Springs, strut inserts & rear shocks

[Rubce]

Hi All

I am planning on purchasingnew front inserts, rear shockers and complete set of springs later this week. Which ones do you guys recommend? Is the money difference for gas etc worth it over the standard units? Would you recommend fitting the 1 inch lowered springs supplied by Paddocks?

The wife once described driving our red Stag as being more like sailing than driving. I don't want the Project car to be like that.Too be fair to the red car the front suspension was in dire need of attention.

FYI, I am fitting poly bushes to everything.

Thanks

Bruce

[Guest]

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Bruce, i have fitted polly bushes to the rear (ooh matron) and rear spax. I dont know if its the spax or the bushes but a definite improvement!! Shows the front up now though!!

Jason

[Giles]

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I changed my front bushes to poly and there was a definate improvement - as recommended by peter at LD I did use rubber for the drag strut to chassis though.

[SGN]

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I've got standard shocks/struts with Paddocks 1" lowered springs.
Rear wheel centre to arch 13.5"
Front wheel centre to arch 14"
The fronts have only been fitted 2 weeks so it will drop more when it settles with use.
I think it looks better but thats just my opinion.
Cheers
Steve

[BlueMK2]

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I have Tony Harts lowering kit, Spax adjustable shocks and polly bushes all round, the difference is amazing, the springs are stiffer than standard and the front springsare progressive, Paddocks springs are standard rate, I wanted it a bit stiffer to get less body roll,it makes the ride a bit firmer but not as firm as a modern hot hatch. Great fun down the country lanes.

[stustag]

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Hi Bruce

I would recommend you speak to Chris Witor http://www.chriswitor.com/as he does various lowering kit which when I check were around £159 which is alotcheaper than anyone else and top quality. (had this kit on a 2000 MK2 ace handling)

He recommends these guys for inserts and shocks http://www.kyb-europe.com/catalogue.aspas Spax shocks don't last long and the adjustment seizes up!

I will be fitting this kit shortly so will let you know, unless you beat me to it!!

Stuart

[Andy Rundell]

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I'm happy with my Chris Witor struts.... i went for regular shocks, slightly stronger springs at his recommendation, i opted for roller-bearing top mounts at the same time

.......Andy

[whereufromnosecity]

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Bruce

I have the same setup as BlueMK2 and i'm well pleased with the results

[Rubce]

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Hi Guys

Thanks for the feedback. Has anyone got experience of the "Kayaba" gas inserts and rear shock absorbers that Paddocks sell?

Regards

Bruce

[john 4d]

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Thought I'd resurrect this thread as it's topical for me at the moment. I've just unearthed my long stored and very sorry lookingrear shock absorbers. Searching for replacements, I've established they are Monroe type R3255 and fitted as original to late Stags, however,I can only locate them on German and French web sites, try it, correctly listed for Triumph Stag!

I don't want adjustable gas shocks, just plain and simple. What is the concensous on the type I should get and what's the story with Monroe R3255?

John

[alan230752]

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Ihave just fitted koni adjustable gas shock to rear ,with rislan coated drive shafts

also fitted poly bushes,rubber bushes to axle and the two large avon ones

also made up traction control links to axle/trailing arms with rose joints

car now handles very well alan

[Rubce]

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stustag wrote:

Hi Bruce

I would recommend you speak to Chris Witor http://www.chriswitor.com/as he does various lowering kit which when I check were around £159 which is alotcheaper than anyone else and top quality. (had this kit on a 2000 MK2 ace handling)

He recommends these guys for inserts and shocks http://www.kyb-europe.com/catalogue.aspas Spax shocks don't last long and the adjustment seizes up!

I will be fitting this kit shortly so will let you know, unless you beat me to it!!

Stuart

Hi Stuart

Have you fitted the above to your car yet? After the un-planned for expense with the GT6 I have yet to purchase the springs and shocks for my stag.

Regards

Bruce

[Ferds]

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Oooh - this is a bit of a sore subject for me. I've spent a lot of money on my suspension - see below...:shock:

Started with standard all round - really tired bushes and springs, handled like a barge.:?

Upgraded the bushes to 'poly' - instant improvement in handling / cornering, but still a bit 'soft' over the bumpy stuff.

Upgraded dampers to KYB and Springs from EJ Ward - who fitted the set up for me. Car looked like it was on stilts. Was told it would settle - waited 3 years and 8,000 miles before I got fed up and took it all off.:X

Replaced with handling kit from HRS (lowered springs), new standard front dampers from Paddocks, Spax rears - 3 clicks. Went for this after reading many posts on this forum. Kit fitted by EJ Ward.

Went to pick up the car, front looked fine, rear sat too low - too much negative camber in the wheels. Was told by Ward that they did not fit the rear adjuster bracket as it would give too much positive camber and be dangerous. Note- they had not fitted the brackets to confirm this.

Hated the look of the car - it looked like a dog dragging its ar*e along the ground.:X

Put up with it for a year then paid a local garage to fit the brackets. I have 0 camber (it should be 1.5 deg negative) so the wheels are straight up / vertical. However, the car looks 'right' and rides very well.

I would just like to make some final comments though...

After talking to another member on the forum, it now appears that my original issue with the KYB and EJ Ward Springs setup - may have been just the springs. They KYBs actually work very well. The other member fitted just the springs and had the same issue I had. Unfortunately it seems that it may be better to replace the springs and dampers at different times so that if a problem arises, you know which one it is that is causing the issue. I appreciate though - changing the front suspension can be a little tortuous so you may only want to do it once.:?

Secondly - use the Poly bushes from Chris Witor. There are companies out there that use 'copies' and they do not last as long and are not made to the same quality.

Third - when lowering the car, don't ignore the camber angle, especially at the rear. It now seems that to get the rears exactly right, I will need to buy adjustable brackets from Monarch. Having said that I am happy with the set up as it is now.

The progressive springs in the kit from HRS work very well and the car definitely has a more modern feel. It is comfortable to drive over long distances too. Friends with standard Stags that have driven it, have been impressed enough to follow suit.

I spent a lot of money getting to this point - I hope some of this information will help you avoid some of the grief / costs I experienced.

IMHO

Chris


PS - The avatar shows the car before I did any of this work... (i.e. not lowered).

Guess I'd better get an updated piccy...

[Paul B]

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Ferds,

This all sounds too familiar. I am now on my fourth set of springs to get the car ride height and camber correct!!!

1st set purchased as standard, car was way too high, loads of positive camber on the rear and was horrible to drive. Far too hard.

2nd set: purchased progressive springs, standard on back, 1inch lowered on front. Car again sat too high at rear, loads of positive camber. Front was OK, but still horrible to drive as too hard.

3rd set: went back to Triumph springs. Car now much better to drive, but ride height too high on rear, by about 0.5 inch and positive camber. Front OK.

4th set: went to 1 inch lowered 'standard' weight springs from Paddocks. I'm now happy with the car, it looks and drives nicely. I now have slight negative camber on rear (about 3/4 degree) and handling is great. Stangely I didn't need to change the brackets on rear subframe to adjust the rear camber, which is normal if using lowered springs.

I got very good at changing springs.

I cannot remember what the shocks are. They were purchased as standard, nothing special and long time ago.

[Rubce]

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Guys

Your tales of woe fill me with dread:shock::shock:. I only want to purchase and fit one set of springs and shocks.

Bruce