Discussion
Since getting a Tuscan (MK1 2001) I've improved the handling a fair bit by getting the geometry checked and new F1 tyres all round (made a huge difference) but im now thinking about updating the shocks which are original.
Im not currently thinking of using it for race days just occasional weekend trips and blasts on a sunny evenings.
Although much improved the car is still a little nervous crossing lanes and tramlines a little to. I was thinking of just trying the latest Bilsteins as I don't want to spend £1000s on it.
Are new Bilsteins any good?
Will new shocks stop the car behaving that way or is that just the characteristics of a Tuscan?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
Im not currently thinking of using it for race days just occasional weekend trips and blasts on a sunny evenings.
Although much improved the car is still a little nervous crossing lanes and tramlines a little to. I was thinking of just trying the latest Bilsteins as I don't want to spend £1000s on it.
Are new Bilsteins any good?
Will new shocks stop the car behaving that way or is that just the characteristics of a Tuscan?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated
Thanks
I've got Sagaris Bilsteins on my T350C. They have better bump rubbers (longer more progressive) than the late Tuscan S spec Bilsteins which I used to have fitted. Spring rates depend on where you drive/what you want it to do. I think the stock Tuscan (non-S) rates are too soft on the rear (same as stock T350) but the Tuscan S rear whilst stiffer can still bottom out if used on fast bumpy/undulating roads, or did regularly on my T350. Sagaris rates seem to work better on the rear but can feel a little too stiff on the front of a T350 for road use I but that's subjective based on the rippled local roads. When picking rates best speak to those who have experience of the T-Car chassis to avoid a car being too pointy (if thats even possible with a Tuscan) .
Note if your speccing up new shocks and springs (Bilstein's/factory or alternative eibachs springs ) you may end up close to the cost of Nitrons but my exposure to both says the Bilstein's have better bump/ride compliance than the (only) Nitron fitted T350 I've been in but that could have had its damping rates wound up /or sat on /near the bumpstops from being a bit low.
Note if your speccing up new shocks and springs (Bilstein's/factory or alternative eibachs springs ) you may end up close to the cost of Nitrons but my exposure to both says the Bilstein's have better bump/ride compliance than the (only) Nitron fitted T350 I've been in but that could have had its damping rates wound up /or sat on /near the bumpstops from being a bit low.
There used to be a thread about spacers for the Spider Alloys that sorts out tram lining.
Here it is -
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=86...
Here it is -
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=86...
Hi Simon, hope all is well with you.
All good advice to cheaply improve the handling with the spacers, the only one still pending for me is to reduce the fronts to 225 section to reduce tram lining although since having higher spring rates the existing is a lot better. The other thing with tyres apart from the correct profile is the load rating and side wall stiffness. Tyres of the correct size are usuallly fitted to cars often half a ton more at least and you don't get the compliance for absorbing small imperfections under lateral load. Particularly those marked XL.
Suspension is a dark art, who'd have thought harder springs would make a better ride!
More than any other area the more you spend the more the technology helps give a better ride/handling balance. There are also Nitron and Gaz as alternatives to those mentioned. I originally changed to adjustable Gaz shortly after getting the car as the originals were shot so couldn't give a fair assessment of the difference. They had a manufacturing or design issue where the top mounts fractured and could fail so they were replaced with Gaz Gold Pros (still on original spring rates) but they made a big difference. Good service from Gaz when they rebuilt one foc when a seal popped after 3 years, a good will gesture as they had kept track of all the replacements for the cracked units.
Due to slight weeping, and after about 9 years on the car, they have been replaced like for like but with higher spring rates front and rear and it is this that has transformed the way it goes not just round corners but particularly under heavy braking there is less dive and squirming.
The next step up again would be Gaz monos and Nitron, I believe quite comparable although I haven't tried either but offer more compliance in cornering where sometimes you feel like your skipping sideways rather than being tied down to the road. Reading back previous poster Freddie has got real experience here.
Then you can jump right up in price to what must be the ultimate:
https://tractivesuspension.com/product-category/ca...
There's a thread on the Tamora/Sagaris forum which discusses them, and as the guy who fitted and set mine up has them on his race car that was enough for me to start the man maths going!
You'll find I'm shamelessly trying to sell my virtually brand new set up to be able to justify buying them and due to past transactions rates can be discussed
I do far more touring than anything else and the chance to alter the ride on the fly depending on conditions is very tempting
It's interesting to do these things incrementally. I found the 3mm spacers on the fronts, which it seems you have already, made a slight difference to 'bump steer' but made turn in a lot more detailed.
Do keep us informed what you do.
All good advice to cheaply improve the handling with the spacers, the only one still pending for me is to reduce the fronts to 225 section to reduce tram lining although since having higher spring rates the existing is a lot better. The other thing with tyres apart from the correct profile is the load rating and side wall stiffness. Tyres of the correct size are usuallly fitted to cars often half a ton more at least and you don't get the compliance for absorbing small imperfections under lateral load. Particularly those marked XL.
Suspension is a dark art, who'd have thought harder springs would make a better ride!
More than any other area the more you spend the more the technology helps give a better ride/handling balance. There are also Nitron and Gaz as alternatives to those mentioned. I originally changed to adjustable Gaz shortly after getting the car as the originals were shot so couldn't give a fair assessment of the difference. They had a manufacturing or design issue where the top mounts fractured and could fail so they were replaced with Gaz Gold Pros (still on original spring rates) but they made a big difference. Good service from Gaz when they rebuilt one foc when a seal popped after 3 years, a good will gesture as they had kept track of all the replacements for the cracked units.
Due to slight weeping, and after about 9 years on the car, they have been replaced like for like but with higher spring rates front and rear and it is this that has transformed the way it goes not just round corners but particularly under heavy braking there is less dive and squirming.
The next step up again would be Gaz monos and Nitron, I believe quite comparable although I haven't tried either but offer more compliance in cornering where sometimes you feel like your skipping sideways rather than being tied down to the road. Reading back previous poster Freddie has got real experience here.
Then you can jump right up in price to what must be the ultimate:
https://tractivesuspension.com/product-category/ca...
There's a thread on the Tamora/Sagaris forum which discusses them, and as the guy who fitted and set mine up has them on his race car that was enough for me to start the man maths going!
You'll find I'm shamelessly trying to sell my virtually brand new set up to be able to justify buying them and due to past transactions rates can be discussed
I do far more touring than anything else and the chance to alter the ride on the fly depending on conditions is very tempting
It's interesting to do these things incrementally. I found the 3mm spacers on the fronts, which it seems you have already, made a slight difference to 'bump steer' but made turn in a lot more detailed.
Do keep us informed what you do.
Hi John,
All good this end and thank you for your reply, some really good points. I hadn't thought of the Tyre side wall issue but that makes total sense bearing in mind the growth of the modern car v light weight Tvr ! I can't remember if my new tyres are XL and can't check as the car isn't here at the moment.
Your right that suspension is a dark art and one I don't have a great deal of experience with but hopefully will gain a bit during this process.
I'm going to work my way through the list of checks and probably end at new shocks. I'm very tempted by your Gaz golds so may be in touch at some point in the near future.
All good this end and thank you for your reply, some really good points. I hadn't thought of the Tyre side wall issue but that makes total sense bearing in mind the growth of the modern car v light weight Tvr ! I can't remember if my new tyres are XL and can't check as the car isn't here at the moment.
Your right that suspension is a dark art and one I don't have a great deal of experience with but hopefully will gain a bit during this process.
I'm going to work my way through the list of checks and probably end at new shocks. I'm very tempted by your Gaz golds so may be in touch at some point in the near future.
See this thread i made
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Ignore any negative comments, i am saying that the tuscan went from unpredictable at first to good on flat road to now good even on b roads.
It will never be like something modern, if anything just because it is light with a lot of power so might always catch you out but its made mine much much more enjoyable.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Ignore any negative comments, i am saying that the tuscan went from unpredictable at first to good on flat road to now good even on b roads.
It will never be like something modern, if anything just because it is light with a lot of power so might always catch you out but its made mine much much more enjoyable.
I'm with Mr Spitfire. Stock setup in good order with 3mm spacers, F1 tyres and mine's as good as gold. (Well...) There's some good sensible info been offered here and you might also like to have a word with Ben Lang (blang@btinternet.com) who is ex-TVR and supplies Bilstein shocks and Eibach springs. He's also got a shop on eBay and gives solid advice.
Raise the ride height. Makes a significant difference to the way the wheels track through normal and heavy loading.
Mine used to be suicide on wheels. It's now properly planted and handles bumpy twisty roads better than my bm. Virtually no tramlining.
225s, spacers, proper setup, polybushes and raised ride height each made an incremental improvement.
Mine used to be suicide on wheels. It's now properly planted and handles bumpy twisty roads better than my bm. Virtually no tramlining.
225s, spacers, proper setup, polybushes and raised ride height each made an incremental improvement.
yes its really interesting all the different experiences and advice. I think i will work through the list of tweaks one by one and see how i get on.
The only Tuscan I've really driven is the car i own so i have little to compare it with. I would say tyres plus geo set up improved it 80% so its now about fine tuning i hope. It would be good if someone with TVR experience could drive it and give me there opinion.
I can only compare it to the 911 i had for a short while.
The only Tuscan I've really driven is the car i own so i have little to compare it with. I would say tyres plus geo set up improved it 80% so its now about fine tuning i hope. It would be good if someone with TVR experience could drive it and give me there opinion.
I can only compare it to the 911 i had for a short while.
Re reading your first post, are you sure you're on the original suspension? if so I would think there's a real chance the springs have started to sag a little and the shocks can't be at their best after 20 years. (I'm not doing a Delboy and trying to sell anything!)
It's a good point about not having a bench mark to judge against. These guys aren't far from you and know their way around our cars and have a good reputation. Why not see if they can offer some advice.
http://www.str8six.co.uk/index.html
It's a good point about not having a bench mark to judge against. These guys aren't far from you and know their way around our cars and have a good reputation. Why not see if they can offer some advice.
http://www.str8six.co.uk/index.html
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