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Suspension probs Ruining Supra experience


jot_ie
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This handling problem is absolutely wrecking my head

 

To be honest I am half thinking of selling the car. The poor handling is ruining the whole experience of having a supra.

 

I have had the suspension checked totally, including bushes etc.

All seem fine or so I am told.

I had the 4 wheel laser alignment done again last weekend.

Its bloody worse than ever it was.

 

I am inclined to think that there isn't a machanic in Ireland who knows their arse from their elbow.....

 

Rip off merchants, every single one that I have encountered here.

 

John

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Sorry if I missed some previous posts about this - I'm no expert but have a few glitches with my car and am looking into possible causes - Heres the stuff several people told me to have checked if allignment came out ok:

 

Is the problem front/rear, have you had the subframe bolts checked, has the top mounts and dampers been checked for movement? If front have you replaced the track rod ends?

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Homer

Many thanks for your reply

 

This thread is the one that pertains most to me

 

http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=41646&highlight=scary

 

I have a message or two in there, and a few other posts on the same topic

 

Except mine doesnt make a sound.

Appears to be rock solid( from a noise pointg of view), no squeaks, rattles etc

I have almost all the possibilities checked by so called mechanics here in Ireland.

 

I did the sub-frame bolts myself- that way I could be sure it was done properly.

 

The car does the "wiggle" thing, basically wiggles from side to side, not rapidly.

 

My wife drove it last night for the first time in ages. She will readily admit to knowing absolutely nothing at all about cars, and noticed the poor handling immediately.

 

To me, this whole suspension thing is a black art. i know nothing about it.

 

John

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John, are you sure it's not just because of badly worn roads. I have major problems when driving in the 'slow' lane of motorways and most dual carriageways here in the UK. The car tracks badly and I have to constantly give steering adjustment. In the 'fast' lane it drives straight as an arrow as the road surface is much smoother and has no 'ruts' from the HGV's.

 

Just a thought....

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John

What wheels and tyres are you running? Oddball sizes and offsets may have a dramatic effect on handling. If they are not standard size, it would be nice if you could find someone with a set of stock wheels and tyre sizes for you to try. Tyre pressures are also very important.

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Homer

 

Pretty sure.

Most of my weekly driving is on the motorway

I take the motorway to work every morning and home again every evening.

This section is only open a year or so.

 

A new section opened just over a week ago, so I took the car for a spin on a brand new surface, for exactly the reason you specified.

Handling exactly the same, crap.

 

If I do take it on the poorer quality, older country roads, for which Ireland is so famous, its like driving an abused shopping trolley. Its a wrestling match just to keep it on the road sometimes, that would be on a very poor surface to be honest.

The whole thing is making me very disillusioned at this stage.

Nobody here has a single clue whats wrong.

 

I have spent an absolute fortune on getting it checked and alignments so far, and its still crap

 

John

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Quite honestly if I'd been messed around and couldn't find a local specialist, I'd bite the bullet and go to Chris Wilson.

 

I know he's a fair distance for you but probably no further than many of the south east UK people travel to see him. It'll set you back a few euro's but at least you know FOR SURE that any faults will be found and fixed.

 

Next step for me is a local check with the MAX-GT guys, if they can't solve it then I'm going to make the trek to Chris Wilson...

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Gordon

 

The wheels and tyres are pretty much in keeping with what most people here have.

 

I have 235 40 r18 on front and 265 35 r 18 on back (Bridgestone so3's)

The rims are kosei rg titaniums.

 

Unfortunately there are very few supras around here (an added attraction to owning the car in the first place) for me to try stock tyres/wheels.

Any I have seen dont have their stock wheels anymore.

John

 

 

 

Merckx

 

I did have a quick poke around the supraforums site.

I didn't come up with much to be honest.

Some of the cars with suspension probs on this bbs have displayed similar handling problems.

 

With you guys just across the water, I trust your opinions more

 

John

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Quite honestly if I'd been messed around and couldn't find a local specialist, I'd bite the bullet and go to Chris Wilson.

 

I know he's a fair distance for you but probably no further than many of the south east UK people travel to see him. It'll set you back a few euro's but at least you know FOR SURE that any faults will be found and fixed.

 

Next step for me is a local check with the MAX-GT guys, if they can't solve it then I'm going to make the trek to Chris Wilson...

 

I have dealt with Chris before, and would have nothing but the highest praise for the guy. Chris's name comes up very often when it comes to quality workmanship and capabilities.

 

To get to Chris will take me about 3 days return journey, (including chris taking a look).

 

I then run the danger of parts not available etc.....not to mention costing a small fortune, parts (maybe), labour, ferries, fuel, accomodation .....

I was hoping I could sort it out here (in Ireland).

 

I had already considered taking it to Chris. Where does he live, roughly.

(Chris if you read this post, apologies for talking about you behind your back)

 

 

John

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I have standard wheels'n'tyre sizes. Conti rears and F1's up front.

 

You are more than welcome to come up to this part of the island and we can spend a Sat or Sun playind around with the Spanners. I'm only 2 miles from Junction 2 of the M1 so there is a test track pretty near.

 

email me if you fancy it, as I'm not getting on here much at the moment and might miss a post.

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I have dealt with Chris before, and would have nothing but the highest praise for the guy. Chris's name comes up very often when it comes to quality workmanship and capabilities.

 

To get to Chris will take me about 3 days return journey, (including chris taking a look).

 

I then run the danger of parts not available etc.....not to mention costing a small fortune, parts (maybe), labour, ferries, fuel, accomodation .....

I was hoping I could sort it out here (in Ireland).

 

I had already considered taking it to Chris. Where does he live, roughly.

(Chris if you read this post, apologies for talking about you behind your back)

 

 

John

Mate if you need somewhere to stay if you take it to Chris W let me know, could have that pint we didnt manage to have when I was in Dublin :thumbs:

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More than happy to look at if for you, if you like, give me a ring on 07971-952084 and I can discuss the logistrics of getting over here. Postcode is in my sig. Really weird handling is much more often than not a function of something amiss in the BACK suspension or its geometry. I specialise in suspension (on race cars mainly) so I am very confident I can sort it for you.

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Oh, damn, postcode is no longer in my sig, sorry. It's SY13 2BT Here is some direction blurb, copy pasted, it has a link to a map too.

 

Chris Wilson

Newbury House

Lower Heath

Shropshire

SY13 2BT

 

Home / work : 01948-841581

Mobile : 07971-952084

 

 

This is between Whitchurch and Shrewsbury, off the A49 trunk

road, on the B5065 linking the A49 to the A442.

 

The URL at the bottom shows my location in relation to the Midlands

motorway network. From the M6 join the M54 and go to the END,

onto the A5, then follow A49 Whitchurch. Ignore earlier junctions signed

Whitchurch! Follow A49, Whitchurch for about 15 miles. Then, about 8 miles

BEFORE Whitchurch you will find a new 50 MPH limit with signs showing you

have entered Prees Green. Look for RIGHT turn onto the B5065 signed Market Drayton.

 

Newbury House is on the left about 3/4 mile down. It's actually a bungalow,

set back behind a large front garden, fenced behind distinctive wooden

post and rail fencing. The house nameplates are on either side of the front

gates, on the fence rails themselves.

 

If the gates are chained and locked, please assume I am out and ring me.

We have large dogs, they may be loose, and they guard, we also keep animals

that come under the Dangerous Wild Animals Act, although you will not even

be aware of them unless you are somewhere you shouldn't be!

 

From the other end of the A49 (going south) ignore Whitchurch signs,

just stay on A49/A41 signed Shrewsbury until you come to the new 50 MPH limit

and the signs show you have entered Prees Green. Turn LEFT (NOTE LEFT!!!)

onto B5065 signed Market Drayton, (and NOT the earlier right turn onto the

B5065, sign posted for Wem, as countless do...) and again I am on the left

about 3/4 mile down.

 

What are you looking for?

 

See http://chriswilson.tv/front_panorama.jpg (large file)

 

***** M6 Toll Road *****

 

The M6 Toll Road is now open, but it may not be a faster route from the

south. See http://www.m6toll.co.uk/maps/ and make up your own mind, you

will have to go further north than the M54 junction and come southbound

on the M6 proper back down to the M54 junction, or take an alternative

cross country route. It's probably not worth it

unless the M6 proper is known to be gridlocked... Make up your own mind

on this one!

 

***** M6 Toll Road *****

 

More detailed map and directions on request.

 

http://www.formula3.freeserve.co.uk/newbury_house.jpg

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Mate if you need somewhere to stay if you take it to Chris W let me know, could have that pint we didnt manage to have when I was in Dublin :thumbs:

 

:thanks:

Thats an offer that would be hard to refuse.

Many thanks Martin.

Pints are on me

:friday:

 

Will check what dates may be suitable and check the old bank balance as well

 

john

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Chris

Many thanks for that.

I just have to check and see what dates I have over the next month or so and fit them in with your schedule as well.

 

I will drop you an email over the next few days to see if we can come up with some suitable times.

 

 

All that remains guys is for me to say a huge thank you to you all.

:thanks: :thanks: :thanks:

 

Now I know why I bought a supra,

Its not just the car.......................its who it introduces you to.

 

Enjoy the weekend

 

John

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I have just been "attempting to read his web page" :blink: :blink: :blink:

Going to take me a while to absorb all that :donkey:

 

Will drop him a line though

 

Thanks for that SteveR

 

Thought it might be useful, I haven't finished reading it all but it might at least help point you in the rigth direction. :)

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  • 2 weeks later...

Thanks again guys.

I havent had much time lately, work crazy and getting ready for hols.

We hope to be going monday or tuesday week, so no chance of me doing anything about the car in the coming week.

We have to get the family hols in while the children are off school.

Going to Inishmore, one of the aran islands off the coast of galway. My Mother's homeplace. Really get away from it all for 3 weeks.

Supra going to be parked up for the time

I will attack it with renewed vigour when I get back, and I will drop you guys a line to arrange times and dates etc.

 

Very best regards

John

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  • 11 months later...

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