Suspension upgrade its started!

ims101 · Post by **ims101** » Mon Apr 16, 2012 8:30 pm

My car went back to Red 9 and they sorted out the dead spot on the steering. They had fitted the steering rack with the wrong clamps/U bolts? and it was moving from side to side! Much better now and I've got it booked in with Chris at Centre Gravity on 25th April, I'm dropping it off the day before and leaving it with them as it's "a long day"! On the way down I'm stopping off at the Speedster Clinic and Gary is fitting my new wind screeen finger crossed this one won't crack

I'll update when I get it back.

ims101 · Post by **ims101** » Wed Apr 25, 2012 11:13 pm

Yesterday I dropped my car off with Chris at Centre Gravity I drove it down via A & B roads hood down dodging the heavy showers (only got a bit wet once

) I left it with him as in his words "it's a long day" came home on the train.
He has rung me today after taking it for a drive and doing tests and checks. His first comment was "I don't know how you drove it here!"

but on the good side he said he can sort it all out.
As it is the car is about 67% rear - 33% front weight distribution again he said he can get it to a 60-40 messing with the ride hight and other tweeks there were lot of other different cross weights and setting he talk about. The out come is I'm going to pick it up tomorrow so I'll report back with how it feels on the drive home

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Thu Apr 26, 2012 9:47 am

Looking forward to reading how you got on

mdmax72 · Post by **mdmax72** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 11:29 am

So the Big question Ian, have you got a big smile on you face or not???

Or are you still adjusting to it to comment

ims101 · Post by **ims101** » Sat Apr 28, 2012 1:25 pm

Well, I train'd down to Tamworth and Jayne (Chris's wife picked me up at the station) when we got back to the garage Chris gave me the report and talked me through it (the debrife

) before we went out on a test drive. He explained what, why and how he had done every thing, first saying that making it look right isn't what he does. The ride hight is determined by the gemomatry and weight and getting the the corner weight corectly balanced. To be quite honest it all sound like magic to me!

Next was the dest drive and with Air Comander Franklin behind the wheel and me as co pilot! The first test is to see that it handles as a Ford Focus or Nissan Micra would in a straight line and round a corner at a very slow - normal speed. Check! Next he took the car on to a duel carrage way and round an island, I don't know how fast he went I daren't look at the speedo, he turned hard right onto the island and booted it! On the sixth or seventh time round the island with no loss of traction or squeeling of tyres he lifted off, as the back end came round he pushed back on the power the back came back in line and we left the island. Check! (maybe the old underpants too

) The next part was on the duel carrage way at speed testing straight line performance, excelarating and braking. Check! Next came the bumpy A/B roads again all the suspention taking the bumps out and handling the corners with no problem too. Check! He then pulled over for me to drive round nice twisty A roads all I need to say is the car handled perfectly to MY driving style Chris said "its all just happening a little late"

Check!
So now I have a car that drives and handles like a Classic 911 with the look of a 356 Speedster and the driver of a Nissan Micra (well I can work on that bit

)

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 9:19 am

Sounds great - does the stance look substantially different to before?

mdmax72 · Post by **mdmax72** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 8:25 pm

Just reading your experience made me laugh and suggests you got a big grin. Maybe your day at Silverstone will give you a few driving tips ehh. As Sladey said any pic's of the stance??

ims101 · Post by **ims101** » Mon Apr 30, 2012 11:01 pm

I don't think the stance has changed much and I would rather have a more useable car with better handling than a very low looking car

sladey · Post by **sladey** » Tue May 01, 2012 8:15 am

Can't see any difference myself - car still looks well cool. From the way you were talking I was imagining an off-road or dragster stance.

Looks like you've got a real result there!

johnM · Post by **johnM** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:10 am

Looks great Ian. So do you think it was value for money or is it too early to say.

Kind regards.

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:14 am

Personally think it looks better now .... Appears to be more of a nose down stance. But as you say , it's how it drives that's important

mdmax72 · Post by **mdmax72** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:50 am

Better of being nose down. You got to take into account the squat when accelerating which lowers the back end.

I did paint a picture of it being a drag car also with your description Ian but that must be the hairdresser in you

look swell anyway. Just need some dry days to test it then??

hot66 · Post by **hot66** » Tue May 01, 2012 9:52 am

Looks better nose down

ims101 · Post by **ims101** » Tue May 01, 2012 10:37 am

Thanks guys (not for the hairdresser remarks tho

)
I'm happy with the stance Chris said he can change the rear so it sits low at the back by highering the mouning point of the rear arm bringing the wheel up more into the wheelarch but I think I've spent enough for now!
It will be interesting at Silverstone on the 12th

DDK - Die Deutschen Klassiker