Tall drivers - advice wanted (road trip content)

Maseratiman

Junior Member
Messages
214
STS Tyres near me have a brand new looking Hunter alignment machine (with plasma screens etc!). From memory it was something like free to check alignment then £45 per adjustment. I asked if they have right bits (spacers is it?) to do Masers and they said not needed. Am I wasting my time with them?
 

Emtee

New Member
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8,446
Only had it a few weeks, it has Marshal Matrac (I know, I know) tyres on the front, look pretty new, Kumho Ecstas on the back (prob half worn).

Don't think it has been lowered, it looks low but then they all do.

From your signature photo I wondered whether it was a bit lower? Difficult to tell nowadays, as they're all over the place, but a geometry check would maybe help. Everything is forgiven with only a couple of weeks ownership, but better matched tyres are worth looking into. Loads of info on the forum.
 

Emtee

New Member
Messages
8,446
STS Tyres near me have a brand new looking Hunter alignment machine (with plasma screens etc!). From memory it was something like free to check alignment then £45 per adjustment. I asked if they have right bits (spacers is it?) to do Masers and they said not needed. Am I wasting my time with them?

Hunters are great machines, and the Maser' settings will be in the database, but this assumes your car arrives within standard variance. If shims are needed (50:50) they won't have them. A Hunter won't know whether the car is dropped either, or whether the springs are as specified, so proceed with a little bit of caution, but yes they're great machines and a geometry check won't make things worse.
 

2b1ask1

Special case
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20,220
Can the hunter do caster and camber?

C

Well the setup that was used at Elite for mine can do that yes, mine didn't need it although it is at the extreme range of camber on the front. Don't know if that is a Hunter system but mighty fandangled!!!
 

MAF260

Member
Messages
7,662
Yes, Chris.

Plenty of places have a Hunter machine, but many operatives don't know how to use it properly and will just fiddle with suspension settings until the readings are in tolerance. You need to find somebody who knows how to understand the readings in relation to the car and how you want it to handle. As a reference I used a local company who are renowned specialists in performance car handling/suspension settings. They spent quite a lot of time on my yellow GS getting it exactly as I wanted it. I'd also had a full set of new Goodyears fitted so the results were very noticeable and the tyre wear is now even. Cost was about £180 - worth every penny!
 

CatmanV2

Member
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48,547
Yes, Chris.

Plenty of places have a Hunter machine, but many operatives don't know how to use it properly and will just fiddle with suspension settings until the readings are in tolerance. You need to find somebody who knows how to understand the readings in relation to the car and how you want it to handle. As a reference I used a local company who are renowned specialists in performance car handling/suspension settings. They spent quite a lot of time on my yellow GS getting it exactly as I wanted it. I'd also had a full set of new Goodyears fitted so the results were very noticeable and the tyre wear is now even. Cost was about £180 - worth every penny!

So I have two options:
1) Go somewhere where they will set my car up with their experience
2) Take a set of settings from the group and go somewhere to say 'Do that'

I feel another thread coming on

C
 

Contigo

Sponsor
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18,376
You dont even need a hunter machine, you need someone who knows how to setup a car in the old school way e.g Shims. Mine was done by a guy near Emblem and it is the best couple of hundred quid I have spent on the car. Transformed the handling.

Get some decent tyres as Mark says as the ones you have on are budget at best and will help you find the nearest ditch.

I'd recommend Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymm's and/or Ultrac Vorti's (Giugario Design!).

If the tracking and new rubber doesn't fix then you really need to check the shocks, mounts and bushes (ball joints too) for any wear or play and failing that check the corner loading.
 

MAF260

Member
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7,662
Go with option 1, Chris. Somebody else's settings may not suit your car or style of driving.
 

Contigo

Sponsor
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18,376
Why would you take it to someone who will fudge it when there are people out there who we have used who know them inside out?
 

outrun

Member
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5,017
Another vote for setting it up properly. You won't realise how bad it was until after you've done it. An annual must do.

I'd also add Michelin Pilot Sports to the list of great tyres. I used them and Vredestein Ultrac Sessantas (which are now no longer produced although still available) and both are excellent.

Don't buy p zeros. They're useless. I will argue all day with anyone who tells me different.
 

Zep

Moderator
Messages
9,110
I don't want to hijack as OP needs answers but is it worth doing a suspension bush (is that what they're called) change all round be a worthwhile job on a 2005 GS - how hard a job for a mechanic is this? Mines going in for front ARB linkage change so wondered if worth doing at same time..

There are 4 suspension bushes per corner and 4 (surprisingly) damper bushes.

I did mine, you need a serious hydraulic press (at least 10 tonnes), good skills with a grinder and an inordinate amount of patience.

You need to disconnect the front brake pipes to get to the rear bolt of of the top wishbone at the front and to drop the rear subframe to do the same at the rear.

Having said all of that, along with a full geo, it has made a huge difference to the drive. It does feel tighter over bumps. There is so little rubber in the wishbone bushes (it's about 3 mm thick) that the ride will always be a bit knobbly in my opinion...




Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

philgarner

Member
Messages
226
Thanks for all the advice guys.

I have some kind of bush squeak on the osf corner, so need to get them investigated.

I think new tyres definitely in order, coinciding with getting the wheels re-done.

I read on maseratilife about using bigger sized tyres than standard in an attempt to give a an improved ride. Anyone here have any experience?
 

Emtee

New Member
Messages
8,446
I tried going bigger to give a bit of protection to the rims. Didn't work, as even the lowest kerb with getcha if you get too close, so soon gave up on that! Haven't tried it for ride comfort, as you'd need to go quite a bit bigger before noticing any difference. Tinkering with tyre pressure would make just as much difference.