Britishbest Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 Hi Folks, Currently rebuilding my front suspension while the engine is out of the car for a rebuild. Can you help with a few questions please - I dont know a great deal about adjustable shock absorbers but everybody seems to suggest them, does the adjustability alter the ride height as well as the stiffness, I cant find a definitive answer? If I go this route would you generally need to replace the springs also. Lastly for a Live axle TR4A would I go for a TR4A IRS front shock absorber or a TR4 one? Listings dont say TR4A live axle. Many thanks Colt Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 Hi Colt, the adjustment of the shock/damper does not affect the height. You shouldn't need to change the springs as they do different things. I would have thought that the TR4A front remains the same independent of the rear end. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
peejay4A Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 (edited) +1 for both of Roger's answers. If you want adjustable ride height you'd be looking at a coilover conversion and I've never seen one of those for a TR. I have adjustable shock absorbers all round and it's moot as to whether they're necessary at the front as I have mine set at minimum. Anything more firm results in a nasty ride on our cr@ppy roads. Edited March 21, 2017 by peejay4A Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted March 21, 2017 Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 For a solid axle 4a (as I have) then adjustables on the front (4A ones) set around 6 clicks and uprated rear lever arms work really well with standard springs, a little harsh on rough country tracks but get on the open road and it will handle well with no need for an ARB. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Britishbest Posted March 21, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2017 Thanks guys that's helpful. Stuart I saw an old thread on rear suspension mods of a live axle 4a and no telescopic kits seemed available. Do you know if that's still the case or can they be adapted? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Rockie51 Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 Hi Colt The front suspension on the 4A was quite different from the 4. The lower wishbone mounting was raised to change the front roll centre to go with the new roll centre of the independent rear. I presume that they standardised that for all 4As even with a live axle. If your lower suspension mount is above the chassis, you have the 4A mounts. Have they been strengthened with the after market kit? Rimmers list different springs and shocks for 4s and 4As so you will need to identify which one you have. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Britishbest Posted March 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 I definately have 4a so that's what I'll go with. I don't yet have a reinforcement kit and do have slight damage to one mount. The car will be stripped fully in a few years. I think Pete makes a good point that the roads are so crappy with potholes that standard may be just fine if adjustable offer no improvement at that end of the scale. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 Thanks guys that's helpful. Stuart I saw an old thread on rear suspension mods of a live axle 4a and no telescopic kits seemed available. Do you know if that's still the case or can they be adapted? TBH I would go with the original front springs if they are still OK and also the same with the rears as the only replacement rear spring is too cambered and so the car sits high at the rear. There is no conversion for rear tube shocks for them and TBH I wouldnt bother just get your rears uprated by 25% by Stevsons http://www.stevsonmotors.co.uk Stuart Quote Link to post Share on other sites
DaveN Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 I think Pete makes a good point that the roads are so crappy with potholes that standard may be just fine if adjustable offer no improvement at that end of the scale. Hi I urge everyone to do what I do and report potholes and damaged roads. Once you get used to your councils website there is normally a 'Report it' tab or similar. For example Slough Council consider anything over 50mm (2inches) to be in urgent need of repair! South Bucks measure in the diameter of a football .However for the sake of a few minutes of your time I think its worth it. Currently a road to near me is single lane and traffic light controlled because I've kept reporting damage. dave Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Britishbest Posted March 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 Thanks Guys. Stuart what does uprated by 25% actually mean? Is this uprated stiffness so internal mods are done? Sorry if a silly question. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
stuart Posted March 22, 2017 Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 Thanks Guys. Stuart what does uprated by 25% actually mean? Is this uprated stiffness so internal mods are done? Sorry if a silly question. Yes exactly that, they are re-valved internally to provide the extra absorbency. Stuart. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Britishbest Posted March 22, 2017 Author Report Share Posted March 22, 2017 Thankyou Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PYU940F Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hi Pete I am new to the TR register (I have just renewed membership after a 25 year absence. I bought my 4A in 1975 had it restored in 1985 and now have I just retired I am doing all the jobs I have meant to do over the last 30 years. I am putting slightly lowered and stiffer springs, plus adjustable shocks all round (Spax), The kit from Rimmer came with the type 1 attach brackets that only mount onto the wheel arch. I am not happy that this is robust enough so thinking the type 2 or 2A attachment brackets may be the answer. I see from your post you have telescopic all round. What attach brackets did you use? I have removed the old lever dampers and tried to remove the lower bumper stops (in anticipated of putting on the type 2A ) but could not undo the nut.. Is this welded on so the stop just unscrews or does the nut eventually give way. The nut is not easily accessible because of the bracket. Advice most welcome Thanks Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hi Simon, where abouts are you. These rear suspension brackets are very strong and do not rattle the body about. http://www.trshop.co.uk/special.html scroll down to 'steering & suspension' - the brackets with the koni's (Apprx £299) The bump stop should unscrew but they do rust in nicely. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
monty Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hi I urge everyone to do what I do and report potholes and damaged roads. Once you get used to your councils website there is normally a 'Report it' tab or similar. For example Slough Council consider anything over 50mm (2inches) to be in urgent need of repair! South Bucks measure in the diameter of a football .However for the sake of a few minutes of your time I think its worth it. Currently a road to near me is single lane and traffic light controlled because I've kept reporting damage. dave You might report them in Gloucestershire, as I do, but do not hold your breath waiting for them to be fixed! The ones I have reported take many weeks to get fixed & then in the typical cheap shoddy way that is usual. Back to he same condition they were. Go to Cheltenham, one of more wealthier UK towns I would suggest, & see the state of many of the roads! A disgrace! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hi Monty, the good thing about reporting the potholes is that the Council can;t get out of compensation by saying they didn;t know. If it is reported then the council become responsible for any damage caused. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Graham Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hi Monty, the good thing about reporting the potholes is that the Council can;t get out of compensation by saying they didn;t know. If it is reported then the council become responsible for any damage caused. Roger Thats unless your local council does what they do out here in Bucks, they simply stick a 'temporary road surface' sign at one end of the road, one a the other, then they can deny all culpabilty for the whole road ! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PYU940F Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hi Roger Thanks for the response. Yes those attachment brackets are the type 2A. I received type 1 brackets (do not attach to the chassis) with the kit from Rimmers, I think I will swap them for the type 2A, as long as I can remove the wretched bump stops! You say it unscrews. Does that mean the nut it screws into is of the captive/welded type? How do you find your telescopic shocks? Big improvement? I ask because reading the posts it appears that Stuart the TR Guru is not a fan of them. I am in Westerham Kent. By the way were you ex BA? Cheers Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hi Simon, the struts have been a very good improvement compared to what I had originally. However, what I had originally was probably rubbish. If I had used new, quality levers then I would probably be just as happy. Stuarts post #8 gives a link to someone who can provide very good levers - this would be very cost effective as you don;t need the brackets. If you suffer form excessive negative camber then the tyres can rub against the struts. As you load up the boot the camber goes more negative. Yes, I'm still ex BA. Retired in 2009 Had a finger in running the NDT unit at LHR. Were/are you at BA. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
PYU940F Posted April 10, 2017 Report Share Posted April 10, 2017 Hi Roger I will stick with my spax and use the type 2A brackets. I was BA from 1969 until 1992 when I took voluntary redundancy. VC10's then DC10's (Air New Zealand) and then the flying deferred defect the Tristar (yuck). Just put on brand new 5.5 wire wheels as the originals were awful. There is still a very small vibration 40-80 mph which I do not think is balance. Have you done the poly bush swap at the front end? Cheers Simon Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RogerH Posted April 11, 2017 Report Share Posted April 11, 2017 Hi Simon, poly bushes all round. Compared to quality standard bushes they are about the same, but should not deteriorate. Roger Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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