Suspension upgrade

[Theo]

If you passed your test before Jan 1st 1997 you don't need to take a further test to be able to tow a trailer. Total load of bollocks

[JimmyC]

sweet April 06

[UweM3]

If you passed your test before Jan 1st 1997 you don't need to take a further test to be able to tow a trailer. Total load of bollocks

disagree. I have seen a lot of bad accidents with trailers involved.
A trailer with a car on top can be 1200-1800kgs and if you're not familiar
with such a setup you can be in trouble in no time.

[march109]

If you passed your test before Jan 1st 1997 you don't need to take a further test to be able to tow a trailer. Total load of bollocks

If you passed after this date you may only tow 700kgs, or using some complex arrangement of maths on the government website you could to a E30 povided your trailer weighed about 200kg's and you had a suitable towing car.

If the e30 was stripped you'd be able to use a heavier trailer, becuase a 200kgtrailer isn't going to tow a E30.

[handpaper]

Update :
Well, it seems like it is possible to get used to anything
As long as speedbumps aren't involved, the ride is tolerable. I did 300 miles on Sunday, towing a 500Kg trailer up and down the M4 and my back and ears don't hurt .
Now looking forward to some fun testing it properly at Llandow on Friday.

[Dunx]

Where did you get the rear damper/coilover? or whats the part number?

[Brian28]

If you haven't been to Llandow before, take it steady around the bottom section for the first few laps. Not a lot there in the way of run off if you get it wrong . Hope Friday goes well.

[no2woody]

can anyone confirm that you are allowed to tow a car on a trailer with a normal license as long as the combined weight is not more than the car towing....

I've been towing a lot on the idea that the weight i'm pulling is less than my disco!!

[iguana]

Woody, all depends on the car,

a discovery for instance can legally tow 3.5t but it weighs sub 2.5t

Most- but not all of the big 4x4s are 3.5t towing weight (my 2.8 pajero was similar weight vehicle but had a lower towing weight, 3.3t I think & something like the Volvo XC90 which isa big 2+ tonne 4x4 has a daftly low towing weight of just over 2t!!

even the massive yank 4x4s are limited to 3.5t legally in UK on a regular tow hitch (on a disco tho you can go to 4.2t with proper linked brakes- not the normal run on jobbies but proper plumbed in to the tow car brakes- like an Artic truck.

For regular cars the tow weight is in the handbook or on line somewhere, its a lot lower that you'd think for many even quite big cars, fine for caterhams on light trailers, but often no good for another saloon car on a heavy trailer

A guide to 4x4 tow weights- (need to search specific spec & year as they do differ quite a bit

http://browsecaravans.com/4X4_towing_weights.htm

[handpaper]

Dunx, all the shiny kit pictured at the beginning of this thread came from Gaz. Since they make all their own parts (except springs; they come from Faulkner) they dont appear to bother with part numbers. Ask for an e30 rear coilover shock and they'll gladly make one and sell it to you

Brian - you're telling a Ringer about lack of runoff At least Llandow doesn't have Armco
But yes, slow and steady at first. I'll have to, it's a Saxo Sports Club trackday, the place will be full of French clutter!
BTW, I think they're still looking to fill a few places - £80 the day, briefing at 0900, track time 1000-1700.

Woody, iguana - start your own bloody thread!
Useful info about towing weights HERE, even more on the rest of the site

[Brian28]

Brian - you're telling a Ringer about lack of runoff At least Llandow doesn't have Armco

I used to do a bit of instructing there on bike track days, was very funny telling the hotshots on the R1s etc to take it handy at the start of the session, they'd straightline the bottom chicane pretty much flat out to impress everybody with how fast they were ( ), then crap it when they realised they were really struggling to make the following right hander, next lap was usually a bit slower

Have a good one

[UweM3]

Woody, all depends on the car,

a discovery for instance can legally tow 3.5t but it weighs sub 2.5t

Most- but not all of the big 4x4s are 3.5t towing weight (my 2.8 pajero was similar weight vehicle but had a lower towing weight, 3.3t I think & something like the Volvo XC90 which isa big 2+ tonne 4x4 has a daftly low towing weight of just over 2t!!

even the massive yank 4x4s are limited to 3.5t legally in UK on a regular tow hitch (on a disco tho you can go to 4.2t with proper linked brakes- not the normal run on jobbies but proper plumbed in to the tow car brakes- like an Artic truck.

For regular cars the tow weight is in the handbook or on line somewhere, its a lot lower that you'd think for many even quite big cars, fine for caterhams on light trailers, but often no good for another saloon car on a heavy trailer

A guide to 4x4 tow weights- (need to search specific spec & year as they do differ quite a bit

http://browsecaravans.com/4X4_towing_weights.htm

it all depends on your type of driving license. Have a read here:
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/Dr ... G_10013073

[casper8r]

You lot sound like you know what you're talking about!

What sort of a suspension set-up is on these cars?



I could care less about lowering the car for looks, this rally setup however doesn't look too uncomfortable for everyday driving and looks like it could take everything you throw at it and then some. This would be different from the usual super-low super-hard track set up, right? So what would it take to get closest to these old rally cars and would it be much less comfortable than standard suspension?

Sorry for a bit of off-topic but I guess it's still on suspension.

[UweM3]

How much?
The front conversion kit of tube, spring seat and locking ring is £13.50 a side,

just ordered my stuff form GAZ but have paid £14.50 PLUS Vat! Do you get trade discount?

while I am waiting for the parts, I thought I'll give the rear's a quick fitment test
full drop


loaded

[handpaper]

The price on the invoice in front of me is 13.50+VAT. Maybe I just beat a price rise; I'm not aware of receiving any discount

Llandow yesterday was quite fun; foggy until the afternoon (the braking point for the chicane was when it became visible )
I tried to take some video (permitted so long as the kit is properly secured), but my kit is acting up; about all I got is this:



A bad wheel bearing called an end to play in the last session; I'm not too fussed as part of the reason for my being there was to find out what was weak before the 'Ring could
The suspension worked very well, felt planted and inspired confidence, likewise the brakes - I now have Pagid White (!) but they never faded and the discs are still straight.

And only one bit of French clutter passed me all day - a very well sorted and driven Saxo VTS. Roughly the same power as me, at least 400Kg less weight and the driver knew the circuit very well.
I call that a result

[Jhonno]

What dampers are you running?

[handpaper]

Jhonno - dampers are Koni adjustable on the front, Gaz coilover rear.

Here's the car that passed me :



PS - Tomson, it wasn't your wheel bearing that failed - I bought the adjustable Konis from rossle on here and he sent me a pair of complete struts Since I had to strip them down to remove the shocks, I thought I might as well build the coilovers with them!
I still have the struts you sold me, less discs and pads (post 'Ring emergency repair) and one wheel bearing used to replace the dead one.

If someone wants a pair of 51mm struts, converted or standard, PM me.

[UweM3]

thought I post some pictures of my progress.

Didn't want to go all the way down with the threaded sleeve like handpaper as the tyre will not allow to move the platform that low anyway. To gain maximum adjustment I have cut one flange of the ARB link off and hammered it perpendicular to the strut (M3 struts!)


sleeve cut down to size and fitted on the strut (110mm long)


welded


this is showing how far I can wind the platform down


that's the whole stack.Tomorrow I am going to fit a shocker

[handpaper]

Prettier welding than mine Uwe, looks good
Have you checked that your main:tender adapter will fit over the threaded tube?
In use, my spring seat isn't wound down very far either, but having the travel will make it possible to fit longer, softer springs that need to be preloaded, without using spring compressors.
As for tyre clearance, I've had a 205/50/15 on the front, with the car dropped as far as is practical (about 40mm) and no rubbing

[UweM3]

Prettier welding than mine Uwe, looks good
Have you checked that your main:tender adapter will fit over the threaded tube?
In use, my spring seat isn't wound down very far either, but having the travel will make it possible to fit longer, softer springs that need to be preloaded, without using spring compressors.
As for tyre clearance, I've had a 205/50/15 on the front, with the car dropped as far as is practical (about 40mm) and no rubbing

I have a TIG welder. My adapter ring is 58mm inside, so fits easy over the threaded section. But I don't think it will no go that low anyway.
The KW springs are larger ID than Faulknersprings.
Forgot to mention, I had the threaded tubes zincplated before I welded them on. Hope that stops the brown pest for a little longer than last time.
Would really like to get the platforms annodised as well, but don't know anybody who would do this on such a short time scale.

[handpaper]

Looks like the KWs are 60mm ID, then. They'll be slightly loose on the 2.25" spring platform but I can't see it being a problem.
Good idea galvanising the tubes, did you have any trouble welding them? Zinc Oxide vapour is nasty stuff, I hope you didn't breathe too much of it.
I've just resigned myself to frequently applying grease
Aluminum's self-passivating finish is only badly attacked by salt, a quick squirt of WD40 or similar should keep the platforms movable at least.
If you want to, you can anodise them yourself with an arc (stick) welder and a bucket of water.......

[UweM3]

Looks like the KWs are 60mm ID, then. They'll be slightly loose on the 2.25" spring platform but I can't see it being a problem.
Good idea galvanising the tubes, did you have any trouble welding them? Zinc Oxide vapour is nasty stuff, I hope you didn't breathe too much of it.
I've just resigned myself to frequently applying grease
Aluminum's self-passivating finish is only badly attacked by salt, a quick squirt of WD40 or similar should keep the platforms movable at least.
If you want to, you can anodise them yourself with an arc (stick) welder and a bucket of water.......

yes 60mm ID, this was one reason to use them in this project. I will fit a small ring on the platform and top hat to keep them centred.
I know about zinc welding, had a nasty encounter with that in the past.
BZP isn't too bad to weld and doesn't smoke too much, but the thick garden fence type zinc coated stuff is NASTY! Don't breath that in, very bad for you.

I would like to annodise all alli parts to stop them corroding, not only salt will give them a hard time. Just the oxygen in the air will do the trick over time. My last setup was seized solid after 3 month and I had to cut the threaded rings off with an angle grinder. They did not move, even with a hammer. (and that was greased up as well)

Just waiting for the machine shop to deliver parts for my solid top mounts and I can install it. I have fitted a shock to the strut yesterday and think I will have plenty of adjustment (fingers crossed). Thought first my spring is too long, but looks like it's just right.

I am going to make some new ARB drop links as well with rod ends to get the ARB back into horizontal position.

[e21Jason]

Hi frost do a kit

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp? ... &subCatID=

Jason

[UweM3]

tarted up

[TRACKM3]

Tart when you down for your wets ?

[UweM3]

Tart when you down for your wets ?

Don't know. Do you want me to send the money?? No problem.

[Jhonno]

V nice!!

[TRACKM3]

Tart when you down for your wets ?

Don't know. Do you want me to send the money?? No problem.

no if your down soon then dont worry, i am now an agent for ATS wheels so every penny helps ?