Discussion
No not what The Mrs says.......
Just finished the suspension rebuild and taken the old Tiv for a quick blast up the road, and first impressions are brilliant on the corners, but unless the road is like a Salt Flat a bit of a hard ride.
It's finding the right balance I suppose.
I've put adjustable Gaz shocks on which have roughly 20 clicks of adjustment so put them on 12 !
Thinking about it, the suspension was so soft before it's probably not that stiff now just my perception.
Just finished the suspension rebuild and taken the old Tiv for a quick blast up the road, and first impressions are brilliant on the corners, but unless the road is like a Salt Flat a bit of a hard ride.
It's finding the right balance I suppose.
I've put adjustable Gaz shocks on which have roughly 20 clicks of adjustment so put them on 12 !
Thinking about it, the suspension was so soft before it's probably not that stiff now just my perception.
Roger, well done on the rebuild. Was thinking of doing the same on mine at the end of the year. Would be keen to know the easy/difficult bits and where you sourced all the bushes etc. Out of curiosity I did ask one of the TVR specialists the cost for a full suspension rebuild and the budget cost he quoted was £2,500! Did you strip and paint the components or did you get them blasted and coated?
Mine is on Koni's but I think they're the originals. My set up is pretty soft but cornering is a little wallowy and there's a definite "shimmy" over hump back bridges.
Cheers. Keith
Mine is on Koni's but I think they're the originals. My set up is pretty soft but cornering is a little wallowy and there's a definite "shimmy" over hump back bridges.
Cheers. Keith
I got everything from RT and all in with bushes and delivery was a grand. I didn't make too much of a fuss about cleaning and painting, as I wanted to get it done so I can get out driving it again. At the end of last year I had painted the main bits with an anti rust chassis paint from ACT so it wasn't too bad.
Yours will be an "A" frame at the rear, so slightly different bushes.
The main issue for my series 1 was assessing the nuts and bolt heads of the trailing arm, which is mounted right in the centre of the car and very little room due to the prop shaft and exhaust. But managed to do it without taking the exhaust off, with a little help from an 8yr old.
The other issue was the lower shock fixing studs which are hot pressed into the lower wishbone, two snapped off, so had to grin them off, drill it out to put new bolts in. All good though and quite satisfying work.
Yours will be an "A" frame at the rear, so slightly different bushes.
The main issue for my series 1 was assessing the nuts and bolt heads of the trailing arm, which is mounted right in the centre of the car and very little room due to the prop shaft and exhaust. But managed to do it without taking the exhaust off, with a little help from an 8yr old.
The other issue was the lower shock fixing studs which are hot pressed into the lower wishbone, two snapped off, so had to grin them off, drill it out to put new bolts in. All good though and quite satisfying work.
My 350 is poly bushed all round has adjustable suspension at the rear (springing and damper) and lower and(I think harder) springs on the front. It rides approx 30-40 mm lower than standard ( there's no gap between tyre and wheel arch) it look great when parked but the ride and drivability has suffered. It crashes through pot holes and on anything but the smoothest of surfaces it feels jiggly and unsettled The low ride height means all the local "traffic calming" measures have to be taken at 0.5 MPH and I managed to beach it once on a grassy mound on the entrance to a show. (VERY embarrassing)
Years ago I had a golf gti convertible with the same issues - lowered, stiffened ,big alloys, low profiles looked the mutts nuts....drove like s
t. Once I'd gone back to std shocks and springs the ride/ handling was transformed it actually absorbed the road imperfections rather than crashing through or jumping over them and as a result was a much nicer car to drive and much quicker as you had the confidence in the car to be able to press on a lot harder than before.
This is what I have planned for the 350 - stock springs to the front (thanks Glen) and setting the rear on higher ride hight and softening it up.
In short lowering and stiffening the suspension is good for looks and the race track but ste for everyday use .... Here endeth the lesson according to rocket.
P.S. My 350 also has a lot more under steer than my old 280 had but not sure if this is down to the suspension or a different manufacturer of tyres. ?
Years ago I had a golf gti convertible with the same issues - lowered, stiffened ,big alloys, low profiles looked the mutts nuts....drove like s
t. Once I'd gone back to std shocks and springs the ride/ handling was transformed it actually absorbed the road imperfections rather than crashing through or jumping over them and as a result was a much nicer car to drive and much quicker as you had the confidence in the car to be able to press on a lot harder than before. This is what I have planned for the 350 - stock springs to the front (thanks Glen) and setting the rear on higher ride hight and softening it up.
In short lowering and stiffening the suspension is good for looks and the race track but s
te for everyday use .... Here endeth the lesson according to rocket. P.S. My 350 also has a lot more under steer than my old 280 had but not sure if this is down to the suspension or a different manufacturer of tyres. ?
Edited by Rockettvr on Sunday 15th March 18:15
adam quantrill said:
Set it up hard at the front and softer at the back for best compromise between comfort and handling.
Cheers Adam, good advice.....i have just turned down the rear shocks to 10 out of 20 clicks and knowing the old girl tends to nose dive on braking due to the engine weight, left fronts at 12/20.Rocket, the front height is about two fingers (ooh err Mrs) or about an inch or just under from the wheel arch, so I've adjusted the rears to about the same.
It's a bit of compromise as we all want cornering performance but on a long journey comfort is nice too.
Took it to work today and it feels very tight and rigid and predictable, compared to being like a wallowing boat before, wandering all over the place.
I think the poly bushes make more difference than I thought.
It's a bit of compromise as we all want cornering performance but on a long journey comfort is nice too.
Took it to work today and it feels very tight and rigid and predictable, compared to being like a wallowing boat before, wandering all over the place.
I think the poly bushes make more difference than I thought.
440Interceptor said:
Roger, I'm about to embark on a similar path with my 1984 280i. Could you break down those costs a little for us please? Thanks! Toby
Toby, I paid £700 for springs and shocks (Gaz gold), 44 for trailing arm pins (which were ok and not bent, but good to replace anyway), 60 for the trailing arm bushes(30 each), 60 for the rear lower link bush set (8 poly bushes), 33 for the front drop link set (poly). i didn't replace the front leading link bushes (big doughnut shaped ones) as I'd replaced them about a year ago (20 each I think).May not be the cheapest, but I use RT as I have done for over 20 years as what ever I order fits and is good quality.
Add VAT to the prices and carriage and it was just over 1k.
Good luck.
Personally i think TVR got it right with the set up...Okay it might be a hard ride but its not a Citroen..My rear shocks are shot...If i go over a bit of a bump whilst driving at high speed you can hear it grounding out on the springs...I was given a pair of original front springs from a 400SE and a pair of front Koni adjustable legs..Thanks to Urban67...Which i will get reconditioned.
The springs need a sandblast and powder coat although they are not too bad TBH...
I just need to source a good set of legs for the rear..Originals would be good if anyone has any old ones that they don't want as i will get them refurbished as well..
The springs need a sandblast and powder coat although they are not too bad TBH...
I just need to source a good set of legs for the rear..Originals would be good if anyone has any old ones that they don't want as i will get them refurbished as well..
bradderztvr said:
Toby, I paid £700 for springs and shocks (Gaz gold), 44 for trailing arm pins (which were ok and not bent, but good to replace anyway), 60 for the trailing arm bushes(30 each), 60 for the rear lower link bush set (8 poly bushes), 33 for the front drop link set (poly). i didn't replace the front leading link bushes (big doughnut shaped ones) as I'd replaced them about a year ago (20 each I think).
May not be the cheapest, but I use RT as I have done for over 20 years as what ever I order fits and is good quality.
Add VAT to the prices and carriage and it was just over 1k.
Good luck.
Excellent, thanks. I have emailed RT.May not be the cheapest, but I use RT as I have done for over 20 years as what ever I order fits and is good quality.
Add VAT to the prices and carriage and it was just over 1k.
Good luck.
bradderztvr said:
mrzigazaga said:
I will be getting them reconditioned anyway so thats not a problem...
Zig, do you really want them ?PS: I take they are Koni..?
Edited by mrzigazaga on Tuesday 17th March 08:55
bradderztvr said:
Sorry I thought you were on about springs (originals 30yrs old), the shocks are "Avo" and are 15yrs old. You are more than welcome to have them for a beer token. Courier might cost a bit, but if your not in a rush, I could bring them to BBWF ?
Hi mate..Mmmm....Avo's....
....If they are a like for like replacement then i would be interested..(Not very clued up on this I'm afraid)...Im in no rush as i have found a simpler solution to the back end riding the springs..However it does involve becoming a schizophrenic nymphomaniac and eating like a mouse...Trouble is I'm not sure how long i can keep it up...Not that...The lifestyle...So i would prefer to sort the suspension out and go back to being a lazy fat bastid.....I will look into how much to refurbish them and let you know, Then If you could bring them to the fest then that would be great...Just means i will be taking more home with me than what i arrived with...I recall my boot fair days being something like that as well.....
Ziga....
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