should be o`k but still think I should fit adjustable dampers

[QBee]

What are your plans for the car?
If you are staying on the Queen's highway, and the original Bilsteins are still on it and are not shagged, then I would stay with them. They are excellent, expensive dampers that were specced by TVR for the car, and TVR did actually know what they were doing.
If you are planning on track-daying, then adjustables make sense so that you can stiffen the dampers when on track. It's a knob on each damper, just requires lying on your back by the car and grunting as you try to turn the knob. Worth finding out which dampers are easier to adjust. I will be, before I change my shagged front dampers!!

[paramount1443]

No only road use. won`t adjustable give a softer ride ?

[Trevor450]

+1 for the original Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers. I had all mine renewed (along with the relevant bushes) when my 12 year old car blew the oil out of one of its dampers and the difference to the handling was night and day - they are superb on road and not that bad on track. I was overtaking plenty of stuff and managing not to get in the way around the corners at Blyton recently.

http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

In terms of ride, I think they standard stuff is very good.

[QBee]

paramount1443 said:

No only road use. won`t adjustable give a softer ride ?

You'd only really buy them to go stiffer. The standard are quite soft enough. If you want a soft ride, try my Audi A8 with computer controlled air suspension.

The key to a good TVR ride is the tyre pressures being correct (do check), dampers and springs being in good working order, and having the car four wheel aligned - the latter changed my car from "Oh my God, what have I bought, this car is totally unpredictable", to "WOW!!!!! this car really handles"

[paramount1443]

I`ll take you advise thanks.

[rigga]

General opinion is that the standard billies are undersprung, so should you decide to go after market most if not all spec stiffer spring rates.