Suspension Issues

[Dave M]

My Stag is currently fitted with Tony Hart progressive lowered springs with standard strut inserts up front ,Monroe air shoxs on the back ( I used to tow a caravan) and poly bushes.
Anyway took a trip out in the Stag today and I know that the Lincolnshire roads are not the best but we seemed to feel every bump in the road. I really like the lowered look so do not want to go back to standard springs but can anyone suggest a way of improving the ride?
Dave

[Stagdad]

Dave what tyres are you running?

[mike@thenook]

My Stag is currently fitted with Tony Hart progressive lowered springs with standard strut inserts up front ,Monroe air shoxs on the back ( I used to tow a caravan) and poly bushes.
Anyway took a trip out in the Stag today and I know that the Lincolnshire roads are not the best but we seemed to feel every bump in the road. I really like the lowered look so do not want to go back to standard springs but can anyone suggest a way of improving the ride?
Dave

Dave,

No disrespect to Tony but I too had them but had to change them because of grounding and discomfort (I did mention this to Tony when I picked up some excellent straight through silencers from him) - I now have standard height Monarch progressive rate springs which are far better.
The Stag is, by modern standards, a low car and, with speed humps and our awful roads I think the HRS lowering kit is only ok with one in the car.

Jmho from experience

Cheers

[73stagman]

Are the grounding issues only related to scraping the exhaust system under the front cross member? I have Monarch progressive rate springs specifically for the RV8 engine. The plan was for the car to sit 1" lower than a standard Stag which it appears to do at best. It might actually be lower than that but i havent been able to compare it to anything yet. (I can only just get my trolley jack under the front spoiler and only if it is at the very bottom of its travel.
I have both exhaust pipes running under the front cross member but they dont ground out on the speed humps around here. I do take them at a dead crawl though and the ones in the middle of the lane I always try to run a wheel right over the middle

I should add that I made my exhaust myself and spent much effort trying to get the exhaust as high as possible... they are very close to the cross member with only three or so mm of clearance.

The ride is quite "stiff" but the handling is stunning. I guess it depends what you want from your car. A softer comfortable ride or precise predictable steering and control. Or a compromise? something has to give and maybe the precision and tightness is not really required for normal every day road use.

[mike@thenook]

73
my problem with the HRS springs was always with the centre boxes - no problem with Monarch springs but they are standard height

[Dave M]

Dave what tyres are you running?

Hi Steve
Im running 195/60/15s Yokos which probably dont help. Grounding isnt the issue its just the harshness of the ride especially on our pot hole laden patched up all over roads. Ive pumped some more air in the rears but that may just make the ride even harder. Just wondered if changing the shocks all round would help as I like the look of the car with the lowered stance.

[Dave M]

Just ordered some KYB shocks to replace the rears, I don't tow a caravan with the Stag anymore so thought it would be a good idea to replace the Munroe air shocks. Hoping this might improve things a little. Front shocks could do with replacing but will do that later in the year and will probably go for KYBs after reading posts on here regarding replacing shock absorbers. Problem is I like the lowered stance and it does handle better just want to make the ride a little less harsh, maybe I'm just getting old and the boy racer in me is finally leaving :-)

[Valleyforge]

My red staggy has the HRS lowered springs and looks the nuts. Also have spax adjustables front & rear - set about 4 - 6 clicks from soft & that's fine - still a firm ride but far better handling than before. Spent a few weeks upping and downing the hardness of the shocks but seems about right now. Our roads too are pretty terrible....
PS had a GT6 a few years ago & that really was a hard & jarring ride - & why that one went, the bones couldna take any more.

Roll on sunshine !

[73stagman]

My red staggy has the HRS lowered springs and looks the nuts. Also have spax adjustables front & rear - set about 4 - 6 clicks from soft & that's fine - still a firm ride but far better handling than before. Spent a few weeks upping and downing the hardness of the shocks but seems about right now. Our roads too are pretty terrible....
PS had a GT6 a few years ago & that really was a hard & jarring ride - & why that one went, the bones couldna take any more.

Roll on sunshine !

Mine are similar... Monarch progressive 1" lowered with Gaz shocks all round. All the way soft on the front and mid way at the rears. (The front springs are actually standard Stag less 6" to match the Rover V8 engine.... I think it sits about 1" lower at the front than a standard Stag. Its a bit high at the rear at present as the tyres are older 185/90s. They need to be the same as the front 205/60. I love the way it sits flat when cornering at fast (ish) road speeds even though its a bit harsh on Barrow's pot holes