caterhamnut Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Not on my car - on our neighbour Steve's R300 Looking at the part numbers, car is fitted with standard progressive springs and 'standard' dampers (with platforms) I was showing him the adjustable dampers on our car whilst I had the boot floor out, and the difference it made to the 'bounce-test' when you have the dampers on full 'soft' and full 'hard' (I know it is the speed really, but you know what I mean) We then went to 'bounce' hid rear 😳 and the car is very very stiff indeed - but more worryingly, the return of the dampers could be measured in seconds - ie: you bounce the car down, then watch as it takes about 2 seconds to return to the ride height! I suggested this wasn't correct. The car certainly feels very very harsh on the bumpy roads near us... What could be causing this - standard springs/dampers, so be surprised if it is them...so could some joints be too tight? A-frame? He also has a watts-linkage fitted. Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Angus, Is it both sides? I'd suggest a failed damper. The bushes usually cracks rather than get stuck. Could it be race dampers he has on the car? /r Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 RJ - nope, even - both sides - part numbers say 'standard'. Another opinion here has suggested it is all fine - that when someone is in the car it isn't an issue, and the stiff ride is down to the 15" wheels/low profile tyres. I'm not overly convinced - my car has stiffer springs and is 'softer'! Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Edited by - angus&tessa on 5 Jul 2009 16:20:53 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FunkySon Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Sorry to hear Steve's having problems. It was always on the stiff side from when it was built but I had nothing to compare it to at the time. When I swapped it I put the better ride quality down to the change to 13 inch wheels and the setting on the anti-roll bar (unless it's changed Steve's R300 is on the middle setting whereas my 500 is on the softest). Regards Duncan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 Duncan - its ok - don't think he is having problems after all - just rtrying some 13" wheels - seems to make a big difference - ie: low profile tyres may be more of an issue! Its still a superb and very well looked after car, which he is delighted with!! Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 If it takes seconds for the ride-height to return to normal on the bounce test, surely this suggests that the dampers will pack-down in use and swallow up available travel...? 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester Racing 7s Ecosse™ 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 🙆🏻 Alcester-Racing-Sevens.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 Back from test drive - looks like some spotless 15" with CR500's might be for sale soon! 😬 Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 [i've still never seen such a slow return on the dampers though.... ] Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Angus, I think I have a set of standard dampers and springs on the shelf somewhere. Would you want to borrow them for a test? I think I'm passing your area Friday (a couple of times that is) /r-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted July 5, 2009 Author Share Posted July 5, 2009 Hi Regin - very kind, but all is well now. We've moved down to near Guildford since we last saw you - if it is this direction you are coming, then pop in anyway! Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveCC Posted July 5, 2009 Share Posted July 5, 2009 Thanks Angus for posting this and RJ for the kind offer via Angus The car is great although I find the ride very harsh at the rear compared to Angus’s car over the dreadful roads we have here in Godalming (and Surrey in general). A quick test with the 13” wheels and higher profile tyres felt noticeably better for me so I’m switching as soon as possible and will sell the 15” wheels to help fund the change. Duncan, the car actually handles really well. Along with the change of wheels I’ll be trying the soft setting on the ARB too. Cheers Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul jacobs Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Even with the 15" wheels, using standard road spring/shockers, the ride shouldn't have been so firm, and altering the a/r bar won't really change the ride that much as it is more of a side to side spring, so my guess is that for some reason, the builder has been supplied [probably from new], with some incorrectly valved shocker units. The best thing would be to buy some new ones, and at least eliminate faulty units from the equation. The rear should be set up reasonably softly anyway, otherwise it will not only give an uncomfortable ride, but will be all over the place on a bumpy road. Paul J. Can you ever have too much power? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveCC Posted July 6, 2009 Share Posted July 6, 2009 Thanks for the comments Paul, You may be right about the dampers, it does seem odd the way the car slowly rises after a good shove down although this may be common?? I don’t know. Not sure how big a job swapping them out is but I might try some others at some point to see the difference especially if ultimately a softer back end suits me and helps give me more confidence. That said, a very experienced Caterham driver gave it a blast down some bumpy roads and said it was in the ‘sweet spot’ - in his hands with 13” wheels attached it did seem fine from the passenger seat. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rj Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 It takes at least ten minutes to swap them. Move seat forwards, jack car remove wheel, remove grommet behind seat undo cap head bolt, undo lower bolt. Refit in opposite order. /r Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Willie. Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Have the rear bush bolts (Trailing arms and A-Frame) been torqued when the car was on its wheels with normal payload? Could be that they've been torqued when on stands, or maybe with dampers off and the slow return is due to the rubber bushes having to twist excessively. Willie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F355GTS Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Angus/ Steve - Angus has mail re a possible wheel solution Mark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveCC Posted July 7, 2009 Share Posted July 7, 2009 Willie and RJ, thank you, that gives me some ideas and a few things to try. I will let you know how it goes after the weekend (if the rain lets up long enough to get the car out of the garage, that is) Mark, thanks, will check in with Angus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted July 7, 2009 Author Share Posted July 7, 2009 Willie - that is certainly something I had considered - we'll check at the weekend. Got the mail - cheers Mark - YHM back! Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gridgway Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 taking seconds to regain height cannot possibly be right, nor can it be solved with 13" wheels rather then 15". I'd say problem masked rather than fixed. Def investigate the dampers. Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
captain chaos Posted July 8, 2009 Share Posted July 8, 2009 I don't know the shocks in question but what about the rebound settings on the damper? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted July 8, 2009 Author Share Posted July 8, 2009 Graham - agree entirely. Ignoring PC's advice We'll take the dampers/springs out of the equation and see if everything moves freely. Dampers are non-adjustable in this case - not to say they weren't wrong from the beginning, but we'll wait and see - will report our findings! Just went for an evening blat in ours (with Steve) and even with 325lb springs on the front of ours it feels softer than Steves car!! Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gridgway Posted July 12, 2009 Share Posted July 12, 2009 what news? Graham Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted July 12, 2009 Author Share Posted July 12, 2009 urrr - too much pffaffing means it looks like a weekday evening job! Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmaninshed Posted July 19, 2009 Share Posted July 19, 2009 Just a thought.... check that the waisted sections of the link arms between the chassis and the de-dion tube have been fitted round the right way (facing outwards). This is obvious I know, but having had a similar problem recently, found mine were round the wrong way. They were jammed tight against the rear brake calipers, which were wearing them away nicely, restricting suspension movement and causing lots of noises and vibrations to travel around the car. Someone else built the car, and I recently had a post-build check at the factory....but they missed it 😳 😳 😳. After 1000 miles of rather less than perfect motoring, an engineer friend found the problem in 30 seconds. Hope you get it sorted. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caterhamnut Posted July 19, 2009 Author Share Posted July 19, 2009 - haven't got round to checking anything yet, but will report back. Angus's Adventures in Sevenland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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