Suspension specialist for Classics

COB MGV8

Are there any suspension specialists that will look at a classic in Dublin ? I'm looking for a bit of advice and possibly work done if I can find the right guy/price !

lastsaturday

hi there,

i too am looking for someone to have a look at the suspension in my classic. can anyone recommend a specialist? i'm not really keen on chainstores, as they're mostly geared up for modern cars only...

kasper

on a side note a friend of mine works in a tyre centre and i was half joking about getting the whel alignment done on the old maxi , he showed me the data is in the computer and it is no problem to do it ,plus lots of older makes for four wheel alignment

spooky donkey

intresting to know that. I want to get the four wheele allignment done on my car when I do the suspension ( well the schocks and wishbones just ) myself.

Fishtits

Most four wheel alignment rigs will show you the angles and settings as you use them, if you have the data for your car its very simple from there on. If your car isn't in the "system" just enter any vehicle, once the screen displays the actual data - adjust away.

OP, what work do you need done?

COB MGV8

Fishtits wrote: »

OP, what work do you need done?

Wow - was a while ago I put this one up, still have the problem = the suspension setup is way too hard on my MGB. There are lowered 550lb springs that I think may be a bit over the top for the car and I'm looking for some advice and maybe a bit of work done

ianobrien

WHAT!!!!

550lb springs are for track cars. I know Rally Cars that run 200lb springs in the front.

Group 1 springs for a Mk1/2 Escort are 145lb if memory serves me right

COB MGV8

ianobrien wrote: »

WHAT!!!!

550lb springs are for track cars. I know Rally Cars that run 200lb springs in the front.

Group 1 springs for a Mk1/2 Escort are 145lb if memory serves me right

Its a 3.5L V8 - not that unusual for them, but too hard for my weary bones and mrs COB

Fishtits

"Its a 3.5L V8 - not that unusual for them, but too hard for my weary bones and mrs COB"

Nice car.

Why not just get the standard setup installed? Google will return any number of suppliers.

COB MGV8

Fishtits wrote: »

Nice car.

Why not just get the standard setup installed? Google will return any number of suppliers.

Thanks - most suppliers won't touch a 35 yr old car, and I'd need a recommendation before I'd let someone at it....

ianobrien

Fishtits wrote: »

"Its a 3.5L V8 - not that unusual for them, but too hard for my weary bones and mrs COB"

Ya, the Rover V8 weighs a fraction more than the 2.0 pinto. Group 1 springs for the front of a Mk1/2 are 175lb (iirc). I know people who have dropped Rover V8's into Capris and are running 220 to 250lb springs on Bilstein Coilovers

Edit - 175lb were for the RS2000 with the Pinto up front - The 145lb were for the Mexico and Crossflow engined cars

The Rover V8 weights less than the Essex V6 (exact weights not to hand, but from carting them around, I can tell which weighs more......)

OP, I reckon that your front springs are way too hard if they are 550lb. That spring rate is more suitable for a track car, not for tootling down to the shop, and deffo not for a comfortable ride on Irish roads.

lastsaturday

well, i went to the local chainstore over the weekend for them to look at the alignment and suspension and no, they couldn't do anything for me.. still cost me €30 for the hour...

basically, i need someone who can add shims to the wishbones, etc., in order to set the alignment up properly.. there's too much camber on the front.

apparently most of the cars of the 60's had this set up, so there must be someone around who does the old cars..

COB MGV8

lastsaturday wrote: »

basically, i need someone who can add shims to the wishbones, etc., in order to set the alignment up properly.. there's too much camber on the front.

apparently most of the cars of the 60's had this set up, so there must be someone around who does the old cars..

What kind of car is it ? I had negative camber wishbones put on to my MGB and it has made quite a difference...