Live Axle Suspension Upgrade

[ChrisS]

I am fed up grounding on speed bumps, can anyone suggest the best/most effective upgrade to overcome the problem?

 

I was thinking of replacing the standard spax shockers with adjustable spring seated shocks but which ones, and do I need new springs as well?

 

Any help or advice would be appreciated.

 

Cheers

[Casbar]

Chris,

 

I have a 90 live axle. I upgraded my supsension to Leda adj from James Whiting. They are quite expensive, but the ride is now very good. You can save about £50.00 by buying direct from Leda. I can advise/help if required. I live in Wilts. My number is 07712 840419, if you need to chat. I went through all the options before deciding on the Leda's

 

Robert

[I.Mupferit]

Go for the progressive rate rear springs if you can, they improve the ride no end as I discovered this year.

[Edward Guest]

What are the recommended spring rates, I have heard the Leda shocks make a vast improvement with 110lb springs for the rear but do either of you two have a differnet views on the springs?

The idea of rising rate looks excellent.

What about the front????

[Casbar]

I went for 110 on the back and 300 on the front. Fully adjustable for height and rate.

 

Robert

[elie boone]

Chris, My live axle is still under construction for nearly two years now blush.gif schoks are Spax front: G600 8.5" long 310 pounds 2 1/4dia.springs rear: G305 12.5" long 140 pounds 2 1/4 dia. springs this is a fast road/track day set up ( springs where made by Faulkner )

elie.

 

 

 

 

[bl0498]

ChrisS,

 

Surely there are two different issues to your question: the performance of the springs/shockers, and raising the ground clearance of the car, presumably at the sump.

 

The performance side first. I replaced the standard spax springs/shockers on my 98 VX scholarship car with the latest factory spec for live axle cars which are progressive Bilsteins and matching springs (approx £300). The maker the car seem a little softer in normal road use but the handling of the car weas completely changed and much more predictable and far nicer to drive - both on the road and the track.

 

Adjustable platforms will let you raise the ground clearance of the car but surely at the detriment to the handling. I suspect you will not be able to raise the level high enough to stop you completely bottoming out on some humps. You may be better off looking at your wheel/tyre combination - if you are running 13 inch wheels with 185/60 tyres then you are at the very low point in clearance. I am sure some of the excellent technical guys on this forum car help here with recommendations.

 

Hope this helps,

 

Brian

[ChrisS]

Thanks guys,

 

It would seem that there is more to this than I first thoughtnly using the 7 for road use I am not too concerned with the ultimate handling.

 

Not only is it the sump that takes the knocks but I keep breaking the jubilee clips that hold the muffler guard, and bottoming out on the rear end.

 

Chris

[Graham Sewell]

I have adjustable height Spax's in my live axle - don't know the spring rates 'cos they came from Arrowstar as their 'club special'. I have the ride height set to 0.5" above that specified in the build manal - this gives me about 4.5" ground clearance under the sump and I haven't hit a speed hump in ages. For road use, the handling doesn't seem to have been compromised to any noticeable degree - either that or I'm not going fast enough cool.gif

 

Cheers,

 

Graham

 

[Casbar]

I have my ride height set as per the recs - Rear just in front of the rear wheel - 155mm. Front, at the point where the floor pan finishes, 140mm. There has to be at least 10-15mm diff between rear and front.

 

This gives me about 3 3/4 inch under sump. I initially set up 140mm measured at the second horizontal bar at the front of the car, that gave me 4 inches under the sump, but was too high. The car started to oversteer, so I lowered to the rec settings and everything seems ok. Remember to set ride height with full tank of gas and someone in the drivers seat.

 

Robert