Diminishing handling

[Paul R]

droplinks?

What you mean....

I have heard that about the bushess a mate had a clio and he think that they caused his chassis to start to crack (it was lowered 60mm on springs only aswell) but i said it was cos its french!

Paul R

 

[Ash]

I did the wishbones and all my bushes/shocks about amonth ago at 70k god it made such a difference! the metal inserts in the bushes had gone all corroded and the rubber was spliting away (couldnt see the cracks in the rubber until i took the load of the joints)

dont get polly bushes! i had a corsa (i know shoot me now!) first i lovered it then about a month later i read an article in lax power saying fit polly bushes to improve handeling so being 17 and foolish i did, what a mistake it made a hard ride even worse coupled with the 17 inch wheels with 215 tyres the car was a bone shacker under 50mph. Eventually i went to the dealers and got some standard bushes didnt really affect the handeling and boy did they take the sting off the bad ride comfort

 

[cynic-al]

just to go back to us without such high tech setups, are these right? They seem kinda cheap!

https://sslrelay.com/buypartsby.co.uk/gas-shocks.php?recordID=46

Are their good and bad brands or are they all the same?

 

[Tom]

KYB are middle of the road.

 

[Ozric-Al]

Well, it seems that me and al have the same problem here. Shabash! is due a service shortly (60K) and I am having the same problems. I'm positive that my front o/s shock is gone as I can here it wheezing (?) over bumps etc. and I think it's leaking.

So, any recommendations for a '99 HGT on shocks? Remember, I'm not a modder so all this adjustable stuff means nothing to me.

Shabash!

Now partying with Yul Brynner
http://www.billhicks.com/
http://www.geocities.com/ozrictentacles_web/

 

[Tom]

KYB or bilstein.

 

[Paul R]

or you can get my old set off me for cheap!

up to you?

Paul R

 

[cynic-al]

just put new rear shockers on, really easy and cheap job. Cheers to Tom. I also learn't the hard way what the plastic tube is for through the chassis, fortunately i had 2 15mm sockets

Oz, if you haven't done it, do it!

 

[Tom]

LOL! Join the club It doesn't rattle though, one day I'll take the rear subframe off and recover it.

 

[cynic-al]

Just got to sort out the flats on my rear tyres and it'll be nice to drive again.

They were on the front but it vibrated at speed, so i put them on the back, was ok at speed but kinda waddles at low speed. Going to put them on the front and try and abuse them back to roundness!

 

[Babar Malik]

Intersting, my 97 brava 1.4s 70K has been handling crap over the last two years as well. Changed to Marea 15inch alloys and Pirelli P6000 195/50R15's. Grip is way better than before it just leans all over the shop now because of the extra grip. My car either has 1 person in it or 3-5 people (and i mean well fed people) amnd often used for heavy load lugging so i'm surprised the original shockers and springs are still going!!!

 

[Tom]

Get new shocks

 

[Babar Malik]

Poly bushes? Are they the same as the bushes powerflex make and sell? I assumed they were better than the original ones?

 

[Tom]

If your shocks are shot then poly bushes will do bugger all.

 

[Babar Malik]

If shocks were replaced, then bushes, would poly ones be better than standard ones?

 

[Tom]

Personally I think poly bushes on a road car are a waste of time, they massively increase the shock loads on the chassis which isn't good. The ride on poly bushes is harsh, I had them on my mini.

Also the Bravo lower arm is only available as a single unit, with ball joint and bushes. You get poly bushes and then find the ball joint is shot then you've got to take the bushes out AGAIN.

Also no-one does antiroll bar bushes which would be a tad more useful.

 

[LightWarrior]

I had a peek when i was swapping a rear wheel, and could only see a spring! The install i'm building slowly for the boot is working out to be pretty bloody heavy, so maybe new shocks are in order? What should i expect rear shocks to cost, and will the ride be noticeably improved for the expense?

 

[Tom]

£15-30 each depending what you get.

A bit of weight at the back helps, its too darn light as standard.

You using stacks of MDF?