TVR Chimeara light steering on motorway

[cambiaso]

Hi there, I'm new to Chim ownership, I picked my 400 only 2 months ago and managed a longer drive away over 2 days at the weekend. The car was great and was such a nice place to be..... apart from when cruising at over 60mph on main roads or in particular motorways/dual carriage ways. I found it incredibly light and had know idea what the front wheels were doing. There was no steering feel and a fair bit of play. I found the car swaying to the right or left with a delayed response when I corrected (very disconcerting). I spoke to the garage I bought it from and they said that they can be very light at around 60-70mph but they would take a look so I am taking it down to them this week to drive themselves (Fernhurst TVR), Fernhurst sold the car to me and put it through MOT after fixing and repairing various items including a new steering rack (power steering), tyres, chassis repair, rear shocks.

I've driven a lot of cars but never something this bad on the motorway. Surely a car of this type shouldn't feel like this? I had a clapped out alfa spider that would cruise at over 100mph no problem - I would be very interested to know what other owners feel is normal and what is the expected driving feel when cruising on motorway and also if this is how they drive (which i really hope its not) can you modify the bushes, suspension or steering to improve at all? look forward to your advice...

[A900ss]

Mine never felt as light as you describe, have you had a geo lately?

I also found fitting the splitter that the car originally came with improved high speed stability.

Good luck.

[5.0ltr]

Are the tyres matching?

[cambiaso]

sure the tyres all match up and are the same brand etc. its doesn't feel like its pulling left or right and there is no steering wobble either, just very very light so I can't judge whats going on, zero steering feel. whats the splitter you mentioned?

[Mark.]

Mines light at around 90-100 (no splitter) the only thing that cures it is to press on a bit more it seems over 120 the front becomes very stable.
Fernies are good and will sort it for you. Might be a geometry thing.

[cambiaso]

thanks mark, i did find that on acceleration it felt more stable, it was cruising were it felt the worse.

[Zippee]

What Fernhurst are saying is bks! They should be very stable, mine only got light at around 150 on an airfield track day.
What tyre pressures are you running? You don't want any more than around 24/26 up front.

[cambiaso]

I checked the pressures and they were on the recommended 22 front 24 rear. I guess I'll have to see what they reckon after driving it!

[rigga]

Question....was the roof off and the rear section up? Mine goes light at speed in this configuration as I think the raised rear section act's as a sail, putting pressure on the rear and lifting the front.

[cambiaso]

Yes it was actually, can it make a big difference?

[rigga]

Can do, think about the wind force at speed being captured in the roof section, dropping the complete roof down makes a noticeable difference to steering feel, try it next time roof on or completely folded and see if it still feels light.

[cambiaso]

It does make sense, will give it a try! Do you think adjustable shock make any difference, I've heard a lot of people upgrade to these?

[TV8]

Having had both powered and non powered steering Chimaeras, I would say the the slower rack of the non-powered car is better at speed.

[rigga]

cambiaso said:

It does make sense, will give it a try! Do you think adjustable shock make any difference, I've heard a lot of people upgrade to these?

Yes adjustable suspension may help by stiffening the rear, also not sure if yours has sagged at all with age, but there should be some rake in the way the car sits, the front should be lower than the rear.

Edited by rigga on Tuesday 25th March 22:04

[pwd95]

Had mine up to 140ish & it feels very good & accurate. If the garage have told you that they go light at 60-70 they are talking absolute bks. I'm amazed that a garage with their experience would talk such utter st3.

You have something very wrong with your car. Speak very strongly to them.......

[DarkMatter]

This is a bit of a long shot but it's possible that someone has replaced the front wishbone upper balljoints and moved/changed the spacers thus affecting the castor angle.

[V8 GRF]

Zippee said:

What Fernhurst are saying is bks! They should be very stable, mine only got light at around 150 on an airfield track day.
What tyre pressures are you running? You don't want any more than around 24/26 up front.

That was my thoughts as well.

I'd say no more than 24 on the front and maybe even 22 depending on your tyres.

[900T-R]

Assuming you don't run way too high tyre pressures I'd say either the geo is miles off, one or more dampers don't do anything much useful anymore, or a combination of the two.

Mine doesn't have a front splitter and is often driven with the rear roof up and the targa panel off, the steering is still 'meaty' at speed and didn't even go light at an indicated 155 on the Autobahn...