Section : Suspension

GT6 handling

Posted By : Stuart D'Costa, 19-May-2003, 06:21pm

• GT6 handling

  Posted By : Nigel Gibbins, 19-May-2003, 09:21pm

  Hello Stuart,
  
  Yes your car is essentailly correct, the GT6 (and spitfire) should sit a little higher at the front you should have about 2-3 inches of clearance on the front wheelarches. At the rear that can 1-2 inches, dependant on the spring condition.
  
  As for camber, the rear should be a 1-3 degrees negative (leaning in) and the front will normally be about 0-2 positive (leaning out). However, you can 'easily' change the front by shimming the lower wishbones to get the handling you prefer.
  
  NiG
  http://www.niginthecar.net

  • GT6 handling

    Posted By : Stuart D'Costa, 19-May-2003, 09:47pm

    Hi Nigel
    
    Thanks for that, I'll check and adjust the camber if ness tomorrow. I didn't realise you could shim the lower wishbones like that.
    
    Cheers
    
    Stuart

    • GT6 handling

      Posted By : Tim Bancroft, 21-May-2003, 06:25pm

      If the car is sitting high at front why not fit some shorter front springs, most of the Triumph parts boys do them however go to someone like Mark Field at Jigsaw Racing or Dave Pearson at Canley Classics who will advise you on correct type, these springs will introduce some negative camber, if however you require more camber purchase Stanpart shims. Careful though as too much neg. camber can introduce unstable braking. Turn in to corners will be sharper. Shorter springs will also make the ride slightly harder. Once all fitted fully tighten nuts and bolts to correct torque settings with vehicle supported by its own weight. Then take car to a tyre supplier (Ring around as not all have the correct equipment) where they can align the geometry of the suspension of the vehicle to the correct specifications, all 4 wheels should be aligned for castor, camber and toe-in/toe out. These figures can be obtained from the official Triumph workshop manual. As with all these things read up and talk to knowledgeable people.

      • GT6 handling

        Posted By : Laurence Cochrane, 22-May-2003, 00:37am

        At last someone else who knows what he is talking about !!
        

      • GT6 handling

        Posted By : Stuart D'Costa, 22-May-2003, 10:38pm

        Well i got hold of some shims and borrowed a camber guage and set the camber, it seems spot on now though maybe a touch high still so ill get a set of springs and shocks next (spax or koni's ?) and possibly some poly bushes. Thanks for you help.

        • GT6 handling

          Posted By : Tim Bancroft, 23-May-2003, 12:49pm

          Stuart, I have used Koni shockers on my car for about 13 years, brilliant, still seem to work ok. On the subject of bushes, make your choice of grade of bush material depending on type of driving that you will do with car. The first bushes I would change are those to the rear radius arms, as harder bushes will decrease rear end steer/deflection. I don't think that there is any reason why you can't make you car handle reasonably well, however don't make the suspension too stiff as you will need some travel to be able to deal with the appalling condition of the roads in blighty. A great benchmark in handling/ride compromise is the original 60's Lotus Elan which combined great balanced handling with a supple ride due to the available wheel travel. Not so easy in a GT6 owing to heavy weight of the vehicle.
          Hope it all goes well
          Tim.