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What next?
Muchos muchos,
I bought my Surf in November last year and have done the following:
replaced oil/fuel/air filters
oil change
replaced rear coil springs
replaced anti-roll bushes (f&r)
replaced steering idler&pitman arm
serviced & replaced front brake pads
EGR mod
As a consequence the Surf steers better, wallows far less, is more stable, stops sooner and drives much better. What next? This where I need your help-I want to do work on the car to improve the following:
reduce black smoke
improve overall handling
As far as the black smoke is concerned it occurs particularly when pulling away from 20-30mph when the turbo kicks in. The oil and filter change improved matters and I have tried every fuel/oil additive on the shelf AND the EGR mod but it still 'seems' too much-maybe it's because I have nothing to gauge whether there is too much black smoke. I have noticed that when parked with the engine idling after 5 minutes, a sooty/oily deposit is left on the ground. Any ideas on possible causes and solutions much appreciated.
Next; Handling. As I said the handling and steering is amazing since I changed the rear springs and anti-roll bushes all round but what eklse can I do to make the car handle better? I am on a budget and would prefer to work on the car myself instead of taking it to a garage-any ideas?
Muchos muchos
I bought my Surf in November last year and have done the following:
replaced oil/fuel/air filters
oil change
replaced rear coil springs
replaced anti-roll bushes (f&r)
replaced steering idler&pitman arm
serviced & replaced front brake pads
EGR mod
As a consequence the Surf steers better, wallows far less, is more stable, stops sooner and drives much better. What next? This where I need your help-I want to do work on the car to improve the following:
reduce black smoke
improve overall handling
As far as the black smoke is concerned it occurs particularly when pulling away from 20-30mph when the turbo kicks in. The oil and filter change improved matters and I have tried every fuel/oil additive on the shelf AND the EGR mod but it still 'seems' too much-maybe it's because I have nothing to gauge whether there is too much black smoke. I have noticed that when parked with the engine idling after 5 minutes, a sooty/oily deposit is left on the ground. Any ideas on possible causes and solutions much appreciated.
Next; Handling. As I said the handling and steering is amazing since I changed the rear springs and anti-roll bushes all round but what eklse can I do to make the car handle better? I am on a budget and would prefer to work on the car myself instead of taking it to a garage-any ideas?
Muchos muchos
I presume you still find that your Surf is a little tail happy? if so new springs and anti roll bar bushes on the back was the wrong way to go, you want to soften up the back. You can try playing around with tyre presures a little I find 32 front 30 rear works well - just don't go too far. If you still have the standard shocks set the ride to soft, disconet the rear adjusters then switch back to hard I found this made a noticeable improvment. Whilst not sugesting you go the full pimp my ride route you could try droping the front to the bottom end of the usual range - about 12" rim to arch. Spacers may help but not as much as wider rims which will definatly help as would a larger diameter wheel but they cost a fortune; as has been pointed out there's too much movment in the tyre side walls as standard, there are solutions to this but most will make you look silly and/or mess up the gearing.
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