Feeling skittish at high speed

[CMA]

Just removed the back shocks and both rear springs have what looks like 200 stamped in the top of them, so not the feared 130. They also weren't as wound up as much as I thought. The spring seat was just over an inch above the bottom.

Now to put them back on and have a look at the fronts.....

...and the fronts have 250 stamped into them so the fronts are ok. Just need a pair of 250s for the rear then

[stylussprinter]

If you weighed around 70 to 90 kgs , 200lbs on the rear would do fine for the road . It's just that the spring deflection with 100 plus kgs will take up most of the piston travel , leaving nothing for suspension movement . A pair of Faulkners springs will cost about £45 so not too expensive a mod ' . Someone might be looking for a pair of 200's at a bargain price

[CMA]

Just trying to sort out the springs, should hopefully get some today, and also run out of nylocs so best go get some of them too.

Is the 25mm rake set with or with the fat sod (me) in the driving seat or without?

[stylussprinter]

Just trying to sort out the springs, should hopefully get some today, and also run out of nylocs so best go get some of them too.

Is the 25mm rake set with or with the fat sod (me) in the driving seat or without?

Rob -- if you get those 250's on the rear then 25mm without driver will be a good start . If there's someone available to measure the rear height when you're sat in the car -- before and after the new springs , that will be handy future knowledge for your '' set-up note book '' . Knowing the diference will enable you to tweak the over/ under steer without losing the rake altogether plus more knowledge in the note book ie. At x rake = car over steers or only under excessive throttle OR any other feelings/ observations you have . This way you don't need others to tell you how to stop your car doing x or y because you will have notes to refer to. Same with the other set-up parameters I gave you -- toe, camber etc etc . Make an adjustment , check the result , try more of thesame until you don't like the result then drop back = more knowledge

[CMA]

Went and fetched some 250s today just finished fitting and setup.

8 clicks front, 15 clicks rear. 22mm rake (I know its not 25 but had to get things back together and levelso I could have a beer tonight) so got a starting point. Just got to do the camber and toe checks next.

Cheers for the tips, will see how it goes next time i'm out.

[stylussprinter]

Rob , just for your info , I had a Fury here today for set-up -- he also weighed 18st and I had to get the front down plus the rear up to get a 30mm rake (rear higher than front) . This only just got him a 7mm rake when he was in the driving seat . When I set my rake at 16mm there's still 11mm rake when i'm seated in the car --- me being 13st .

[CMA]

I assume more rake = more oversteer?

Anyway, with my new springs fitted and 22mm rake, me at 18st and the Mrs in the car (she wont say how much she weighs...10ish?) we went out for a run today and....

......FLIPPING HECK! what a difference, I can now hit bumps, potholes without jarring everything, it holds the road so much better and I am starting to feel the front more than before. Its such a different car even the Mrs (who has even less car/handling knowledge than me) noticed immidiately how much better it was, she said it was a far superior ride to before.

Now, if I ever get to meet you Rob I'll be buying you several beer/wine/coffee or whatever is you chosen drinks. Fantasic advice completly transformed the handling (and I though it was quite good handling already!)

One thing I did think, before reading your last post, was that I could prob do with a bit more rake. But I shall be leaving it as is for a while so I can get a feel for it, then I will start making the odd change and see what happens. I still need to check the rake with me sat in it.

Again Rob, and others, thanks for the tips and advice. Now I just need driving lessons to bring my driving up to the level of the car.

[stylussprinter]

Great --- I love it when a plan comes together Well done chief engineer

[CMA]

Just dropped all the dampers down by 2 clicks as I was finding it a bit too stiff on the bumpy roads we have about here.

So now 6 on the front and 13 on the back. Much better on the bumpy roads. But will try other settings over time.

I've just had my new Britool C Spanner delivered so I can now get the back jacked up a little more tomorrow hopefully and see what that does, will also be measuring the rake with me sat in it.