Suspension help please

skyking · Post by **skyking** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 5:19 pm

I have a new Manxter 2+2 # 44, pan restored with disk brakes, adjustable front axle beam. What would be some good suspension improvements to do next ? I lowered the front axle beam and now it bounces on rough roads. After looking at Lone Pine pictures I decided to start improving suspension but not sure where to start or how far to go with it.

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 4:34 am

How to you want to use your Manxter? On the street or in the dirt, or both? Lowering the front end with out going to a short shock can sometimes make the stock shock bottom out and that will give you a rough ride. Using to stiff a shock can also give you a rougher ride. Remember your Manxter weighs less than a stock bug. What works well is a stock replacement shock (Boge or Cofap) or something like a KYB (silver painted can) GR-2. The KYB (white painted can)GasAdjust are a very stiff shock.

Lee · Post by **Lee** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 6:32 am

The single best investment I made in the suspension department was a set of Fox shocks. They are rebuildable and revalveable, so you can fine tune them to fit your needs. Rich at McKenzies here in Southern California does the revalving for me, and he couldn't believe how soft I was asking him to make my front shocks. We ended up with zero weight oil, bypass holes drilled out quite a bit, and the softest valves he would install. He has the rear shocks now, as I initially had him make them too soft. Turns out I was compensating for the urethane spring plate bushings, which were binding. I went back to rubber bushings, which are MUCH better on a FG car. You could probably get away with spending much, much less money by following Joseph's advice and go for stock or KYB GR-2 shocks. If you want to start experimenting with longer travel, things get complicated in a hurry, and the next thing you know you end up with a car like this one:

DIESELDOOG · Post by **DIESELDOOG** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 9:12 am

your buoncing might be from sitting on the bump stops.

skyking · Post by **skyking** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 7:04 pm

Mostly street driving but buggy runs like Lone pine looks like some rough roads. I already have new GR2 shocks

jsturtlebuggy · Post by **jsturtlebuggy** » Sun Nov 13, 2005 6:05 am

The GR-2 may be to long and bottoming if you have the front end lowered. If you can disable the front end adjusters and cycle the supension and see where the shocks stop moving (bottom out). First take a measurement on distance from the top of tire or drum to the fender with the car sitting on the ground. Then you can tell how much travel that you have. You may have to go to a shorter shock. CB Performance sells them. They also sell dropped spindles which allow you to lower the car and still have stock supension travel.