99 Ghia Ride Saga

fleety · 10-08-2006, 07:26 PM

My problem remains a mystery.
The ghia rides great on smooth surfaces( when you find one)
After 5 different suspension specialists i am no closer to finding a cure or the cause for the ghia to ride so hard that it has now become a displeasure to drive.
Be told to purchase a pair of struts from the wreckers.
Been an expensive exercise in trying to find the problem.
Has anyone on site heard of this problem or experienced this problem and found the cause?
Only opion left at this time is rid myself of the car?

:

AU-MUSTD · 10-08-2006, 08:29 PM

Maybe buy a boat.

Abacus · 10-08-2006, 08:30 PM

Do you know precisely what shock and spring combination (quote supplier and part number) you are running?

**FTE217** · 10-08-2006, 08:33 PM

As above would help firstly....or is it self leveling susp being a Ghia ?

fleety · 10-08-2006, 08:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abacus

Do you know precisely what shock and spring combination (quote supplier and part number) you are running?

Have been told coil springs are factory fitted as confirmend by ford.
Munro gt gas shockers (gold colour)
Tyres are Hankook (soft ride )

Casper · 10-08-2006, 08:52 PM

what psi are your tyres set at?

fleety · 10-08-2006, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU-MUSTD

Maybe buy a boat.

ALREADY HAVE ONE
Rides better than my falcon
Maybe the government need to use the car to test out the roads then we may get something back for our fuel tax.

Abacus · 10-08-2006, 08:57 PM

Gas shocks might be a bit stiff for standard coils. Do you have a part number?

Abacus · 10-08-2006, 08:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

what psi are your tyres set at?

He'd have to have them bloody high to cause this problem. I used to run mine at 36psi, the ride on standard shocks/springs was still good.

fleety · 10-08-2006, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Casper

what psi are your tyres set at?

Tried tyre preasures at 28 / 30 /34 /36 still same at all preasures.
Have driven same make and model with more ks and it is a dream to drive.
Trouble is he keeps it locked up in grage behind closed gates.

Casper · 10-08-2006, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abacus

He'd have to have them bloody high to cause this problem. I used to run mine at 36psi, the ride on standard shocks/springs was still good.

17" rims set are 45psi isnt hard to do.. and would ride VERY harsh.

Abacus · 10-08-2006, 09:02 PM

Also, just verify - you're running standard 16" x 215/55s?

AU-MUSTD · 10-08-2006, 09:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fleety

ALREADY HAVE ONE
Rides better than my falcon
Maybe the government need to use the car to test out the roads then we may get something back for our fuel tax.

My poor attempt at bieng funny :nutsycuck Maybe your top shock mounts and other bushes in the irs are rat ****. How many kays has it done.

Abacus · 10-08-2006, 09:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU-MUSTD

My poor attempt at bieng funny :nutsycuck Maybe your top shock mounts and other bushes in the irs are rat ****. How many kays has it done.

On his previous thread he says he's had the shock mounts fixed.

My money's on his shock selection.

How did the car ride before the shocks were changed?

fleety · 10-08-2006, 09:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abacus

Gas shocks might be a bit stiff for standard coils. Do you have a part number?

Sorry cant help you there but have been told after market products are made stronger than orginal but products fitted are fitted by most suspension dealers in south australia.
May need you cat in the picture.

fleety · 10-08-2006, 09:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AU-MUSTD

My poor attempt at bieng funny :nutsycuck Maybe your top shock mounts and other bushes in the irs are rat ****. How many kays has it done.

Thats ok buddy.
Have replaced rear shock mounts and improved the rear.
Shock mounts are cheaper from Motor Traders at $87.00 ea (genuine ford)
150,000ks.travelled.
My last Falcon gave me 368,000ks with no problems.
Problem is now confined to front.

bodes-sh · 10-08-2006, 09:24 PM

could be sway bar bushes, possibly (more than likely not) ball joints; either upper or lower or both...theres not really that much else in the front that could be worn out, apart from a bad spring/shock combo

buickman · 10-08-2006, 09:55 PM

I had a AU S1 Ghia that I had lowered with kings s/lows & pedders sports riders the car rode a lot harder but handling was much improved. When I sold the car I refitted the stock springs & shockers back on besides looking like a 4WD it rode very smooth & after I had the alignments done I drove it for about 40Kms & the car felt a lot softer to ride in inculding not feeling bumps as much. So if your looking for that factory smoothness I would refit the factory Ghia shockers & springs back on with a higher profile tyre.

Abacus · 10-08-2006, 10:45 PM

Just one other thing, I believe that some XR-spec shocks have a shorter stroke than OEM Falcon shocks.

If the shocks you've installed have a shorter stroke than the OEM ones, the effect on the ride would not be good. With the standard coils, the shocks would keep topping out. You'd also have sod-all travel because the longer spring would have to be compressed way down to fit. The behaviour you've described is consistant with this.

Also, suggest you get a tape measure and measure the distance from the middle of your hubs to the top of your wheel arch. Somebody here will know what the correct height should be for OEM springs. If its less than what it should be that would tend to confirm this problem.

Again, suggest you find out exactly what's been installed, and post the part number and specs. Even if the stroke is right, XR springs are way firmer than oem monty. Sounds like an installer ****-up to me.