I'm sure Andy S has answered this before but I can't find the post... :rolleyes:

Can somebody give me a crash course in specifying springs for the back of an S1 please?

I know the dampers are from the front of an Imp so i have found two options for them (Gaz GS4-2249 or Avo PF595) but I know nothing about suitable springs.

I'm looking for a track setup that is tolerable for road use.

Many Thanks,

Mick.

i went for pro-shocks on the front them seem ok going for same on rear about 200 lbs i think with 220 on front .. hmm yer post is in here somewhere tho

On the B+ and S1 Standard shocks and springs are from the Hillman Imp fronts and are rated at 175lbs/in.

My advice is to change to a coil over and use and adaptor or change the top mount to a bolt through type rather than a pin type.

The length of shocker will depend on whether the car is standard or not. Best bet is to take measurements and then select a shocker that will be correct - Dont think that the units fitted as standard are any good for the car as they are not.

175 lb springs are too stiff - my Westy uses 90lb springs the ones on the V8 S1 are 120lb and suit the car quite well but they need to be matched to the front to give the correct balance - most people over spring the rears and kid themselves that its all the power that they (dont) have that make it tail happy rather than cr4p suspension design.

120 rears and 225 front works quite well

Andrew

Thanks Gents,

Andy,

I can only work on the assumption that UUg was fitted with standard Imp springs but my problem is that any moderate bump would bottom out the back end although the cars height doesnt move a mm with two people stud in the tub.

Am I making the mistake of assuming the rating of the rear springs is to blame when it could be that the springs on the front are rated too highly or could this also be down to my lack of ground clearance (115mm between the chassis rails and the deck as previously discussed?)

At the moment handling (assuming you treat the throttle with respect!) :blink: is near perfect so I can afford to uprate the springs to try to prevent the back end hitting the deck.

I hope I'm making sense,

Mick.

hm, I meant STOOD :huh:

That's low for a Dutton without any mods to the chassis I think you will be close to the axle hitting the chassis rails behind the wheels - Mine used to also hit the stupid Panhard connection mounting on the axle into the seat back.

To get my chassis height lower I have cut the rear chassis rails so that I gain an extra 1.25" of axle movement. See the B+ file

Bottoming out is normally a function of the damping and a lack of bump stops rather than the springs being too soft - spring rate is more of an action with roll.

If you are running 115mm and no chassis mods thats far to low and new springs/ shocks will not improve things except for making the car far too hard at the back with a tendency for oversteer.

Mine runs 5 inch chassis clearance and I have 2" of suspension movement - but only after some very significant modifications - The usual chassis clearance is 6-7 inches

Cheers

Andrew

Thanks very much Andy,

Chassis is heavily modified so from what you are saying I will make the assumption that the dampers are shot (they are the type where you have to use the origional imp spring platforms on an uprated damper :o )

I've just come across a Gaz stockist that is available 7 days a week between the hours of 10:00 and 22:00, if they perfomm well I will post thier details later!

Many Thanks,

Mick.