"Float", like a Cadillac...

Suspension related stuff goes in here.
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opus10583
Posts: 861
Joined: Tue May 03, 2011 7:13 am
Your car is a: 1978 CS1
Location: Westchester County, NY

"Float", like a Cadillac...

Post by opus10583 »

Hi,

'78 CS1; all new suspension rubber (upper and lower front arms and rear trailing arms, Panhard rod), new GR2 shocks and VAS crap springs, LF shock tower repaired, summer of '11; LR shock mount repaired last summer, new 195/60-14 Sumitomos last fall:

...Front end floats like a DeVille sedan.

I know people fear the GR2s, but the gas is just there to keep the oil from foaming, these aren't Citroen actuators...

Is it as simple as "bogus springs + insufficient rebound stiffness"?

Spider-Point springs + Konis, then?

Thanks,
Mark
...Yes; I know what it means: Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino.

DOLCETTO: 1978 CS1; 10:1, DMS, 4-2-1...
ANDIAMMO: 2012 500 ABARTH

Acquista il Biglietto; Prendere la Gita! - Hunter S. Thompson
narfire
Posts: 3959
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: "Float", like a Cadillac...

Post by narfire »

I have IAP red's all around. had cut 1 coil from the rears with the GR2's but after putting Koni yellows on I went back to the uncut red springs on the rear and 1" front bar. 15 inch 205/50's and the car is soooo much nicer than what I had before..
No float at all. I do notice the crown in the highway when 100 kph or more but it is not really that bad. Think the wide tires cause that feed-back.
On another note, I did have low tire pressure in one rear tire...around 20 psi, and did notice "float" when driving above 50-60 kph.
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
weekend warrior
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 11:39 pm
Location: Sydney Australia

Re: "Float", like a Cadillac...

Post by weekend warrior »

I've put new bushes, ball joints, lowered progressive springs, yellow konis and 195/50 15 Michelin pilots on, sticks to the road like s**t to a blanket, as you can see,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ9R-3If ... ata_player
User avatar
opus10583
Posts: 861
Joined: Tue May 03, 2011 7:13 am
Your car is a: 1978 CS1
Location: Westchester County, NY

Re: "Float", like a Cadillac...

Post by opus10583 »

narfire wrote:I have IAP red's all around. had cut 1 coil from the rears with the GR2's but after putting Koni yellows on I went back to the uncut red springs on the rear and 1" front bar. 15 inch 205/50's and the car is soooo much nicer than what I had before..
No float at all. I do notice the crown in the highway when 100 kph or more but it is not really that bad. Think the wide tires cause that feed-back.
On another note, I did have low tire pressure in one rear tire...around 20 psi, and did notice "float" when driving above 50-60 kph.
Thanks.

What model year and did the IAP Reds appreciably lower the car?

Ciao,
Mark
...Yes; I know what it means: Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino.

DOLCETTO: 1978 CS1; 10:1, DMS, 4-2-1...
ANDIAMMO: 2012 500 ABARTH

Acquista il Biglietto; Prendere la Gita! - Hunter S. Thompson
User avatar
opus10583
Posts: 861
Joined: Tue May 03, 2011 7:13 am
Your car is a: 1978 CS1
Location: Westchester County, NY

Re: "Float", like a Cadillac...

Post by opus10583 »

weekend warrior wrote:I've put new bushes, ball joints, lowered progressive springs, yellow konis and 195/50 15 Michelin pilots on, sticks to the road like s**t to a blanket, as you can see,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZ9R-3If ... ata_player
Dude, you're on the wrong side of the road!

...But seriously; which source for the springs?

Thanks,
Mark
...Yes; I know what it means: Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino.

DOLCETTO: 1978 CS1; 10:1, DMS, 4-2-1...
ANDIAMMO: 2012 500 ABARTH

Acquista il Biglietto; Prendere la Gita! - Hunter S. Thompson
narfire
Posts: 3959
Joined: Sat Dec 27, 2008 2:14 am
Your car is a: 1980 124 spider
Location: Naramata B.C.

Re: "Float", like a Cadillac...

Post by narfire »

opus10583 wrote:What model year and did the IAP Reds appreciably lower the car?
The car is an 80 FI. And no the springs did not lower the car when I had the G2's. I had left the front springs alone as I have read that if you muck with the geometry, off to the alignment shop you should go. The lower "A" arms should be as close to parallel to the road as possible and I thought chopping the front springs might change that.
The rear with stock reds and g2's were high enough that I cut one coil. Lowered it nicely and was happy.
When I went to the yellow Koni's, the front was the same but the rear was now lower and I did not like the stance, kind of nose high, so I sourced or traded for a set of uncut reds,put them on and the stance is fine for me.
With uncut IAP reds and Koni yellow
Image
80 FI spider
72 work in progress
2017 Golf R ( APR Stg. 1)
2018 F350 crew long box
weekend warrior
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 11:39 pm
Location: Sydney Australia

Re: "Float", like a Cadillac...

Post by weekend warrior »

opus10583 wrote:...But seriously; which source for the springs?
I got them a while back,

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Tieferlegung ... 850wt_1302
lanciahf

Re: "Float", like a Cadillac...

Post by lanciahf »

Mark,

Do you still have the tube bumpers installed?

Ralph
weekend warrior
Posts: 95
Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 11:39 pm
Location: Sydney Australia

Re: "Float", like a Cadillac...

Post by weekend warrior »

lanciahf wrote:Do you still have the tube bumpers installed?
I also removed those and fitted the harrington ones. Weighed the originals at 37kg!!
User avatar
opus10583
Posts: 861
Joined: Tue May 03, 2011 7:13 am
Your car is a: 1978 CS1
Location: Westchester County, NY

Re: "Float", like a Cadillac...

Post by opus10583 »

lanciahf wrote:Mark,

Do you still have the tube bumpers installed?

Ralph
Hi Ralph,

I do, have a set of <'75s for next year.

Thanks,
Mark
...Yes; I know what it means: Fabbrica Italiana Automobili Torino.

DOLCETTO: 1978 CS1; 10:1, DMS, 4-2-1...
ANDIAMMO: 2012 500 ABARTH

Acquista il Biglietto; Prendere la Gita! - Hunter S. Thompson
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