There is no logic in your assertuon that one component will not improve the
handling/ride
Just think about it and you will see why. Thus, logically, adding a single
component may (or may not) improve your handling/ride!
At 11:24 AM 6/10/00 -0700, Dodd, Kelvin wrote:
>Stock vs Modified! RANT MODE WARNING!
>
> Any time you make a modification to a stock car you had better make
>sure you have come up with a better idea than the factory had.
>
> It is unusual to change one component, and have a better system.
>Chances are to get any real improvement, many subtle changes need to be made
>to optimise the new components.
>
> Bolting tube shocks onto a B changes the Damper component of a
>Mass/Damper/Spring system. Think about it!
>
> Given a unique mass distribution of the vehicle. Given a unique
>loading of the suspension. The Damper/Spring components can be optimised
>for best ride and/or handling (USUALLY NOT THE SAME THING!)
>
> Buying some off the shelf component, and bolting it on your car is
>not optimising the system.
>
> There are NO proven, optimised systems for improving the handling of
>the MGB!!
>
> There are lots of bits. That if matched up, can improve the
>handling of a car in a specific usage.
>
> If you intend to modify the Mass/Damper/Spring system on your
>vehicle for better ride or handling either spend the cubic dollars and get
>the highest quality adjustable shocks you can find, or learn how to adjust
>the damping of the lever arms. Arguing whether lever shocks are better than
>tube is farcical. Tube shocks can be built with any combination of bounce
>and jounce damping. An adjustable tube shock can be set up to match changes
>in spring rate, and/or mass transfer. The ultimate suspension set up would
>be infinitely adjustable spring rate, suspension travel and damping rate.
> The coil over front kit, that came out of England was a good try.
>It gave a choice of spring rates, height adjustment and adjustable damping.
>Retrofitting an existing crossmember and production costs restricted the
>utility of the system. I'm still playing with bits to see what is workable.
>Guess what? It was bloody expensive. Guess what else? Correctly set up
>the system was wonderful. My guess is that most of the systems out there
>ride like carts because the owners have the dampers cranked way too high.
>The main complaint we had was shocks blowing out, hmmm I wonder why?
>
> Ok, enough of a rant. If you want to save money, leave your
>suspension stock. Put on a new set of lever arms when the old ones wear
>out. You drive a 1950s car with all it's lovable foibles.
> If you want to make the car handle better, spend cubic dollars on
>tires. Then spend cubic dollars on suspension bits until you have a SYSTEM
>that works correctly for the way you drive.
>
> But please don't tell me that the overall handling of an MGB can be
>improved by changing one system component.
>
>
>Kelvin. Who really does not want to be at work on Saturday. I want to be
>at home working on my 73 BGT. whimper.
>
>
Regards
Barrie Robinson
barrier@bconnex.net
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