Toad rides again!
Posted: Fri May 29, 2020 2:00 pmAfter 3 years and much grief Toad finaly rides and handles as I'd hoped it would.
When bought it had Spyder a "double wishbone" rear suspension that I found to be OK - up to a point. Whilst stronger (maybe) and easier to install it was - in my opinion - seriously limited in a number of ways. And too "different" to be considereed original. But it worked OK whilst I sourced a couple of good S/H struts to rebuild. As it happened both sides wrecked their bearing within 3000 miles, which effectively forced the change anyway.
I modded the struts to make them height adjustable, which, depending on the individual car, is probably essential, . This took too long and cost so much I may have been better off simply buying new hubs and strut tubes.
Anyway - I eventually fitted them and it rode dreadfully. The N/S wallowed about like and old 50's car with knackered dampers. I should have fitted new dampers.
That now done, and the corner heights corrected, it still a "bit" stiff (the new adjustable dampers are on the middle setting) but it flow down the Bucks dreadful roads with ease. Just as it should - Success!
A Toad by the Pond - (Penn at 7:30 AM)
When bought it had Spyder a "double wishbone" rear suspension that I found to be OK - up to a point. Whilst stronger (maybe) and easier to install it was - in my opinion - seriously limited in a number of ways. And too "different" to be considereed original. But it worked OK whilst I sourced a couple of good S/H struts to rebuild. As it happened both sides wrecked their bearing within 3000 miles, which effectively forced the change anyway.
I modded the struts to make them height adjustable, which, depending on the individual car, is probably essential, . This took too long and cost so much I may have been better off simply buying new hubs and strut tubes.
Anyway - I eventually fitted them and it rode dreadfully. The N/S wallowed about like and old 50's car with knackered dampers. I should have fitted new dampers.
That now done, and the corner heights corrected, it still a "bit" stiff (the new adjustable dampers are on the middle setting) but it flow down the Bucks dreadful roads with ease. Just as it should - Success!
A Toad by the Pond - (Penn at 7:30 AM)
