Improving low speed ride V8 Vantage

[Matt1tibby]

I’ve searched on the forum but not seen anything recent on this topic, so I’m looking for some advice from the collective expertise…

I have a 2009 Vantage V8S, used as a fun car and I like everything about it except for the low speed ride. I bought the car in 2020 but over time, and the deterioration of our road network the ride has become more and more of an irritant. Its on the original dampers etc. I’m looking for suggestions for a way to improve the ride without affecting the handling and grip. The tyres were changed when I first got it to Michelin Pilot 4s (I couldn’t believe how bad the Bridgestones were!)

BC Coilovers have been recommended as a relatively inexpensive solution. I’m not after the ultimate package and I’ll never track the car, just something to improve the ride for quick road use.

Any suggestions or recent experience with Coilovers?

Thanks, Matt

[Dewi 2]

During that era, my understanding is that there were two versions of the suspension systems on the V8 Vantage.

Standard - (sometimes referred to as Comfort, but in reality very firm).

SportPack - (the optional hard suspension. V8 models also had 5 spoke wheels).

I think the V8S model had the hard suspension as standard.

It would therefore be possible to fit the Standard suspension components.

Interesting now that there have been a few comments like yours on here. Deteriorating roads.

[XMark]

I know the dampers get a bad rep but mine has been improved by fitting velocityap springs, it s still very firm but glides over bumps it used to crash over and still feels stable at speed, I m very happy with them, as a bonus it looks much better too.

[Dewi 2]

XMark said:

I know the dampers get a bad rep too.

That mostly refers to the 4.3 model. They might be named Dynamics.
4.7 cars have Bilstein dampers, considered to be much better.

[Matt1tibby]

I should have said mines a 4.7 and is on the Bilsteins. I test drove a 4.3 before buying the 4.7. The 4.3 was awful, slower than I'd expected, even worse ride and a clutch heavier than any truck I'd driven...

Hence I bought the 4.7! Which still leaves me asking how to improve the ride? Will BC coilovers help?

Thanks, Matt

[cypriot]

I would say that given the age of your car, it would be a combination of things that would be needed. For sure the rubber bushings of your entire chassis will be old and hard. You would be surprised how much of a difference new rubber bushes would make to the smoothness of the ride. Coilovers will make a difference, however if you want to have good damping both at low speed and still retain good handling, then a cheap coilover is not going to cut it. Like most things in life, you get what you pay for with dampers. Check out DAE and/or Valiant Ecosse that provide OEM quality dampers with some level of adjustability.

[TR-Spider]

Matt1tibby said:

I should have said mines a 4.7 and is on the Bilsteins. I test drove a 4.3 before buying the 4.7. The 4.3 was awful, slower than I'd expected, even worse ride and a clutch heavier than any truck I'd driven...

Hence I bought the 4.7! Which still leaves me asking how to improve the ride? Will BC coilovers help?

Thanks, Matt

On my 4.3, I went from stock Dynamics to Stock Bilsteins to BC Coilovers.
The Bilsteins are far more composed than the Dynamics, I´d say better in any aspect.
The BC coilovers suffer from the non-rubber bushing/top plates, which makes them "crashy" for short hard bumps/ cracks.
The other issue I had with the BC Coilovers was the narrow bandwidth of the damping, you would need to readjust for a change in ambient temperature of say 10°C (i.e. adjusted to be comfortable at 15°C, they felt too soft at 25° and vice versa).
The damping adjustment requires lifting the car to get a good reach to the adjustment knob - so not ideal for a quick adjustment.
That said, you can adjust them nicely for a trackday or similar narrow bandwith use and then they are truly better than the Bilsteins.

I finally went for the electronic adjustable Nitrons (3 times adjustable damper stiffness from the drivers seat, some clever adaptive damping for each damping stiffness etc etc, very expensive though...)

[BiggaJ]

I had a 4.3 but made some significant changes over the time I had the car. One such issue was the suspension, the Dynamics were shot, three of the 4 leaked and on undulating roads they would hit their bump stops frequently. I went on a mission to look at the various types available at the time. The choices were stay with the Dynamics, change to some Bilstein, consider the David Appleby offerings of Nitron (these were quite new at the time and untested) or go with Vantage Engineering's own set up.

In the end I went with Vantage Engineering's system and I was over the moon with them. I've heard great things about the Nitron's since and the Bilstein are a know quantity.

[Matt1tibby]

Thanks everyone for your help. As much as I love the car I can't justify the cost of Nitrons etc. I almost wish the current dampers were leaking and then the decision would be easier!

[Dewi 2]

Matt1tibby said:

I should have said mines a 4.7 and is on the Bilsteins. I test drove a 4.3 before buying the 4.7. The 4.3 was awful, slower than I'd expected, even worse ride and a clutch heavier than any truck I'd driven...

Hence I bought the 4.7! Which still leaves me asking how to improve the ride? Will BC coilovers help?

In your opening post Matt, you referred to the V8 Vantage S model.
I am fairly sure the S models have the (harder) SportPack suspension.

All 4.7 cars have Bilstein dampers, but there are probably different specifications.
I don't know what the technical differences are between Standard and SportPack suspension systems. It would be interesting to know what the technical differences are, because that would then reveal which components could be changed, to alter the ride comfort.

[Simpo Two]

Dewi 2 said:

In your opening post Matt, you referred to the V8 Vantage S model.
I am fairly sure the S models have the (harder) SportPack suspension.

All 4.7 cars have Bilstein dampers, but there are probably different specifications.
I don't know what the technical differences are between Standard and SportPack suspension systems. It would be interesting to know what the technical differences are, because that would then reveal which components could be changed, to alter the ride comfort.

You may find that on the Aston1936 site.

My DB9 had Sportspack; it gave a horrible noisy boneshaking ride and dangerously low ground clearance. Even polite passengers would comment on it. Quite a few K to change though, so I lived with it.

[Peter McKean]

Vantage S had sports suspension by default. In my opinion, it is far too harsh. Uncomfortably so. Comfort much nicer to drive. Have owned both. I believe the S could be optioned with Comfort, but it's rare. The perfect Vantage setup (speaking personally) is the 4.7l engine, manual gearbox, Comfort suspension and AMR (or Bamford Rose) twin plate performance clutch to get a lighter pedal. That delivers an engaging sports car and maybe the car the Vantage always should have been.

[Matt1tibby]

Peter McKean said:

Vantage S had sports suspension by default. In my opinion, it is far too harsh. Uncomfortably so. Comfort much nicer to drive. Have owned both. I believe the S could be optioned with Comfort, but it's rare. The perfect Vantage setup (speaking personally) is the 4.7l engine, manual gearbox, Comfort suspension and AMR (or Bamford Rose) twin plate performance clutch to get a lighter pedal. That delivers an engaging sports car and maybe the car the Vantage always should have been.

That pretty much describes where I am. When I bought the car the wisdom was that the S was the preferred version and I hadn't seen a comfort for sale.

If the coilovers will give a 'comfort' style ride then I'd be happy. But short of finding someone who has such a car and getting a ride in it I'm unsure. A reputable Aston specialist has recommended BC coilovers, but I'd hate to buy them and go 200 yards down the road and find its not right!

Matt

[Nigel_O]

Matt1tibby said:

A reputable Aston specialist has recommended BC coilovers, but I'd hate to buy them and go 200 yards down the road and find its not right!

Unless they’ve changed, BC coilovers come with a ‘pillowball’ top mount - essentially a low-friction bearing, but it’s solid - no rubber / PU in there at all. Great for handling, but not so good for NVH

I chose Nitrons for mine - they can be set quite soft / compliant. Excellent kit, but not cheap.

[Dewi 2]

Peter McKean said:

The perfect Vantage setup (speaking personally) is the 4.7l engine, manual gearbox, Comfort suspension and AMR (or Bamford Rose) twin plate performance clutch to get a lighter pedal. That delivers an engaging sports car and maybe the car the Vantage always should have been.

SNAP
and one further improvement, the BR 400 cell cat mod.

Not for sale.

[jafbash786]

Plus 1 for nitron roadsport this is a excellent all round damper it will be hard to beat for sporty road car

[Matt1tibby]

Thanks everyone. Now to think long and hard!

Matt

[Greathey]

I tried Kumho ecsta summer tyres on my V8 roadster and the ride is so much smoother now compared to the old Bridgestones that were originally on it when I bought it

[Nigel_O]

@OP - whereabouts in the country are you?

If you’re anywhere in the Midlands, I’d be happy to take you out for a spin in mine

[Nigel_O]

PS - if you want to read my appraisal of the Nitrons, find my post from 28 September 2023 in my Reader’s Cars thread

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...