rooflessdriver Posted April 5, 2011 Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 For a non techie like me, is there any correlation between the compression of a coilover spring, due to changes in ride height, and the damping setting on an adjustable shock. I.e. if you raise or lower the ride height by adjusting the spring on its perch, should the damping be adjusted accordingly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted April 5, 2011 Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 No not on Gaz, the only time you change the damper setting is if you change the coil preload. On GAZ this would only happen if the car is set to high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted April 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 Ok. I've heard coil preload mentioned before, can you explain what that means please. ta Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted April 5, 2011 Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 So not to over complicate things let's stick with the GAZ coilovers.... The damper shaft has a bump and droop range which is the optimum working range, if you decided for example to raise the body to an extent the damper shaft has no droop you would then start to pre-load the coils by closing the gap between the helix's. If you went to low on droop the coils would become loose and chatter. Helper coils can remove the chatter..... Historically when setting the coilovers the "chatter" is taken out while the damper is on full droop, the reason for this is if you pre-load the coils you also change the rate but this change cannot be measured. Seat of your pants driving and blind bump/ rebound damper adjustment would work but it's very time consuming. In summary, outside of competition zero pre-load is the norm. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted April 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 5, 2011 ok, that makes sense. I think I need to book a return visit when i get back from hols. After the Gaz Gold Pro's were fitted, everything was great for few weeks. (See my extensive thread ) I then started scraping more and more going over speed cushions until the point that I have marks on the cat, one of the chassis braces and the exhaust back box. I measured the rear suspension, wheel centre to wheel arch, and it had dropped from 325mm to 300mm. Having re-adjusted it to 325mm I am now getting a clonk as the rear wheels reach the speed cushion. Looking at the blue collar perches, they look like they are almost to the top of the thread, and the measurement from the bottom collar to the blue edge at the bottom of the thread is around 110mm. I'm wondering if the helix are crunching together. My initial reaction was to consider adjusting the shock setting from its original setting of 7, but not sure which way it should go. Hence the question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted April 6, 2011 Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 I think it's one i need to see....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted April 6, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 6, 2011 thanks tony. Will book in when I get back from hols. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted April 25, 2011 Author Report Share Posted April 25, 2011 Back from hols and the car is getting lower! The clonking noise continued, so I wondered if it was due to the adjustments I had made to try and get back to 325mm wheel centre to arch, so as an experiment, I reset the height to 85mm, as Joe had done, (photo below) I had to laugh, as the wheels were tucked up in the wheel arches! Whilst making the adjustments, I did notice that the outer surfaces of the springs were dusty, but the tops were clean, so it looks almost like the helix are touching under compression ? Will call WIM's tomorrow to see if I can get the car booked in and checked. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted May 19, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 19, 2011 Took the car in to WIM and Joe took the car out for a drive and had a look on the ramps. Initial reactions are the rear springs are too short and the suspension is topping out. Waiting on a call from Derek at GAZ as he wants to have a look at the rear suspension first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 FFS why is there such a catalogue of problems with suspension on a well rehearsed product. p**ses me off when this happens because the MX5 suspension is hardly a mystery by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted May 20, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 I know Tony. Its especially annoying after how well the car felt just after Joe did his magic on it. For a week or so the car was just a joy to throw round the country lanes on the way to and from work. I'm sure once Derek gets in touch to go in and get it checked out, it will be ok. Otherwise I will sell it all and revert back to stock! lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted May 20, 2011 Report Share Posted May 20, 2011 Derek is in my sights + Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted May 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 Still no word from Derek Starting to wonder if the shocks are topping out so much if they are going to end up damaged? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted May 28, 2011 Report Share Posted May 28, 2011 I saw him this week and he told me your car and him will be at the centre anytime soon. He said he would contact you, this was Thursday but in truth he was on the way to the races at the time....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted June 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 I saw him this week and he told me your car and him will be at the centre anytime soon. He said he would contact you, this was Thursday but in truth he was on the way to the races at the time....... i'm guessing derek did well at the races and is off on a round the world cruise as no word from him. Its getting worse now, especially with a passenger onboard. My girlfriend, who knows nothing about cars, kept saying 'oops' every time they banged but with it happening around 30 times on the way to work, the amusement factor wore thin rapidly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 4, 2011 Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 I think Derek is hanging back because of me..... Last time we met he said he will invite you to wim and deal with the complaint as a product solution curve, but since then i have been off, then in and then off.... at the moment GAZ cannot offer a solution until i get my work boots on again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted June 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 I think Derek is hanging back because of me..... Last time we met he said he will invite you to wim and deal with the complaint as a product solution curve, but since then i have been off, then in and then off.... at the moment GAZ cannot offer a solution until i get my work boots on again. completely understand tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted June 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 Any news from derek? I'm going to japfest 2 at donington park on 10thjuly then a driving hols in wales for a few days after, so would be good to have some decent suspension! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 I thought you had been in contact with him? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted June 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 Nope. He hasn't called me at all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 Nope. He hasn't called me at all. Pm me your number and i'll get on to him again Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted July 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 Now booked in at Gaz on thursday to measure up rods. Seems there is a difference between the rear suspension on a Mk2.5 and a Mk2. Gaz, (Derek), bought a MK2 car to develop on, rather than just use mk1 setup. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted July 18, 2011 Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 You would think they know that by now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rooflessdriver Posted July 18, 2011 Author Report Share Posted July 18, 2011 You would think they know that by now. Derek had to go out to another mk2.5 with exactly same symptoms as mine but as I am nearer he has asked me to take my car in to be measured up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Posted July 19, 2011 Report Share Posted July 19, 2011 At least he's reacting to the problem. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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