Nick.Petty Posted March 17, 2003 Share Posted March 17, 2003 Hello all. Now that the motor is in for the 4age lump, Barny and I will be turning our attention to suspension and brakes soon. Currently have Spax on there but something strange about the rear setup in that with no-one in the car the shockers at the back are fully extended, and I mean FULLY ! So much so that the car clonks around if you move it around with no-one sat in it. Standard brakes also. With someone sat in the car so that the springs are slightly compressed the problem is not so bad, but summat ain't right ! Feels a bit 'loose' on the back end also when driving, doesn't exactly inspire confidence. I was wondering about those nylon bushes you can get to harden up all the suspension joints - worth doing ? What are your views, bearing in mind the car will be used a fair deal on the track. Any particular products/setups which would suit? Many thanks as always for your comments. Nick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted March 18, 2003 Share Posted March 18, 2003 Live or independent? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fast Westie Posted March 18, 2003 Share Posted March 18, 2003 Polybushes, and Gaz or Avo shocks. Take some preload off the rear shocks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chazpowerslide Posted March 18, 2003 Share Posted March 18, 2003 It's an early SE, so it's live axle. Seing as the car is a 1988 model, the shocks may well be past their best. I have alloy bodied Avo coilovers and a quick rack from CAT motorsport, made no end of difference. It seems that the general consenus of opinion is that solid discs are plenty good enough for even a race Westfield (vented ones are very heavy) and maybe upgrade the M16 calipers to four pots (available from Westfield for AP, Rally Design for Willwoods, Demon Tweaks for Brembsport, AP ect and CAT Motorstport do their own bespoke caliper at a competitave price) I do not have much experience with pad compounds but I'm sure Mr Blat the Man will be along in a moment to dispence some pearls of wisdom (or tell you to use the search function!!!! Chaz. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted March 18, 2003 Share Posted March 18, 2003 You set 'em up Chaz......... EBC Greenstuff for the front, unless you are a quick track day driver/sprinter, in which case Red's would be better. There also a few people here who use Pagids (RS4's, I think) or Hawk (Ferro Carbon? ? ? Cue Nick M. ) pads with no real issues, except perhaps accellerated disc wear. Discs are cheaper than pads though, so it's not really an important consideration, IMO. For the rear shoes, use something cheap from Halfords. Therer is little point in spending lots of money on trick compounds for the rear shoes, IMO. And yes, unless the Spax are TrakSpax, ditch 'em for AVO's. You WILL be amazed at the difference...... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
westy Posted March 18, 2003 Share Posted March 18, 2003 As part of the process of turning my car into a track day car from sprint I changed the skimmed and drilled discs to solids but kept with the same black hawk pads. I believe the lightened discs had been on the car for a year and were fine due to the usage on sprints but after their second track day the fronts developed cracks around the drilled holes I paid £20 ish quid from rally design for the solid ones and I will let you know how many track days these survive! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick.Petty Posted March 18, 2003 Author Share Posted March 18, 2003 Lots of stuff to digest there so thanks for that all. Think the Avo's plus a quick rack definately sound the way to go. However, our Westy is an independent rear (strange I know for an early one) Does this make a difference ? Would it have left the factory like that or has someone done a bit of a job on it in the past ? I thought it was a live axle until I got it on the trailer and looked underneath properly ! Cheers, Nick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Stanton Posted March 18, 2003 Share Posted March 18, 2003 The factory started producing independents from mid / late 1988. So having an early one is a bonus on two counts: 1. - Escort diff in alloy Westfield casing 2. - Earlier cars ride a lot lower Later model cars have 12" and 14" Avo's - earlier cars try 12" all round - it might just work Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick.Petty Posted March 18, 2003 Author Share Posted March 18, 2003 Mark, That makes sense, the car does sit very low, especially at the back (especially with me in it ) ..... Someone did say to me though that the independent rear was not so good on the track as live axle, whereas I thought it was the other way round ? Will have a go with those 12" AVO's I think. Thanks, Nick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blatman Posted March 19, 2003 Share Posted March 19, 2003 Er.....my '89 SEi has 14" shocks at the rear (12's at the front). I tried 12 inchers on the back, but couldn't get it up enough......... Someone did say to me though that the independent rear was not so good on the track as live axle, whereas I thought it was the other way round ? It's a set up thing. IE, you don't really set up a live axle, you just fit it. There is no adjustment. With an SEi, there are a large number of adjustments that can be made, and if you don't know what you are doing, it'll be crap. However, a properly set up IRS will be better than a live axle. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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