Floaty feeling at speed
Discussion
On the way to yesterday’s enjoyable run around Snowdonia, I had a chance to ‘make progress’ on a nice bit of DC near Shrewsbury.
At a certain speed, the car seemed to get quite floaty - it actually moved around as though the weight had suddenly halved and the ride height had risen by a few inches. It wasn’t out of control, but it definitely made me lift.
It is fine at normal speeds, although I’ve always thought it feels a bit under-damped over certain sharp bumps.
Any thoughts? I’m hoping it’s just geometry, as I don’t fancy the bill for new suspension….
2007 V8 Vantage on 65k miles and original suspension, running PS4S
At a certain speed, the car seemed to get quite floaty - it actually moved around as though the weight had suddenly halved and the ride height had risen by a few inches. It wasn’t out of control, but it definitely made me lift.
It is fine at normal speeds, although I’ve always thought it feels a bit under-damped over certain sharp bumps.
Any thoughts? I’m hoping it’s just geometry, as I don’t fancy the bill for new suspension….
2007 V8 Vantage on 65k miles and original suspension, running PS4S
I’ve read various posts about the dynamic suspension only being ‘adequate’ when new, so I won’t be too surprised to find they are well past their best now.
It was only a £30k car, so I can’t see me lashing out £7k on BR’s trick adjustable suspension. However, I’ve seen Nitron NTR at about £2400 - are these OK?
It was only a £30k car, so I can’t see me lashing out £7k on BR’s trick adjustable suspension. However, I’ve seen Nitron NTR at about £2400 - are these OK?
I put Nitron R1 on mine. It was solid mounted unprotected race suspension, that required a rebuild every 6m and was an NVH disaster. Swapped for Bilstein after about 2 yrs of head scratching. I understand the later Nitron have shock absorbing mounts and protective gaiters, but given the contemptuous customer service I received from Nitron I wouldn’t ever again touch any of their products with a barge pole.
Nigel_O said:
I’ve read various posts about the dynamic suspension only being ‘adequate’ when new, so I won’t be too surprised to find they are well past their best now.
It was only a £30k car, so I can’t see me lashing out £7k on BR’s trick adjustable suspension. However, I’ve seen Nitron NTR at about £2400 - are these OK?
It was only a £30k car, so I can’t see me lashing out £7k on BR’s trick adjustable suspension. However, I’ve seen Nitron NTR at about £2400 - are these OK?
I have the Nitron dampers on mine, not the full harsh track coilovers, but the road orientated, using the original top mounts and also using original springs. Compared to the original they’re fantastic (no surprise), mine are set at 50% which feels fine, I wouldn’t go any harder unless it was for more track work. I’ve driven my friends car on Vantage S Bilsteins and they’re pretty comparable for general ride and handling characteristics but the Nitron has the advantage of being adjustable for ride height and hardness. The Bilsteins need the rear collar mounts modifying to suit the early cars too.
Dewi 2 said:
Calinours said:
Swapped for Bilstein after about 2 yrs of head scratching.
I know a lot of changes happened to your Vantage, but just wondered whether it would have had Bilsteins (original fitment) when you purchased ?
Nigel_O said:
On the way to yesterday’s enjoyable run around Snowdonia, I had a chance to ‘make progress’ on a nice bit of DC near Shrewsbury.
At a certain speed, the car seemed to get quite floaty - it actually moved around as though the weight had suddenly halved and the ride height had risen by a few inches. It wasn’t out of control, but it definitely made me lift.
It is fine at normal speeds, although I’ve always thought it feels a bit under-damped over certain sharp bumps.
Any thoughts? I’m hoping it’s just geometry, as I don’t fancy the bill for new suspension….
2007 V8 Vantage on 65k miles and original suspension, running PS4S
Sounds as though you are experiencing what I had with my car about 18 months ago. It is highly likely the dynamix shocks are shot. I would be surprised if yours were still the originals. Mine started leaking at about 24-25k miles. First noticed it at an MOT when they were noted to be weeping but otherwise OK. The next month or so I noticed a dramatic drop in their damping effect and at one point on a reasonably fast section of road where the surface was undulated, I backed out of pressing on as the rear felt way to soft and floaty. At a certain speed, the car seemed to get quite floaty - it actually moved around as though the weight had suddenly halved and the ride height had risen by a few inches. It wasn’t out of control, but it definitely made me lift.
It is fine at normal speeds, although I’ve always thought it feels a bit under-damped over certain sharp bumps.
Any thoughts? I’m hoping it’s just geometry, as I don’t fancy the bill for new suspension….
2007 V8 Vantage on 65k miles and original suspension, running PS4S
In short they were awful and could feel them hitting the bump stops from time to time. So the search started but I was not going back to the OEM fit items. After much searching and reviewing etc. it was a toss up between the Nitron or Vantage Engineering items. Both similar price fitted but the 5 year warranty of the VE ones won it so I had them fitted. Like you I run PS4S tyres and the ride now is just as I like it, the car doesn't get thrown off line as it did on the Bridgestones and stock shocks.
https://vantage-engineering.co.uk/services/
Edited by BiggaJ on Monday 3rd July 14:07
Do you really think ‘Vantage Engineering’ - a small specialist classic repair garage south of London can engineer and validate its own suspension for your car ?
Like BR, all specialists buy in (and maybe adjust the settings) components from the major OE suspension manufacturers, just the same as AML. This means, in the main, Bilstein.
It’s OK to pay an independent garage to supply, fit and set up your shockers. But don’t be under any illusion where they come from and are manufactured and engineered.
It is an absolute crying shame that nobody in UK seems to understand the difference between a mechanic and an engineer anymore.
Like BR, all specialists buy in (and maybe adjust the settings) components from the major OE suspension manufacturers, just the same as AML. This means, in the main, Bilstein.
It’s OK to pay an independent garage to supply, fit and set up your shockers. But don’t be under any illusion where they come from and are manufactured and engineered.
It is an absolute crying shame that nobody in UK seems to understand the difference between a mechanic and an engineer anymore.
reddiesel said:
As someone said earlier , I think your problem is Dampers
Yup - I think you’re probably right….Thankfully, the car is OK at speeds that would only see me with points, rather than an instant ban, so I’ll probably take my time to find a solution.
I’ve heard too many negative comments about the durability and NVH of the Nitron R1, so I certainly won’t be going for them. I definitely don’t want to be stripping and cleaning every six months, so I’ll be looking for something that is more “fit and forget”. If I can re-use springs and top mounts, that will be a bonus.
I’ll ask Bamford Rose when the car is there next month for a service.
Calinours said:
Do you really think ‘Vantage Engineering’ - a small specialist classic repair garage south of London can engineer and validate its own suspension for your car ?
Like BR, all specialists buy in (and maybe adjust the settings) components from the major OE suspension manufacturers, just the same as AML. This means, in the main, Bilstein.
It’s OK to pay an independent garage to supply, fit and set up your shockers. But don’t be under any illusion where they come from and are manufactured and engineered.
It is an absolute crying shame that nobody in UK seems to understand the difference between a mechanic and an engineer anymore.
From what I recall from talking to Terry Couzens at VE, he has developed them with a well known manufacturer. It's well worth talking to him though, very interesting guy who has been working with AM products both on track and road.Like BR, all specialists buy in (and maybe adjust the settings) components from the major OE suspension manufacturers, just the same as AML. This means, in the main, Bilstein.
It’s OK to pay an independent garage to supply, fit and set up your shockers. But don’t be under any illusion where they come from and are manufactured and engineered.
It is an absolute crying shame that nobody in UK seems to understand the difference between a mechanic and an engineer anymore.
TR-Spider said:
Very interessting - may I ask about the cost of the Vantage Engineering dampers (it's dampers only I assume)?
I went with just the damper upgrade, the springs etc. were originals. Again cost may now be different to what I paid however, it was around £500 a corner so approx. £2k all in.Having recently fitted the BC Racing coilovers I can totally recommend the change. I didn't have the floaty feeling, no leaks etc but just wasn't happy with the crashy ride. The BC set up has totally transformed the ride and together with the lowered ride height also makes the look much better as well. Personally I couldn't justify the expense of the BR set up and also believed that I would probably just leave it in one setting/mode anyway, teh BC set is a very cost effective way of improving the car.
Nigel_O said:
reddiesel said:
As someone said earlier , I think your problem is Dampers
Yup - I think you’re probably right….Thankfully, the car is OK at speeds that would only see me with points, rather than an instant ban, so I’ll probably take my time to find a solution.
I’ve heard too many negative comments about the durability and NVH of the Nitron R1, so I certainly won’t be going for them. I definitely don’t want to be stripping and cleaning every six months, so I’ll be looking for something that is more “fit and forget”. If I can re-use springs and top mounts, that will be a bonus.
I’ll ask Bamford Rose when the car is there next month for a service.
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
Nigel_O said:
Yup - I think you’re probably right….
Thankfully, the car is OK at speeds that would only see me with points, rather than an instant ban, so I’ll probably take my time to find a solution.
I’ve heard too many negative comments about the durability and NVH of the Nitron R1, so I certainly won’t be going for them. I definitely don’t want to be stripping and cleaning every six months, so I’ll be looking for something that is more “fit and forget”. If I can re-use springs and top mounts, that will be a bonus.
I’ll ask Bamford Rose when the car is there next month for a service.
The Nitron R1 damper is a track day/track damper, the Nitron Roadsport dampers that we at DAE developed with them use the standard AM top mount and copy the bottom mount design so NVH properties are retained. Standard weather shield is retained too so they’re well protected. Thankfully, the car is OK at speeds that would only see me with points, rather than an instant ban, so I’ll probably take my time to find a solution.
I’ve heard too many negative comments about the durability and NVH of the Nitron R1, so I certainly won’t be going for them. I definitely don’t want to be stripping and cleaning every six months, so I’ll be looking for something that is more “fit and forget”. If I can re-use springs and top mounts, that will be a bonus.
I’ll ask Bamford Rose when the car is there next month for a service.
Two very different products made by the same manufacturer so it’s important that they’re not confused!
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