Suspension Settings?

[dejay]

I've just fitted 205/55/15's all round to my S2, but because of the smaller tyre diameter, I seem to be grounding out alot more often! especially when hitting the dips in the road!

Now obviously I need to stiffen the suspension to stop the destruction of my s/s exhaust, (although this does mean I'll be a little bit more airbourn)
At the moment I have s4 springs with koni special shocks.

Now the shocks say "koni adjustable" but is this on compression or rebound, or even both??

Obviously I need to stiffen the springs to stop the car bottoming out on dips, but I didn't know wether I'd need to buy new springs (if so, what sort?)or if the shocks where adjustable on the compression then this would have the same effect as replacing with stiffer springs.

Does anybody know what adjustment the koni's have?

Please help before I have a very long hole in my exhaust!

[keirangrogan]

Not very constructive I know, but I had this problem !!

My solution was to re-fit 60 profile tyres

[Paceracing]

Here we go again for another 200,000 different opinions on suspension!

Jas.

[johno]

quote:
Here we go again for another 200,000 different opinions on suspension!

Jas.

Here's no 1.

Go to your local Massey Ferguson dealer and explain your plight. He will then be able to supply you with suitable springs of sufficient dimensions and poundage to permanently eliviate your troubled ride height.

Cheers

Mark

[GreenV8S]

My V8S had Koni springs on originally, the sort where you have to take the springs and bump stops off and push the rods right in to adjust them. I don't know what the adjuster is supposed to do, but it seemed to me that it only adjusted the rebound. When they were set really hard the car would ratchet down on bumpy roads, and the handling got quite interesting to say the least. Also remember that you have to bleed that type carefully before you put them back on the car.

Since those Konis are probably original, they're almost certainly knackered which may account for the car grounding out. May be time to treat it to a set of new Tower View Gaz shocks? Alternatively, if you want to stick with those Konis a little longer you can space the springs up slightly. A 3mm spacer would increase the ride height by about 5mm which would make quite a difference to the grounding. Also make sure the exhaust is mounted correctly and not hanging down.

The odd mm here and there doesn't matter, but if you change the ride height a lot remember to have the camber and toe checked afterwards.

Cheers,
Peter Humphries (and a green V8S)

[davidy]

My understanding was that Konis are only adjustable for rebound and this can only be done when the shock absorber is out of the spring.

I would take Pete's advice, if funds are good treat yourself to new springs/shock absorbers (get ones with adjustable spring seats and then you play around with ride height) or if you have no cash then try the spacers. In the former you could consider slightly stiffer springs (springs are there to take the compression and in an ideal system the shock aborber handles a smooth rebound).

You could alternatively:-

Buy another set of wheels with 60 profile tyres and use the 55's for track days

or

Drive more slowly on bumpy roads!!!

WARNING - on most TVRs you ground the exhaust at the rear but at the front you can ground the downpipes and the sump. Cracking the sump (I know from experience), if you are lucky will just loose a little oil, or if you are unlucky (my case) get oil onto the clutch (shagging it) or if you are really unlucky shag the engine with a total oil loss.

davidy

[chingers]

A couple of months ago I decided to look at the rear supension on my S1 to try and prevent the number of times it bottomed out and tried to adjust the Konis to stiffen things up. The first shock I got off I managed to get back to zero setting at which point it said no more and locked up solid. My conversation with the UK distributor for Koni confirmed that these things are a nightmare to adjust and replacements were 10 days away. Ultimately I ended up doing exactly as Pete has advised and going to Tower View for a nice pair of new Gaz shocks and springs. Not cheap but a significant improvement on the Konis.
Sorry if that's depressing but before you go into the job better to know the potential problems.
Hope that helps.
Chris P.

[dejay]

Thanks for the advice guys, I might just try stiffer springs for the moment as the shocks are only a couple of years old. I'll just have to see if this cures the problem.