Vixen S2 suspension set up

[tomtrout]

I lifted the body off my chassis this weekend and was mightily relieved and very suprised to find it in pretty reasonable nick. This was particularly suprising given that virtually every other bolt attached to the bodywork was rotton, siezed or a combo of both! The chassis had at some stage been painted with red oxide, whick looks to have preserved it - certainly can't find any repairs. It obviously needs a good strip down and paint but I am now thinking about restoring the suspension. Can anyone suggest a nice set up for fast road use. My car won't see a track and i don't want all my fillings to fall out but I do like a crisp set up. Is the standard set up really tight or could i improve the handlingit by stiffening up the front springs. Also I'm puzzled by the current rear set up. My car if fitted with quad rear shocks but only one pair of rear springs - is this standard or am I missing a pair of springs? Photo below. Any advice welcome.

[ATE399J]

Vixens only had single rear springs, Tuscans had two. If you could search this site you'd find lots of stuff about whether they should be mounted ahead or behind the axle - I can't remember the conclusion - sorry!

John Upham used to have a site with suspension settings (http://www.zen11896.zen.co.uk/vixen/), however, I'm sure there'll be some one along soon with more info......

Phil

[heightswitch]

ATE399J said:

Vixens only had single rear springs, Tuscans had two. If you could search this site you'd find lots of stuff about whether they should be mounted ahead or behind the axle - I can't remember the conclusion - sorry!

John Upham used to have a site with suspension settings (http://www.zen11896.zen.co.uk/vixen/), however, I'm sure there'll be some one along soon with more info......

Phil

180 - 200lb all round. Use the forward rear location for the spring damper unit and you can dispense with the rear damper altogether.

Some people prefer to half the rear spring rate and go to a twin set up, I would go slightly less than half say 90lb per spring on the rear. it aledgedly splits the load between the lower pivot rod

Their are lots and lots of things you can do to improve an already good suspension set up. It just depends how far you want to go.

Steve Reid or Adrian venn can supply spring and damper sets

While you are at it strip the rear upright and renew the squash tubes with solid spacers, check that the bearings haven't spun on the quill shaft

[Slow M]

Double rear springs shocks:
Pro:
Reduced load on cross shaft.
(not needed -proof is all the TVRs using singles without failure)

Con:
Adds weight (especially further away from mass centroid where you don't want it).
Adds complexity (twice as much to remove/install).
Adds cost (Doubles number of parts, within the scope of this argument, to purchase).
Adds potential failure points (x2).

B

[tvrbuell]

I'm running 220lb front and 170lb rear standard length springs with single dampers on the rear and superflex bushes (mild, i think blue in colour) poly bushes all round. This gives me a reasonable ride but good handleing as well. This is on an S3.

[tomtrout]

Thanks for all the advice. I must admit I feel relcutant to abandon one set of rear legs completely but the cost savings are obviously a big advantage. I wonder why my current set up has the spring/shock combo on the rear most location, as the general consencus seems to be that the springs should be mounted in front of the drive shafts?

[thegamekeeper]

where did you get your concensus from?

[heightswitch]

tomtrout said:

Thanks for all the advice. I must admit I feel relcutant to abandon one set of rear legs completely but the cost savings are obviously a big advantage. I wonder why my current set up has the spring/shock combo on the rear most location, as the general consencus seems to be that the springs should be mounted in front of the drive shafts?

not a personal question but are you a fatty? or are you going to be 2 up regularly? this wll effect your spring rate. don't be tempted to go too hard.

I think steve is an advocate of twin spring dampers for road cars. alledgedly single rear works better on a circuit?

Their isn't really a right and wrong answer just what works for you.

N

[tomtrout]

I will be taking my wife out so spring ratings might be a problem! Only joking, shouldn't be an issue for us. Thanks for the advice.