How does your TR7 (or TR7v8) drive?

[busheytrader]

Here's the Triumptune article I posted some time back about making your wedge handle better than stock. I tried posting a link to the original thread but it wouldn't connect.





It's the usual info regarding bushes, springs and shocks etc. (Polybushes hadnt fully arrived by then). From the article it only takes one of these to be playing up to throw the handling out.

Hope it helps.

Adam

[moestr7v8]

Hi Dave
I purchased my KYB gas struts from S+S, although it was about six years ago, so not sure if they still stock them but worth a try.
It would be a good idea to replace the tie rod bushes with poly bushes rather than leave the rubber ones in as even if they look okay they may well be knacked.
Cheers
Moe

[Hasbeen]

Steve I believe many of our younger drivers never knew, & even some of us old farts have forgotten how to drive without power steering.

I relearned these simple techniques fairly quickly, when I came back to sports cars, buying my first 7, after 35 years of driving lazy mans cars & utes.

So many today sit stationary, & wind the thing lock to lock, with a single finger, while the hydraulic or electrical power does the actual work. Sure the 7 is heavy if used this way. You should try my old tractor.

However if driven as us oldies learnt to drive, & you have the car moving gently forward or backward when you turn the wheel, the tyres turn with little drag, & the steering is not that heavy.

My son brought this home to me many years ago. His first car was an old Ford Falcon. The Ozzie ones were up over 1.5 tons, & this one had no power steering.

He was in with me for a test after some work on it. I had to back out of the shed, then turn 90 degrees left to drive off. He noticed me swing the car some while still traveling slowly back, then start moving before turning the wheel to go left.

For him the bright light flashed, & he said "Ah, so that's how you do it". He never found his Falcon all that heavy thereafter. It is a simple, unconscious thing, we don't think to pass on to others, but makes a huge difference.

Hasbeen

[Steve @ SandS]

Hi Dave
I purchased my KYB gas struts from S+S, although it was about six years ago, so not sure if they still stock them but worth a try.
It would be a good idea to replace the tie rod bushes with poly bushes rather than leave the rubber ones in as even if they look okay they may well be knacked.
Cheers
Moe

Just come back into stock Moe. They have been hard to source for the last 12mths but back in now.

[Howard_B]

The handling on my 7 has never been a problem. Applying power it very slightly over-steers and taking power off reverts to mild under-steer, which makes cornering at speed very satisfying.

The set up is near standard - unbranded Rimmers dampers, standard springs, but polybushed all round & with Continental Premium Contact 5 185/55/15/H tyres all round on MGF wheels.

I use it quite enthusiastically without ever having encountered any handling problems so would expect that your 7 can be sorted. I haven't encountered the snap over-steer issue, but that may just be good fortune.

Cheers

Howard

[jaybee]

I do have a uprated front anti roll bar in the shed, but haven't attempted to fit as I expect it will be a pain, but after I have tried everything else I will maybe give it a go.





Dave

Hi Dave where did you get your uprated arb please? Cheers John

[moestr7v8]

Hi John
Try S+S, Robsport or Rimmers for the uprated anti roll bar, I am pretty sure one of this trio will have one.
Cheers
Moe

[jaybee]

Hi John
Try S+S, Robsport or Rimmers for the uprated anti roll bar, I am pretty sure one of this trio will have one.
Cheers
Moe

Thanks Moe

[Steve @ SandS]

Hi John
Try S+S, Robsport or Rimmers for the uprated anti roll bar, I am pretty sure one of this trio will have one.
Cheers
Moe

Yeah we have them in stock.

[Dave Dyer]

Hasbeen, I don't need to paint the tyres as they are only 2 months old, thats why I can't have another set..groan, plus She would notice the money leaving the bank!

But I think you and Soncar are right and I'm going to change the front shock inserts.

Adam, thanks for the article, it was a good read.

Moe, I think KYB gas inserts, as you have are the way to go. I will do the tie rod bushes, its just they (for me) are the hardest bushes to press out.

And S&S Steve, thanks for saying they are back in stock, I then checked with my local motor factor who said he could get them 5th October.

Howard, cheers good to see what your setup is and yes if everyone else has their setup right, then its possible.

Jaybee, I have a Whiteline roll bar, I think Australian make, I bought it a few years ago, But I can't remember who from! sorry.

But once I get the Shocks I'll be iching to fit them, although I imagine it won't be a 5 minute job, so not looking forward to the 'work' bit!

Dave

[kstrutt1]

Mine has spax adustables on the rear, gaz adjustables on the front a selection of polybushes and 15" wheels, when I first did mine it was terrible on anything except a dead smooth road, I replcaed the 200lb 2" lowering springs with 200lb ones pretty close to the standard ride height and it was transformed, the problem was it was crashing into the bump stops.

The steering on mine is very heavy when stationary but has a lovely feel once moving, I may eventualy fit an electric assist kit if it becomes too much of a problem.

[Bobbieslandy]

The Antiroll bar isn't too bad to fit, i used a 22mm starret cutter to open up the bushes which took a minute or so each and then drilled out the lateral movement clamps with a 22.5mm drill bit. The drill bit was cheaper than buying new clamps.

Rob.

[Sautie]

A worthwhile addition is a set of needle roller bearings at the top of the front struts. We did this for my daughters' 7 some time ago. After her first outing she said that it felt as though she had power steering.

[John_C]

I have needle roller bearings on my 7 and it does make the steering even lighter. But if you have heavy steering at all then there is something wrong somewhere. Parking is a different matter and as Hasbeen commented recently this is probably because you're trying to turn the steering wheel without the road wheels actually moving at all. The solution is simple and simply have the car move very slowly to activate the usual light steering. Power steering in more modern cars has meant people have lost the correct driving technique and forget this simple and correct method.