Suspension Experts in the NE

[the gazman]

Hi
Who do all you Tiv owners use for getting suspension and servicing in the Newcastle area?

[ray_von]

Good question Derek I was just thinking the same thing

[mongoose]

the gazman said:

Hi Who do all you Tiv owners use for getting suspension and servicing in the Newcastle area?

The wise ones take the trouble to travel to www.track-car-solutions.co.uk

[the gazman]

Yeah Yeah, heard it all before.
As it happens, the NE is an area where people are regularly asking me for an approved installer, so I'm going for a day trip soon to suss it out and shamelessly using you guys to whittle the number of calls down.
So mind your own business "Mr Trackcar logo imprinted on my underpants" Mongoose.

[the gazman]

ray_von said:

Good question Derek I was just thinking the same thing

I know, and you arn't the only one
SSCC TVR at Boroughbridge are the closest at the moment but I need somebody for MX-5's and Elise's as well in the NE, so probably a night out in Newcastle beckons It's a hard life

>> Edited by the gazman on Saturday 6th May 20:38

[tvrbob]

Hi Derek. There are two specialist racecar engineering facilities in the Middlesbrough area.

Triple Six who specialise in specialist part supply. tel [phone]

Falcon Performance (UK) have a facility in Middlesbrough that attracts people from far and wide. Their main activity is track car preparation so I would assume installation of specialist suspension would be within their scope. tel [phone]

>> Edited by tvrbob on Saturday 6th May 21:12

[the gazman]

tvrbob said:

Hi Derek. There are two specialist racecar engineering facilities in the Middlesbrough area. Triple Six who specialise in specialist part supply. tel [phone] Falcon Performance (UK) have a facility in Middlesbrough that attracts people from far and wide. Their main activity is track car preparation so I would assume installation of specialist suspension would be within their scope. tel [phone] >> Edited by tvrbob on Saturday 6th May 21:12

Nice one Bob

[tvrbob]

the gazman said:

Nice one Bob

I've emailed you with some more info

[mongoose]

the gazman said:

Yeah Yeah, heard it all before. As it happens, the NE is an area where people are regularly asking me for an approved installer, so I'm going for a day trip soon to suss it out and shamelessly using you guys to whittle the number of calls down. So mind your own business "Mr Trackcar logo imprinted on my underpants" Mongoose.

I just knew youd bite Bugsy-oops i mean "THE GAZMAN"
I tell you what,when,if ever,you get to be half as good as he is,i'll get some pants printed with your name on

>> Edited by mongoose on Sunday 7th May 10:10

[ray_von]

Not wanting this to turn into the usual slanging match that seems to happen when talking about suspension but having done a search and failing to find any answers. What is wrong with buying the original fit Bilsteins as replacements?
remember no fighting at the back you two

[mongoose]

ray_von said:

Not wanting this to turn into the usual slanging match that seems to happen when talking about suspension but having done a search and failing to find any answers. What is wrong with buying the original fit Bilsteins as replacements? remember no fighting at the back you two

Don't worry,its only light hearted banter,i think we just agree to differ now.As for your question,there nothing relly that wrong with the original bilsteins,not if your happy with them.As with just about all manufacturers std shocks,they have to be built to a cost compromise,more so than what you can buy aftermarket.To be fair,TVR did a fair job here in many peoples eyes.If you dont feel the need to improve the ride,then theres a lot to be said for having a set up which you can't adjust imho,but many owners want a little better in the handling dept.As i said,if your happy as is,then i'd leave well alone,at least until your shocks are knackered and its time for new ones,then might be a better time to give it some more thought?.

[ray_von]

mongoose said:

i'd leave well alone,at least until your shocks are knackered

They are Mike thats why I asked

[the gazman]

ray_von said:

Not wanting this to turn into the usual slanging match that seems to happen when talking about suspension but having done a search and failing to find any answers. What is wrong with buying the original fit Bilsteins as replacements? remember no fighting at the back you two

Bilstein
1) They are £175.00 each for a start
2) They are generic valved shocks with fairly hard valving run on soft springs on all the cars except the Saggy, so you do tend to find not enough rebound on the rear and because they are riding on the dampers, the dampers do fade off fairly quickly. I'm finding late T 350 and Tuscans with blown shocks after 15K because of this.
The Saggy however was the first car IMHO to have a matched spring and damper set-up and it handles really well, so I preach Dave Lyon's and Gugi's ethos on Twin tube dampers and they found spring rates that suit the various cars and then control the springs with front and rear specifically valved shocks that have the right damping range.

I should say that monotube shock manufacturers preach a different ethos and do run softer springs and then ride on the dampers but even Ohlins recomend a service every two years so I would assume from this that using the dampers in this way does still cause fade.

[Max Attacker]

I think you will find, at least until pretty recently that the Cerbera, Tuscan and T350 do not use a Biltsein damper. The Sagaris does and very latest cars may also use a Bilstein.
Bilstein were used on later Griff 500 and all Chimaera and I am not aware that they fade or wear prematurely.

[the gazman]

Max Attacker said:

I think you will find, at least until pretty recently that the Cerbera, Tuscan and T350 do not use a Biltsein damper. The Sagaris does and very latest cars may also use a Bilstein. Bilstein were used on later Griff 500 and all Chimaera and I am not aware that they fade or wear prematurely.

It's true I know that TVR have used a variety of shocks over the years but the main dealers are telling me that they are looking for replacements for blown Billies that would be £175 to buy normally, who am I to argue, apart from the fact that I have seen original equiped Koni shocks come off my 23K Chim you could be correct.

[ray_von]

the gazman said:

stuff that went over my head except for 1) They are £175.00 each for a start

Didn't realise that do the new versions not have a better matched spring

[ray_von]

Right then narrowed it down to original fit Bilsteins or Nitrons.Whats the general consensus

[hollowlegs]

Max Attacker said:

I think you will find, at least until pretty recently that the Cerbera, Tuscan and T350 do not use a Biltsein damper. The Sagaris does and very latest cars may also use a Bilstein. Bilstein were used on later Griff 500 and all Chimaera and I am not aware that they fade or wear prematurely.

my 53 plate t350 has bilsteins on it

[ray_von]

ray_von said:

Right then narrowed it down to original fit Bilsteins or Nitrons.Whats the general consensus

any offers

[Steve_T]

Given those two options - Nitrons every time.

Steve.