Shocks/T5 questions

[Sledge]

Other BDR owners:

My BDR came with standard suspension and Gabriel (Gabrial?) shocks installed. I was expecting Bilsteins or some other high performance brand. But maybe I'm wrong and everyone with the standard suspension gets Gabriel shocks.

So the question to you BDR owners is, did yours get delivered with Gabriels?

One other question. I have a T5 transmission in my BDR. I just noticed that it will jump out of second gear when decelerating. Anyone else experience this? I've only got 850 miles on the engine and trans, and I'm thinking the trans needs to be swapped. Opinions??

Thx and cheers

Bill

[SkipB]

Sledge,

I had the same problem with my Tremec 1550 jumping out of gear. Then I found the rubber shift boot was installed with the car in gear. It caused the rubber boot to put forward tension on the shift lever causing it to push it out of gear. So, put your car in neutral, remove the screws that hold the shift boot on and see if the boot moves to a new position. If so, screw it down in that position while in neutral. It worked for me! I hope your solution is that simple!

[Sledge]

Thank you Skip I'll check that tomorrow.

Were Gabriel shocks on your BDR when you took delivery?

Thx

Bill

[davidlee]

Sledge,

Yep, I've #123 ,picked it up from Reg myself minus engine and trans and it has Gabriels on it .

David

[Sledge]

Thank you David. Are you going to keep them or replace 'em?

Thx

Bill

[Dennis Kelley]

yes mine were gabriels. on your shifter check and see that the shifter is properly shifting with the boot off. My shifter needed more room as it was hitting the trans tunnel. I took a air saw and cut a bigger hole problem solved. Have you had any problems with springs?

Later dennis

[Sledge]

I'll take the boot off and take a look, thanks Dennis.

No problems with the springs, at least not yet.

Thx and cheers,

Bill

[Secret Squirrel]

Sledge,

Mine came with Gabriels also, I believe they have adjustable dampening. I saw some arrows and settings on the outer shock body when I was inspecting bolts in the rear wheel wells. I do not know what they are set at and how to set them, as I have not taken them off to try it. I am going to set my ride height this week and get F & R alignment.
I have not had any trouble with my shifter yet, I have only used 1st and 2nd gear and only used 3rd one time. I can't go thru all of them in the neighborhood. I installed my boot with the shifter in neutral, and made sure that the shifter was clear of the tunnel and edges.

[davidlee]

Sledge,
At least for now I'm gonna keep them.

Squirrel.

To adjust your rear ride height you have put the rear of the car on jack stands and put a jack under the rear a arm at the area of the shock, remove the lower shock bolt and then lower the a arm to take the pressure off of the spring. Then you are able to adjust the spanner nut on the spring.

I tried first to adjust the height on mine by just removing the rear wheels and using the adjusting spanner nut but there was too much pressure. All I got was skinned knuckles

David

[SkipB]

Sledge,

Yep, my Backdraft #90 has Gabriels. I driven no other Backdraft with any other set up, so I can't offer a comparison. But, mine seems fine, rides well, handles very well compared to other cars I have driven (FFR and Classic) I think the BMW based supension is the real reason here. Bilsteins may be better, but I am not sure how much?

Also, a quick correction to my previous post. My transmission is a Tremec 3550 not a 1550. I am not the best typist! I hope one of the suggestions listed will solve your shifter problem. Any results yet?

Secret Squirrel,

I could have sworn I saw Armond adjust my rear ride height with just the rear wheel removed and on a jack of course. You might contact him about the method he uses. Just don't get it too low or you will be bottoming out all the time!

[Secret Squirrel]

David and SkipB,

Thanks for the tips, I have talked to Armond and he also said to spray the threads for the spanner nuts with a lubricant. My ride height is close to where I want it, but one side is lower than the other. Maybe while I am in the rear wheel area, I will check out the shocks and their adjusting ability.

[pdaley1]

How many turns of the spring adjustment nut are required if you want to bring up your ride height by about 1/2". My left rear tire had been rubbing slightly whenever I hit a dip in the road. I pulled my rear tires today and made 1 complete turn of the adjustment nut. I didn't get the chance to replace the tires and test it today. That will be tomarrow, I figured I better ask before I go though all that work and find I didn't adjust it enough.

[Secret Squirrel]

Pdaley1,

I didn't have to adjust my ride height like I thought i did. Maybe some one else can chime in with some insight to your question.

I just had to park the car on a level surface and take the measurements again. My measurements right now are 5.5" ground clearance taken at the frame to the ground behind the front tires on both sides and 6.5" ground clearance taken at the frame behind the front of the rear tires on both sides. The oil pan is the lowest part of the car at 3.5" ground clearance. I hope this isn't too low. I will have to watch for speed bumps! The front nose clip is at 5.5" ground clearance.

Happy New Year to All!

[moneymanager]

I had a problem with ground clearance on my #13 Bacdraft as well but rather than mess with a fine suspension setup I just changed the oil pan.

Take a look at this is you want a better oil pan for safer ground clearances.

http://jmichael.info/Cobraupgrades.htm

Doc the moneymanager

[Boudy]

Hi guys. I agree with the above posts, the only problem I've ever had with a car jumping out of gear was due to the shifter boot. When you let off the gas, pressure is taken off the gears and making it easier to slip out of gear if the boot is putting slight pressure on it. I just put the car in N, centered the boot, and redrilled it.

The shocks have always been Gariel. It's a suspension issue. The car handles as well or better than many with these shocks so any other would only drive the price up. However, Bilstiens would only make it better.

I plan to upgrade my brakes, shocks, springs, and sway bars later this year. I'm also thinking of going to all poly or solid bushings. I will probably make the changes in steps because I want to make a blueprint for how fast the car is stock and then how much is gained with various upgrades to suspension.

Boudy

[Sledge]

Boudy and all:

I tried the suggestion to reinstall the boot around the shifter when the car is in neutral. Made no difference. Still jumped out of gear. Trans was removed, fixed, and reinstalled under warranty.

The move to Bilsteins is on my "to do" list but no hurry.

Boudy keep us posted regarding your upgrades, sounds like fun!

Cheers

Bill

[Boudy]

I will. Last year was a fiasco for me so I didn't get to do anything to my personal car. I look forward to this summer.

Boudy