Handling seems pants

pol · Post by **pol** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 10:23 pm

Hi all.

I've been feeling that my car just doesn't handle as well as it should. Feels a bit 'wandery' up the front and just seems to lack responsiveness from steering wheel to wheels. I replaced my worn wishbone bushes recently and don't think it made any difference.

I can't really remember what it used to handle like, but just know I don't like it at the moment.

Is there anything that will make a drastic improvement to my car's handling? Anything else known to wear (like bushes)??

Thanks,

pol

pol · Post by **pol** » Sat Jan 27, 2007 10:25 pm

Just read some advice from John Turbo in another post about having tracking adjusted after wishbone replacement.. Is the same true for the bushes?

pol

JohnTurbo · Post by **JohnTurbo** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:14 am

Specifically its the bushes.

Shoulda seen what the new bushes did to my tyre-wear too!

Get it tracked.

pol · Post by **pol** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:26 am

OK dude, will do.

I'll be looking at doing other bushes / linkages too depending on whatthe general opinion is here.

I was thinking of replacing all 4 shocks + springs but not wanting to spend loads on koni's / whatever. I hear a lot of talk of bilstein - the kit seems a good price, but also people don't seem t want to use their rears.

Also seems to be different types of sachs dampers.

Any tips?

pol

pol · Post by **pol** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 1:23 pm

Tracking done - a noticable difference. Apparantly it was out by 3 degrees which sounds a fair ammount..

pol

hayabusa · Post by **hayabusa** » Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:58 pm

pol wrote:OK dude, will do.

I'll be looking at doing other bushes / linkages too depending on whatthe general opinion is here.

I was thinking of replacing all 4 shocks + springs but not wanting to spend loads on koni's / whatever. I hear a lot of talk of bilstein - the kit seems a good price, but also people don't seem t want to use their rears.

Also seems to be different types of sachs dampers.

Any tips?

pol

There are different grades of Bilsteins, same with Koni.... you get what you pay for really.
Dont make the mistake of going for 2.25" coilovers for road use though ( or even 10 position adjustable damping... you wouldnt use its capabilities).
A set of gas shocks & heavy duty standard ride height springs would transform handling without compromising camber angles.

To put it in perspective, I had an '89 Ford Orion 1.8 diesel about 10 years ago, it had worn out suspension when I got it so I bought 4 Lesjofors heavy duty standard length springs & 4 Gabriel gas shocks, for the first couple of weeks it was harsh as hell until they settled then I didnt need to slow for corners & could go round the outside of Ford XR3i's in the bends.... best Â£220 I ever spent.
A sensible upgrade like that on a 480 would feel considerably better than it did on my Orion

pol · Post by **pol** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 9:21 am

Hmmm... Sounds good! No, I don't won't to spend silly money on shocks but don't want anything less than the standard spec - Uprated a bit would be nice. The handling has improved a lot with the tracking, but i'd like more!

What else do people reccomend as a nice setup?

pol

Ettore Bugatti · Post by **Ettore Bugatti** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:11 pm

Why not original Volvo springs with orginal dampers( I believe from Sachs)? Volvo has several dampers and springs for the 400-series.
Then you kow for sure that the springs are matched with the dampers.

pol · Post by **pol** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:23 pm

Perhaps... I wouldn't mind going a little lower too... But not if it is going to reduce handling - i want improvements!

pol

Ettore Bugatti · Post by **Ettore Bugatti** » Mon Jan 29, 2007 12:27 pm

If you could post your identification colour marks on your springs. It should be easy to find some stiffer and shorter springs.