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Section : Suspension

Suspension and steering

Harsh ride

Posted By : Crispin Allen, 30-Apr-2003, 05:35pm

I have recently overhauled my suspension front and rear, new trunion bushes, ball joints, track rod ends, wishbone and radius arm bushes, new shocks, springs (not new, but sound). Springs and shocks as standard, not uprated, standard wheels & tyres. On smooth roads and speed bumps it is perfect, however it is still a harsh ride over any imperfections in the road surface. Any ideas?

Followups :

Harsh ride

Posted By : William Davies, 30-Apr-2003, 08:50pm

Have you set your toe-ins (front and rear) correctly? Camber angle will also affect harshness of ride - easily adjusted by shims at the front, more of a problem at the rear.
All suspension bolts should only be tightened once the car is sat back on it's four wheels and levelled (roll back and fore a few times). There are specific static loading conditions specified in the manual, but just levelling the car will be good enough in most instances.
Cheers,
Bill.
- Harsh ride
  
  Posted By : Crispin Allen, 01-May-2003, 10:25am
  
  Hi Bill
  Yes, I tightened the bolts with 68kg on each seat plus extra load in the boot to get 2&176;Neg at the rear. Toe in, I think is alright because tyre wear is even, however i will check it.
  Thanks.
  Crispin
Harsh ride

Posted By : Matthew Holland, 03-May-2003, 06:11pm

Could it be that the new bushes are just a little less compliant than the probably knackered old ones?

When ever I begin to think my herald's susepnsion is a little harsh I just take my '55 Landrover out for a spin. Makes the herald feel like a limousine

Matt