Chimaera Suspension
Discussion
I have had a suspension job done and am very unhappy with the result.
I went to a TVR specialist who decided what to advise. I made it clear that I wanted a road set up, not a race car. I suggested Nitrons however he said they are noisy and expensive. His solution was to use Gaz dampers and to uprate the springs by 20% compared to the standard settings. I think he has fitted 340 at the front and 300 at the rear, He also fitted superflex bushes.
I think the result is a complete failure. The car pitches about all over the place. I suggest that the springs are far too stiff I and the car is making me want to be sick rather than drive it. When it hits a bump on the motorway it lifts up and then oscilates a few times before becoming stable again. Feels horrid.
I have tried the shockers at all settings from 30 down to 3 and it makes little difference.
Any suggestions? He is a rather techy person!
I went to a TVR specialist who decided what to advise. I made it clear that I wanted a road set up, not a race car. I suggested Nitrons however he said they are noisy and expensive. His solution was to use Gaz dampers and to uprate the springs by 20% compared to the standard settings. I think he has fitted 340 at the front and 300 at the rear, He also fitted superflex bushes.
I think the result is a complete failure. The car pitches about all over the place. I suggest that the springs are far too stiff I and the car is making me want to be sick rather than drive it. When it hits a bump on the motorway it lifts up and then oscilates a few times before becoming stable again. Feels horrid.
I have tried the shockers at all settings from 30 down to 3 and it makes little difference.
Any suggestions? He is a rather techy person!
Thanks everyone. I suspect from whats been said that the front dampers are not working at all. I have absolutely no reason to think that it will not be sorted out however I wanted to hear what others could advise before going back to complain. I suspect you get the best from this garage if you can explain what you want rather than just be a lamb to the slaughter.
If the front is undamped this could just mean putting on replacement dampers. Perhaps I am lifting at speed due to that great big front underpanel which is making the front lighter and the springs effectively stiffer.
I did try to be anonymous however you all seem to have second sense somehow on who I used. To be completely fair they have worked wonders on my car. The engine is now running about 15 degrees cooler and they have refitted the exhaust which has stopped the tunnel running red hot.
The fuel consumption is up from 250 miles per tank to over 300. The engine revs very smoothly now whereas it was all noise and no go before. They put in the correct plugs and replaced the throttle pot and a lambda sensor so excellent focus on engine fault finding. I should save the cost of the work in a few months on saving fuel alone.
My steering is now spot on with new uj's, top ball joints, bushes etc so I am a happy bunny on the steering.
I also got good advice on tyres. I bought Toyos and they grip well even to the point of not losing grip on full throttle in second gear. I suspect these are excellent tyres, compliant and yet not too soft at the limit.
Do you guys have a view on whether or not a front splitter is worth fitting. My temperature reading when cruising on the motorway is now between 50 and 60 and of course in slow traffic is 90 to 95. I suspect the splitter will make it run even cooler on the motorway but will it prevent uplift at the front and improve stability at speed?
chris547
If the front is undamped this could just mean putting on replacement dampers. Perhaps I am lifting at speed due to that great big front underpanel which is making the front lighter and the springs effectively stiffer.
I did try to be anonymous however you all seem to have second sense somehow on who I used. To be completely fair they have worked wonders on my car. The engine is now running about 15 degrees cooler and they have refitted the exhaust which has stopped the tunnel running red hot.
The fuel consumption is up from 250 miles per tank to over 300. The engine revs very smoothly now whereas it was all noise and no go before. They put in the correct plugs and replaced the throttle pot and a lambda sensor so excellent focus on engine fault finding. I should save the cost of the work in a few months on saving fuel alone.
My steering is now spot on with new uj's, top ball joints, bushes etc so I am a happy bunny on the steering.
I also got good advice on tyres. I bought Toyos and they grip well even to the point of not losing grip on full throttle in second gear. I suspect these are excellent tyres, compliant and yet not too soft at the limit.
Do you guys have a view on whether or not a front splitter is worth fitting. My temperature reading when cruising on the motorway is now between 50 and 60 and of course in slow traffic is 90 to 95. I suspect the splitter will make it run even cooler on the motorway but will it prevent uplift at the front and improve stability at speed?
chris547
I'll aim this at Rude girl for being so tetchey. What have i done to upset you?? What is your agenda??
Thanks Jools for being so sensible and ever helpful to people needing support. See if you can pass on some of your skills to the aptly named dame.
Obviously I am going back to the garage but now I understand the issues better.
Not certain but I suspect the 2 front dampers are not working at all. The springs are indeed oscillating. I have adjusted them from 3 to 30 and its just the same. What has confused me is the rear is working so it was all rather odd when you make adustments and the results don't match expectations.
This stuff on splitters is fascinating and rude girl surely you too have learned something from so many peoples experiences.
I have decided for now not to fit one.
Could someone not do a wind tunnel test with wheels on a load cell to see if any of the designs do in fact provide benefit?
Finally something on Quality Control. You used to get guys who wore brown coats that took customers cars and checked them before the customer got his car back. I think they were called foremen. The old ways were the best but of course you did not have computers and forums in these days so there's another reason Rude Girl for not just going back to the garage. They don't always get it right
Thanks Jools for being so sensible and ever helpful to people needing support. See if you can pass on some of your skills to the aptly named dame.
Obviously I am going back to the garage but now I understand the issues better.
Not certain but I suspect the 2 front dampers are not working at all. The springs are indeed oscillating. I have adjusted them from 3 to 30 and its just the same. What has confused me is the rear is working so it was all rather odd when you make adustments and the results don't match expectations.
This stuff on splitters is fascinating and rude girl surely you too have learned something from so many peoples experiences.
I have decided for now not to fit one.
Could someone not do a wind tunnel test with wheels on a load cell to see if any of the designs do in fact provide benefit?
Finally something on Quality Control. You used to get guys who wore brown coats that took customers cars and checked them before the customer got his car back. I think they were called foremen. The old ways were the best but of course you did not have computers and forums in these days so there's another reason Rude Girl for not just going back to the garage. They don't always get it right
Which is why you need the air tunnel and the load cells to measure what is happening. There must be a college chappie out there who is a sports car anorak who can be invegialed into doing the testing for a pint or two.
How about suggesting this as a research project for a post grad student in one of our ivory towers?
Which university could be interested? They have all the resources but are short on decent projects.
Surely someone knows someone who can be accosted?
I am not denigrating the hands on approach suggested by several of you successful racers, more that your approach in tandem with a technical approach will be to the benefit of all!
I will report back on what is happening on my duff shoch absorbers (they started this amazing post) but giving the garage time to respond.
How about suggesting this as a research project for a post grad student in one of our ivory towers?
Which university could be interested? They have all the resources but are short on decent projects.
Surely someone knows someone who can be accosted?
I am not denigrating the hands on approach suggested by several of you successful racers, more that your approach in tandem with a technical approach will be to the benefit of all!
I will report back on what is happening on my duff shoch absorbers (they started this amazing post) but giving the garage time to respond.
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