Finally fitted my lowering pins

[Nick]

Well thanks to a discussion with Matt, I finally got around to fitting my lowering pins, and got to know my way around my hydra vac pump.

The car looks great, I probably need a 4 wheel alignment now, I guess I need the trophy settings as I have lowered it and fitted Gaz adjustables?

So if anyone local needs a suspension trim height adjustment etc I'm available for a nominal fee to cover the fluid etc

[gotenks1321]

Good man

I need to get around to swapping mine over to the new one but that can wait I think

Have you fitted compliance washers or polybushes to the rear arms to take up the slack? I found that made a huge difference

[Nick]

Nope, not yet, I do have a set of compliance washers, I've also got a complete set of polybushes ready to go on, just time and ability letting me down

The trick Matt taught me was that with the vacuum operation you don't need to mess with the cans, you just suck up the insides and the pins pop out...voila, no nasty bolts to undo or anything, just lever out told and bung in the new, about an hour and a half to two hours all in though I did have a spare set of knuckles fitted to the lowering pins, so that saved a good amount of time.

[gotenks1321]

Nope, not yet, I do have a set of compliance washers, I've also got a complete set of polybushes ready to go on, just time and ability letting me down

The trick Matt taught me was that with the vacuum operation you don't need to mess with the cans, you just suck up the insides and the pins pop out...voila, no nasty bolts to undo or anything, just lever out told and bung in the new, about an hour and a bit all in though I did have a spare set of knuckles fitted to the lowering pins, so that saved a good amount of time.

That sounds a lot easier than when I did mine, my pump doesn't have the vacuum feature

[adrianvvc]

Nice work Nick.
I may need a little pump up soon.

[Nick]

No worries matey, let me know when you need it sorting

[Captain Slow]

Nice work Nick.
I may need a little pump up soon.

No worries matey, let me know when you need it sorting

[Nick]

Only in your mind, ya sick puppy!

[Matt Parker]

Glad to hear that Nick, should be looking and handling quite nicely now then

Most likely it will only need a minor adjustment on the rear track, but before you take it for allignment each day for several days atleast before you go wire brush and then spray the rear arms with wd40 as this will aid when being adjusted so the nuts and arms shouldn't be as seized and also it means less likely the garage will round the corners off the arms and nuts

[Captain Slow]

Does anyone have a copy of the Trophy geometry settings that I can have please? I fear the Stapletons we use around the corner, while half-decent, won't bother looking up the correct Trophy settings for mine and will instead just use the normal F settings...

[Stu]

Well done Nick, As far as wheel alignment goes i have yet to find anywhere that takes the the time to do it properly and all you get is wheels straight ahead.

Changing toe at the front can dramatically change the car for the better or worse but i haven't yet got my tophy in the sweet spot as previous cars,want it to turn in better.

Can anyone reccomend anywhere within reasonable distance from towcester?

[Captain Slow]

Well done Nick, As far as wheel alignment goes i have yet to find anywhere that takes the the time to do it properly and all you get is wheels straight ahead.

Changing toe at the front can dramatically change the car for the better or worse but i haven't yet got my tophy in the sweet spot as previous cars,want it to turn in better.

Can anyone reccomend anywhere within reasonable distance from towcester?

Ditto, Brown & Gammons got the closest for me but I don't go there anymore as we're no longer friends

I used to travel all the way down to Elite Direct in Rainham, they were pretty good and all petrolheads, but it's a loong way to go, plus quite expensive-£80 to £100 was the normal figure.

I had the company DS4 done at Stapletons around the corner and they made a pretty decent job of it, so for the money we pay (trade discount FTW) I'm tempted to let them loose on the F. £44 for front & rear toe adjustments I don't think is too bad on Hunter alignment kit.

[Nick]

Well done Nick, As far as wheel alignment goes i have yet to find anywhere that takes the the time to do it properly and all you get is wheels straight ahead.

Changing toe at the front can dramatically change the car for the better or worse but i haven't yet got my tophy in the sweet spot as previous cars,want it to turn in better.

Can anyone reccomend anywhere within reasonable distance from towcester?

Hi Stu,

I use Total Car Care in Daventry for my 4 wheel alignment. The guys called Burt, has the right kit and looks after several classic rally cars (mustangs etypes etc).
The last time he did mine he asked what I weghed and chucked 14 stone of ballast on the drivers side and set it up as I drive it solo most of the time.
He has full computer access and calls off the trophy specs etc, I know he sorted Adrians Trophy and I think he's pretty happy with the results, worth dropping AdrianVVC a pm to see what he thought as its model specific for you.

cheers
nick

[Tony]

Iain, BS in Sandy have electronic 4 wheel alignment and should know the difference between Trophy and standard settings.

[Stu]

Thanks for the tip Nick , may well be worth the trip as i know from past experience it can really make a big difference.

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