Suspension Upgrade

[prlee]

I have finally resumed work on the TR7 now the weather is getting warmer. This weekend I started on the suspension upgrade I got from S&S last year. So far I have removed all the nuts from the trailing arms and anti-rollbar ready for removal for painting and fitting the polybushes. I decided to trial fit one of the new upgraded springs and with the AVO shocks I had repaired last year.

Couple of questions though.

I compared the new and old springs off the car and the new is about 1" shorted as expected, however when fitted this seems to have the same ride height as the original, is this normal as the spring is supposed lower the ride height by 1".

Also I noticed that with the shock absorber at full stretch the spring is slightly loose.


I have another question about slow spring return. I noticed when I got the car the drivers side did not bounce properly, it was sluggish. I replaced the shocks and thought it was ok, but refiting the new AVO shocks today I noticed the problem was still there. Could this be a problem elswhere such as the bushes?

One for Beans, following a comment Beans made in another thread I compared the AVO collapsed length with the Spax original and they were the same, not measured this against the car yet.



Pete
81 DHC (Undergoing minor body repair)
79 Spitfire (Current Main drive)

[PeterTR7V8]

Pete, I had the same experience with springs & concluded that although the new springs were marginally shorter the car sat at least the same height because the springs were stronger so the car didn't sit down on the springs as much. Its clear that you wouldn't want the springs to be any shorter else they would fall out on potholes so if you want the car to sit lower you will need to modify the spring seats & fit a shorter spring. Or go to coil-overs. Did you fit new poly spring seats?



Your theory about the trailing arm bushes makes sense. I reckon that if the bushes haven't been replaced with poly bits then they will be shagged because I don't think anyone who has replaced them in the last decade would have refitted rubber bushes. When I did mine recently one bush was seized & another was falling to bits.

http://www.forum.triumphtr7.com/topic.a ... hichpage=9

[prlee]

Thanks Pete, pretty much what I thought, maybe the orignal springs have have settled. I am not unhappy with the ride height.

S&S supplied rubber spring seats. Polybush for the trailing arms.

I think all the suspension bushes are original. The car has only averaged about 400 miles per year for the last 20 years.

Pete
81 DHC (Undergoing minor body repair)
79 Spitfire (Current Main drive)

[bmcecosse]

Yes -these springs will be slightly loose on full droop - if worried, secure them with some tie-wraps. Important to fit new bump stops,assuming the old ones are knackered!

[prlee]

Oh yes, bump stops are knackered, new ones required.

Pete
81 DHC (Undergoing minor body repair)
79 Spitfire (Current Main drive)

[Beans]

<blockquote id="quote"><font size="1" face="Century Gothic, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"><i>Originally posted by prlee</i>

... One for Beans, following a comment Beans made in another thread I compared the AVO collapsed length with the Spax original and they were the same ... <hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></font id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/2007/07/rear-damper-problems.html"]<u><b><font size="2"><font color="red">Link to a comparison between Koni and AVO rears</font id="red"></font id="size2"></b></u>[/url]

<center>
<font color="blue"><i>1980 TR7 DHC (my first car, currently being restored)
1981 TR7 FHC Sprint (better known as 't Kreng)</font id="blue">
<b>[url="http://www.tr7beans.blogspot.com/"]<u><b><font size="2"><font color="red">My Weblog</font id="red"></font id="size2"></b></u>[/url]</b></i></center>

[prlee]

Thanks Beans, I will be able to get back to the car in a couple of weeks and check to see if they are shorter these day (unlikely though) and then decide what to do.

Pete
81 DHC (Undergoing minor body repair)
79 Spitfire (Current Main drive)

[prlee]

Spoke to S&S today. Simon told me to expect the springs to settle onece I start using the car. He also said it was normal for the springs to be a little loose on full suspension stretch but should not fall out which I agree. I also agree that it unlikely in normal daily use to come close to max suspension movement. This also seems true about meeting the bump stop, there is certainly no sign of my car ever have using the bump stop and this is more unlikely with the harder springs.

I will run the car for a while and find out, I imagine more agressie driving will push the suspension harder, but perhaps the upgrades will counter act this. I know spitfires but not TR7's so will learn.

Pete
81 DHC (Undergoing minor body repair)
79 Spitfire (Current Main drive)