I've got a new car....
Discussion
At least that what it feels like 
Took the day off work to give the Tiv some much needed TLC. She was running dog rough, erratic and high tickover, cutting out at full throttle etc. Also, ever since I've had her I've known the suspension was shot - couldn't get bonnet open, the exhaust would ground on a pound coin in the road, the ride was harsh beyond belief and she didn't handle as I expected an S should.
So, dodging the snow showers today, I:
removed Air Flow Meters and gave the internals a proper clean
cleaned all sensor connectors
fitted replacement (Cerbera) throttle pot
removed front suspension parts & anti-roll bar, de-rusted and hammerited
binned old shocks and springs and fitted shiny new AVOs with 350lb springs. (didn't know where to start with the adjustments so just set ride height and damping to the middle of their ranges).
WHAT A TRANSFORMATION
She drives like never before. Engine wise, she is punchy and free revving throughout the range. No more cutting out and she ticks over at 900rpm (was 1200-1500 before).
Suspension - cannot believe the difference. The ride height is only about 1" higher than before but the steering is lighter, the ride is sooooo smooth and its cornering at speed feels tight and stable
Got full adjustables to go on the back end tomorrow. If it makes as much difference as the fronts have then wayhayyy.....
Took the day off work to give the Tiv some much needed TLC. She was running dog rough, erratic and high tickover, cutting out at full throttle etc. Also, ever since I've had her I've known the suspension was shot - couldn't get bonnet open, the exhaust would ground on a pound coin in the road, the ride was harsh beyond belief and she didn't handle as I expected an S should.
So, dodging the snow showers today, I:
removed Air Flow Meters and gave the internals a proper clean
cleaned all sensor connectors
fitted replacement (Cerbera) throttle pot
removed front suspension parts & anti-roll bar, de-rusted and hammerited
binned old shocks and springs and fitted shiny new AVOs with 350lb springs. (didn't know where to start with the adjustments so just set ride height and damping to the middle of their ranges).
WHAT A TRANSFORMATION
She drives like never before. Engine wise, she is punchy and free revving throughout the range. No more cutting out and she ticks over at 900rpm (was 1200-1500 before).
Suspension - cannot believe the difference. The ride height is only about 1" higher than before but the steering is lighter, the ride is sooooo smooth and its cornering at speed feels tight and stable
Got full adjustables to go on the back end tomorrow. If it makes as much difference as the fronts have then wayhayyy.....
Sounds like you've had fun doing that lot and the performance benefits have obviously made it all worth while. Getting AVO's fitted last year made a huge difference to my S - although I've yet to try them in anger - which I will be doing in Spain in four weeks time 
I'm not nearly so brave or able to do that much work myself - but just got my S back from Tower View today after a full service - and what a difference!! Drives like a different car too
- feels like I had no clutch before 
I'll agree with the change to the suspension.
I changed mine to Gaz adjustable's all round last month and that was an improvement on what was on the car....
But I still was not happy so I then had the wheels lazer aligned 2 weeks ago...... and WOW... totally different....
Seriously recomend getting the wheels aligned afterwards...... I experienced a total tranformation in the handling.
I changed mine to Gaz adjustable's all round last month and that was an improvement on what was on the car....
But I still was not happy so I then had the wheels lazer aligned 2 weeks ago...... and WOW... totally different....
Seriously recomend getting the wheels aligned afterwards...... I experienced a total tranformation in the handling.
Hoover33 said:
Seriously recomend getting the wheels aligned afterwards...... I experienced a total tranformation in the handling.
I'm sure a geometry set up would pay dividends and once I get the ride height about where I want it (she's about 1 inch too high at the rear) then that would be a good investment.
Even without a proper set up though, I am very happy with the transformation. Definitely money well spent and can highly recommend it.
page3 said:
I'm not nearly so brave or able to do that much work myself - but just got my S back from Tower View today after a full service - and what a difference!! Drives like a different car too
Fitting them is a doddle - 19mm spanner, a socket, some fairy liquid and Copperease and its 10 minutes per corner. Getting the suspension set up correctly is another thing. I plan to have a bit of trial and error although the fronts seem bang on, I might just need to lower the rear ride height and soften the rear dampers a touch.
Enjoy Spain with the S - their roads are silky smooth compared to ours
How good is the rear with 300lb springs?
my reason for asking is that I have 300lb front, with 250lbrear, and the back end still likes to bed out when under hard acceleration, with a few well placed bumps in the road.
I`m considering putting the fronts onto the back, and then replacing the 250lb ones for 350lbs to go on the front.so have you had any of these problems?
my reason for asking is that I have 300lb front, with 250lbrear, and the back end still likes to bed out when under hard acceleration, with a few well placed bumps in the road.
I`m considering putting the fronts onto the back, and then replacing the 250lb ones for 350lbs to go on the front.so have you had any of these problems?
clive f said:
How good is the rear with 300lb springs?
my reason for asking is that I have 300lb front, with 250lbrear, and the back end still likes to bed out when under hard acceleration, with a few well placed bumps in the road.
I`m considering putting the fronts onto the back, and then replacing the 250lb ones for 350lbs to go on the front.so have you had any of these problems?
In all honesty Clive, the installation is not finished yet (ran out of time on Saturday - footie !!).
The rear end is about 3/4" to 1" too high and I think I need to knock the dampers down a notch or two. With the car as is, I can get power-on oversteer but I have to push it fairly hard although I do get a hint of power-off oversteer if I back off mid-corner at speed (not that I would ordinarily do this but I was having a play !!). I reckon once the back is lowered and dampers softened it will be a vast improvement.
What I can say is that I am more than happy with the ride quality on 350f/300r. She no longer clatters her way along and has more of the feel of a modern car. I'll qualify this by saying she was harsh beyond belief before the new setup.
edit to add - and I am running Pirelli P6000s all round at the moment which, as well being beyond their best, are not the grippiest boots I've ever had fitted IMHO.
>> Edited by sotonS2 on Monday 7th March 09:34
Just been sent link to this post. Was looking at new suspension on my S2 and wondering what were the best to fit. Looks like the AVO's or Gaz are pretty good but how are they fitted and it is an easy job for a (relative) novice to do? Also, how much and where from please chaps?
Thanks!
Thanks!
wonderland said:
Just been sent link to this post. Was looking at new suspension on my S2 and wondering what were the best to fit. Looks like the AVO's or Gaz are pretty good but how are they fitted and it is an easy job for a (relative) novice to do? Also, how much and where from please chaps?
Thanks!
The consensus seems to be that 'the best' are Nitron dampers. Peter GreenV8S rates these very highly over AVO, Gaz, Spax etc. Its a case of you get what you pay for and at over a grand a set for the Nitrons, I'm sure they are the mutts. But if you do not plan to sprint or regularly track the S (as GreenV8S does) then some might consider them unnecessarily expensive.
Many S owners who have fitted AVOs regard these as a good cost / performance compromise. I bought mine from www.needforspeed.co.uk The guy I spoke was very helpful and certainly knew his stuff.
The dampers (PG-716 / PG-718) are about £70-£75 each and the springs £20 each - all prices plus VAT.
As far as I know, AVO do not manufacture a fixed spring platform damper for the S anymore. If you decide to go with the AVO adjustables, make sure you get them to throw in at least 1 'C' spanner. Winding the springs on or adjusting the ride height without one would be very difficult.
Regards fitting - pretty straightforward really. A 19mm nut and bolt top and bottom of each damper. All are fairly accessible with the wheels off. The only slightly awkward one is the rear top mount which is a bit tight against the bodyshell. You will need an offset ring spanner to hold the nut captive whilst loosening the bolt. Use plenty of Copperease / grease on the bolts when refitting and a bit a Fairy Liquid on the damper bushes to ease them into place.
Once fitted, adjusting for ride height and damping is easy but you will require the wheels off for this.
wonderland said:
Just been sent link to this post. Was looking at new suspension on my S2 and wondering what were the best to fit. Looks like the AVO's or Gaz are pretty good but how are they fitted and it is an easy job for a (relative) novice to do? Also, how much and where from please chaps?
I got 4 AVO units plus springs for £478 inc VAT from Austec earlier this year. Austec recommended spring rates were 300 front, 250 rear which seem a bit soft compared with than what most people here talk about. Can't comment on how it handles yet - still doing brakes, exhaust etc.
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