Springs & anti-roll bars

[Guest]

Thanks for all the info.
Do you have any info on spring part numbers/ rates Simon?

[Simon]

2000 Diesel saloon front spring NAM 5554; Rear GSV 1097. A "heavy duty" rear is GSV 1129. No info on spring rates though, a suspension specialist would probably be able to help, and maybe have some obsolete stock if you want to, let's say, lower the car or upgrade the suspension.

[threelitre]

Hi!

I've fitted the ARB of a scrapped Montego TD Estate to my Maestro 1.3, and that made a very noticeable difference on cornering. And it looked stronger then the one std. on 1600 Maestros, so I was wondering... Ok, so they are different and I suppose that I fitted the strongest one available.

The car now leans considerably less when cornering and tyre squeal qill set in much later (using the same wheels). There is a large roundabout here in Aachen, easy to circle around ad 40mph. Before: loud squealing from front tyre(s), after: car feels much more stable and not a trace of noise...

Fitting was very easy, since I took all the fittings directly from the Montego before it went to the scrapyard.

The next mod was to use the Monty wheels. But they did only help comfort compared to the 155/80 13' std wheel, since the Monty tyres have been quite worn.

Regards,
Alexander

[Guest]

Topgear- don't get me started on exhausts, shock absorbers and dodgy outfits..sigh...

When I had my Renault 11 auto, I took it to an outfit called "Apples car Clinic". It failed the MOT on "leaking shocks"..bit of a shock..so I nipped down the road to chat to a Renault dealer.

Renault dealer took a look, and came back to Apples with me..to state the fact that the dampers were sealed, thankyou so very much and as such COULD NOT leak, and were in FINE fettle. The oil on them was motor oil..NOT from my car. Half the work they'd said was needed was made up.

I took C370NUX to them a few times..each time they wanted to do things like "replace suspension", "New Exhaust", New driveshaft"..at one point they told me she was dangerous. Carnelian Rover (down the road) disagreed, and they retracted it.

They were in the papers and watchdog as well for dodgy dealing.

This company has since vanished and been replace by "Stop 'n' Steer"..same staff, different name (I'm pretty sure). Never going there again.

Then Peugeot rapid fit worked their magic on H870's exhaust. After ordering the wrong one 3 times (since when does "Rover" sound like "Vauxhall"?), they got the right one, and fitted it. 3 days later it was blowing..so back it went. Twice. Second time I asked to be present to oversee the Job.

Witness one spotty adolescent looking at the first joint after the expansion box..I see a 5mm gap where the sections have seperated due to crappy clamping. I expected to see him tighten the clamp. No..He grabs a tube of "silicone sealer" (window sealer basically) and proceeds to plaster that over it!!

Same as they did the previous 2 times. I suggested maybe reassembling the exhaust with EXHAUST paste might be good..and got "nah mate..this works..we usually use this..".

I drove H870 away and removed and rebuilt the system myself, WITH paste and clamps tightened. No problems since.

Too many cowboys out there that assume we're thick..

[John S]

I recently had the local Vauxhall dealer to install some Motobuild 1" lower suspension kit. All I can say about it is that the kit would be more beneficial on a MG1600 or 2.0i/Turbo but it seriously improves looks. Don't count on improved ride quality from lowering, but I found it wasn't really any worse as my previous shocks had covered ninety odd thousand miles and the suspension bushes weren't brilliant.
You gain better traction with the lowered suspension (front end doesn't rise so much) leading to better acceleration as well. The cornering is unbelievable!

Motobuild Price list:-

8 piece polyurethane bushes : £88
Set of uprated gas shocks/Springs 1"/2" : £250

As you can see - quite expensive but will transform the driving experience of most models.

[John S]

Exhausts? When my M.O.T. came up last year I stuck some chewing gum in a hole near the backbox joint then blackened it. It passed so I was able to get some suspension parts with the money instead!