DeTomaso Mailing List: October 99, Message #256

Jim wrote:

>Still bringing 5926 up to standards.  Car drives very straight and has
minimal slop in steering.  Will go straight at 80+ with no hands on wheel.
BUT every bump in the road feels like hittting a 6 inch curb!  Is this just
from worn shocks/springs or does it sound like a rack rebuild is in order
too?

>>>Read what you wrote: Car drives very straight and has
minimal slop in steering.  Thus your rack etc. is probably fine.  When you 
say every bump feels like a 6-inch curb, do you mean that the car is 
bottoming out?  Or do you mean that the suspension itself is extremely stiff?

If the car is too soft, then new springs/shocks are on the menu.  If your car 
has been fitted with aftermarket suspension already and it's knocking the 
fillings out of your teeth, then hopefully it's an adjustment issue.

FWIW Bill Hohnhorst drove his car for YEARS with a set of lowered springs and 
stock replacement Koni shocks in it.  It sure looked cool but it was TOO 
stiff; when he'd encounter bumps on a corner the car would just skitter right 
off the road.  Last year he replaced everything (I think he used the 
adjustable Koni coil-over package from Dennis Quella) and he couldn't believe 
the transformation.  The car handles 200% better and is more pleasant to 
drive.  

Your mileage may vary of course...

Mike