Whilst visiting Cain yesterday (Wolf Performance) to collect completed valance, the discussion ventured over to the choppy ride I get with my Roadster on anything less than smooth roads. We discussed front spring options to compliment the AVO adjustable shocks I already had. Cain then asked for a ride in my car as he had not been in a 5 link Roadster before. I went one step further and let him drive whilst we sought out rough country roads (not difficult). Within half a mile he pronounced the issue was with the over stiff rear suspension despite two up and near full tank. For my part I had a mind set the issue was with the front given that's the first wheel to travel over any indifferent road allied to the unique nowadays, pillar suspension. He went on to explain that it was a reaction from the back kicking the front hence need for good front damping. After a few spirited blasts up to 6000 rpm in second and third he further pronounced the rear "well planted" but in need of some alternate coil spring damper units.
Fast forward a couple of hours to a visit to Krazy Horse to buy a new mirror. Spoke to Dan Whiting about the 5 link rear and he immediately volunteered that having now got a 5 link Roadster demonstrator they finally had the opportunity to check it out and had come to the exact same conclusion. As they had a pair of modern three wheeler springs lying around they had swapped out original coils for these. Now I can confirm the standard three wheeler rear is quite soft with plenty of articulation. Quite bizarre then they found their Roadster a tad more comfortable but far from under sprung, although now needing softer damping. The ride is so similar they are leaving the three wheeler springs on whilst they investigate properly engineered coil spring damper units. Brilliant minds etc.
I think we can expect little from the factory now given the Roadsters days are numbered but am now convinced this is the route to a more compliant car.
Would be interested to hear comments from other 5 link Roadster owners re above, now that version has been out for over a year.
Last edited by Richard Wood; 06/07/19 04:00 AM.
