T350C Leaky shock - replacement/upgrade advice

[stub101]

Took the car out yesterday for a bit of a blast around the dales and a spot of lunch at The Devonshire Arms but instantly felt that the car was a bit twitchy so took it fairly easy until I could investigate when I got back.

Got home and whipped the wheels off to see the o/s front shock leaking pretty badly. The n/s front is fine but the car is a 54 plate with 35k miles (prob originals) and I didnt have time to check the rears but its booked in for a 12k service in 2 wks anyway.

So the question is... Do I just replace the shocks as necessary or go for a full set of Nitrons/Gaz Golds and prepare myself for a big 12k service bill? The car is not tracked and only used on a weekend really around Leeds' terrible roads, and a bit round the dales + trips to Whitby.

Any advice greatly appreciated.

Stu

[900T-R]

Always replace shocks in pairs (so in this case, both fronts at least). If one of the rears is leaking too, a full set will be needed in which case I'd be tempted to go Nitron/Ohlins/Intrax - not sure the cheaper options will be a true upgrade unless you or whoever is setting the car up have their particular ideas about spring and damper rates compared to those of the factory; the OE Bilsteins are quality items.

Edited by 900T-R on Monday 6th July 09:04

[TVR_owner]

900T-R said:

the OE Bilsteins are quality items.

The T350 of that age OE is Harvey Bailey, not Bilsteins.

For the use you have, I would go for a pair, or a set of non adjustable Bilsteins. You will see a noticable improvement and they are fit and forget.

[900T-R]

Ah, i thought they started to use Billies again in '04...

[TVR_owner]

900T-R said:

Ah, i thought they started to use Billies again in '04...

3rd quarter of 05 on the non Sagaris T cars.

[SP6 Animal]

I have a 2003 car so shock is 2002 i assumed they were bilstiens.
Can anyone confirm?
Fronts are adjustable and they are red.
Thanks

[stub101]

I think i'll look into the costs of the bilsteins and compare that against one of the cheaper adjustable kits like Gaz Gold's or Racing Reds. If there's not much difference in price its probably better to have the adjustability isn't it?

Is it possible to quantify how much better the bilsteins are compared to 2004 OEM? As the ride has always been quite crashy around Leeds, terrible roads.

Also should I change the rears at the same time as i'm doing the fronts, even if the rears have a bit of life in them?

Decisions decisions...

[TVR_owner]

Before late in 2005 the shocks would have been Harvey Bailey, coloured red and come with no bump or rebound adjustment, only ride height. The HB shocks are red and do go some way to giving the T350 its harsh crashy ride on anything other than a billiard table. The HB shocks were prone to premature failure (leaking). This premature failure should however be seen as a positive...

OP, I would go for Bilstiens.

[TVR_owner]

stub101 said:

If there's not much difference in price its probably better to have the adjustability isn't it?

Decisions decisions...

I would consider quality also..this would favour Bilstein (again in my opinion and not wanting to upset shock absorber suppliers that may from time to time frequent these forums and have been known to suggest that GAZ golds etc are a quality product)

[900T-R]

Why people are making a song and dance about the adjustibility when not hardcore track day heroes I'm not sure. The adjustibility is just a tool for whoever sets the car up; it's the result that counts. The Bilsteins have been set up using the expertise of one of their test engineers who used to go to the UK for a week or so for that purpose; it's up to you to decide whether your chosen installer would do a better job.

Personally in the OP's case I'd go Bilstein - as I said it's a quality product and the latter-day TVR suspension tuning is miles ahead of what went before.

Edited by 900T-R on Tuesday 7th July 09:27