Bouncy bits

splash2 · Post by **splash2** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 10:17 am

Does anyone know if the springs & shocks on an AFT are the same as those on a Tin Top?

The reason I ask is that I have a Bongolow with an after market roof fitted. This has obviously added a fair amount of weight high up on the vehicle, significantly altering the centre of gravity. Is the standard suspension set-up man enough to cope with this additional weight?

I find that slow speed corners and roundabouts etc are a bit 'wallowy'.

Veg_Ian · Post by **Veg_Ian** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 11:22 am

I'm guessing but would bet that they are the same. I'm not aware of there being different suspension part numbers specified for AFTs and Tintops.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 1:14 pm

Same here Ian, i'd guess the sticker in the bongo with the tyre ratings on it might hint at whether there is a difference in spring rates etc... I don't recall off hand which type of bongo has a different tyre spec than most of the other's.

Daveblueozzie has posted a speedy vid of a few of us on our way to southport on thew north west section, There is a green bongo on one of the vids with lowered (stiffer) suspension, taking tightish corners at 60 MPH, and it looks dead level through the twisties to me... (dunno who's bongo it was)

platty345 · Post by **platty345** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:18 pm

Hi, I have a tintop with a roof fitted and found no difference in the drive.

mikeonb4c · Post by **mikeonb4c** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 2:51 pm

platty345 wrote:Hi, I have a tintop with a roof fitted and found no difference in the drive.

It may be fine in (on) the drive platty but what's it like on the open road

But seriously - I'm not surprised to read your post. I'd guess that a retrofitted lift-top kit is rather less weight than the Mazda AFT kit and kaboodle.

What tyres and pressures are you using as I found changing from 15" to 17" and 225 width tyres made a noticeable improvement to the surefootedness of my AFT Bongo around corners. Its still a narrow gauge high C of G beastie though so you can't expect Lotus Elise like cornering.

The Bongo is known to be a bit 'soft springed' for the rear end though and on a separate BF thread Dandywarhol has just been talking about how he fitted Airlift spring assistors that have made a big improvement. Maybe PM him for this thoughts if he doesn't respond on this thread.

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 5:47 pm

platty345 wrote:Hi, I have a tintop with a roof fitted and found no difference in the drive.

Like mike said above mark, you have my old rx8 wheels,the narrower profile of the tyres means less "wallow" through the corners,at the slight expense of comfort.

Plus, i painted heavier coats in the centre of the wheels, when in a centrifuge scenario, the spinning mass whilst cornering would translate to a lower centre of gravity. I deduced and built in this safety feature simply with clever lacquer manipulation. Or i could be talking a load of bo

Dabs · Post by **Dabs** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 6:17 pm

bigdaddycain wrote: Or i could be talking a load of bo

Shaddapa momma you always talka bol----------

Dabs

bigdaddycain · Post by **bigdaddycain** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 7:54 pm

Dabs wrote:
Shaddapa momma you always talka bol------

-------Locks!.. my hair is full of locks!

daveblueozzie · Post by **daveblueozzie** » Tue Jan 20, 2009 8:43 pm

don't forget they chuck away a lot of the roof and the sunroof glass out from the tin top to convert it.so the weight is probably evened out, ish.

The Great Pretender · Post by **The Great Pretender** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:07 am

splash2 wrote:Does anyone know if the springs & shocks on an AFT are the same as those on a Tin Top?

The reason I ask is that I have a Bongolow with an after market roof fitted. This has obviously added a fair amount of weight high up on the vehicle, significantly altering the centre of gravity. Is the standard suspension set-up man enough to cope with this additional weight?

I find that slow speed corners and roundabouts etc are a bit 'wallowy'.

Great question, what about high speed corners?

The Great Pretender · Post by **The Great Pretender** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 1:15 am

daveblueozzie wrote:don't forget they chuck away a lot of the roof and the sunroof glass out from the tin top to convert it.so the weight is probably evened out, ish.

Even if the weight is the same the further it is moved from the roll couple (center line between front and rear roll center) the more pronounced is its effect.

splash2 · Post by **splash2** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:18 am

The Great Pretender wrote:
splash2 wrote:Does anyone know if the springs & shocks on an AFT are the same as those on a Tin Top?

The reason I ask is that I have a Bongolow with an after market roof fitted. This has obviously added a fair amount of weight high up on the vehicle, significantly altering the centre of gravity. Is the standard suspension set-up man enough to cope with this additional weight?

I find that slow speed corners and roundabouts etc are a bit 'wallowy'.
Great question, what about high speed corners?

I've never really pushed it through the corners - never really felt the need

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