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Soft suspension, rolling, motion sickness
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TrackMuncher
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 26
 
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| Soft suspension, rolling, motion sickness |
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Searching the site I found a few posts by people who have complained over the years about their air suspension becoming softer but I didn't find a conclusive explanation or suggestion.
My disco has 40,000kms on the clock. Over time it has seemed to roll more in the corners and bounce a bit too much fore and aft over speed bumps - like boat (or a 4wd worth half the price). It's hard to quantify but I'm sure it has deteriorated. The kids and wife started to complain more recently about feeling motion sick and I have to admit I even notice it at times when driving.
I find that after each service the whole thing feels a lot firmer but then after 24 hours or so seems to soften up. I've wondered if that was the effect of going up on a hoist or jack and somehow firming up the airbags.
I've just replaced the original 4 tyres and now the ride is a little firmer as you'd expect but I don't think it's good enough.
The car gets its scheduled servicing from the original dealer. It gets the odd software upgrade. Last year it has some sort of suspension upgrade/recall (not specifically for this problem) but that didn't make any difference. It's done a little outback and beach driving but 90% is on road and without significant load. On the whole the suspension seems fine - remains level etc.
I've accepted the ride quality up until now but it's tipped over the threshold at which I can ignore it. I haven't queried the dealer yet as I thought I'd use the collective brains trust to gather info.
Has anyone else experience this?
Any suggestions?
Are there dampening rates/firmness that can be configured? (I think when I asked the service centre they said no).
Thanks
Scott
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 Tue May 13 2008 4:10am |
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caverD3
Joined: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1663
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I noticed with mine the suspension was firmer after the 'enhancement program' yours being the 05 model I would be checking this was done properly as there were cases where the software upgrade did not take.
They could try a re-install of the software.
The soft damping of the D3 had been noticed by a few and a greek mob have produced some after market shocks. Metzcar? also uprate the shocks as part of one of their suspension upgrades. Getting there is half the fun
TDV6: Adaptive Headlights, Electronic Rear Diff.ARB Bar.Blaupunkt speakers, JVC powered Subwoofer, Removable Snorkel, Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch.
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| Tue May 13 2008 4:56am |
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Alicatt
Joined: 10 Jul 2007
Location: Eating in Eksel or Working in Wick
Posts: 233
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caverD3 wrote:The soft damping of the D3 had been noticed by a few and a greek mob have produced some after market shocks. Metzcar? also uprate the shocks as part of one of their suspension upgrades.
Do you mean these people?
http://www.matzker.de/
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| Tue May 13 2008 9:24am |
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caverD3
Joined: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1663
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That's the one.  Getting there is half the fun
TDV6: Adaptive Headlights, Electronic Rear Diff.ARB Bar.Blaupunkt speakers, JVC powered Subwoofer, Removable Snorkel, Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch.
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| Tue May 13 2008 9:32am |
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craig
Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Location: Home of LR.
Posts: 1987
 
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Presume you've checked the swinging concrete blocks harmonic dampers at the rear for the travel sickness issue?
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| Tue May 13 2008 9:35am |
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TrackMuncher
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 26
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The after market solution is all well and good, but the ride should be better as standard and I'm sure it was so I'm interested in seeing what can be done with it.
I'll enquire at tne next service about the "enhancement" but I've never found the shiny bums in the front office (at Alto) to be particularly helpful and they hide the mechanics out the back.
As for the weights... I fail to see how they affect the ride. I would have thought that a harmonic damper would reduce vibration rather than the entire suspension dampening. However, it's a good idea to make sure they're up to scratch. Any idea of what can go wrong wth them and what I can look for?
Thanks again
Scott
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| Tue May 13 2008 10:06am |
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caverD3
Joined: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1663
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The weights can cause the suspension to act strangely. Look behind the back bumper and make sure the weights swing freely and are not caught up on any wiring.
I have found Alto very helpful. Speak to Gary and let him know you are on the forum.
If you still find the supension odd ask about the softwareget them to update it. Getting there is half the fun
TDV6: Adaptive Headlights, Electronic Rear Diff.ARB Bar.Blaupunkt speakers, JVC powered Subwoofer, Removable Snorkel, Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch.
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| Tue May 13 2008 10:39am |
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Jamo
Joined: 18 Jan 2006
Location: Esperance, Western Australia
Posts: 955
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TrackMuncher wrote:
I've never found the shiny bums in the front office (at Alto) to be particularly helpful and they hide the mechanics out the back.
That's my biggest beef with the dealers here. I can't get past the service managers, who never seem to relay my issues to the techs correctly. Have a nice day!
2005 HSE TDV6 HDVH with: ARB Bar, winch with dynamica rope, kaymar twin wheel carrier, 245/70R17 STT's (bush), 265/60R18 HT+ (town), 110l aux fuel tank, satphone, uhf, raised air intake, cargo barrier, ipf xs900 spotlights, frontrunner roofrack, meridian AHR baby seat, rear diff lock, premium satnav, dual batteries, Offroving rock sliders; and just about all the niggles ironed out.
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| Tue May 13 2008 1:15pm |
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caverD3
Joined: 03 Jul 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 1663
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I have to say that alto have suggested I speak to the techos when there was something they did not understand.
It will depend upon what time of day you are there I suppose, if they are busy they may not have the time to give to customer relations. Getting there is half the fun
TDV6: Adaptive Headlights, Electronic Rear Diff.ARB Bar.Blaupunkt speakers, JVC powered Subwoofer, Removable Snorkel, Mitchell Bros Tow Hitch.
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| Tue May 13 2008 1:23pm |
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simon
Joined: 11 Jan 2005
Location: You'll never know
Posts: 13672
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re-check your tyre pressures... if they are too high, you will get a bouncier ride. I checked mine recently and they were way too high, set them back to the door sticker (33 & 36) and the ride and handling is sooo much better.
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| Tue May 13 2008 1:53pm |
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craig
Joined: 08 Aug 2006
Location: Home of LR.
Posts: 1987
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TrackMuncher wrote:
As for the weights... I fail to see how they affect the ride. I would have thought that a harmonic damper would reduce vibration rather than the entire suspension dampening. However, it's a good idea to make sure they're up to scratch. Any idea of what can go wrong wth them and what I can look for?
If the harmonic dampers are held up and not working properly, you will have the resultant problem of losing that magic carpet ride, ergo motion sickness...ensure they swing freely and are not held up by any errant wiring.
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| Tue May 13 2008 8:51pm |
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PaulP
Joined: 04 May 2007
Location: Barcelona
Posts: 632
 
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TrackMuncher wrote:
As for the weights... I fail to see how they affect the ride. I would have thought that a harmonic damper would reduce vibration rather than the entire suspension dampening.
Actually, they are there to reduce 'vibration' of sorts.......just the very low frequency 'vibration' of the chassis rolling back and to that would cause motion sickness....
If the harmonic dampers were much smaller, then they would resonate and therefore dampen higher frequencies such as what we consider to be normal 'vibrations'...
The lower the mass of the dampers, the higher the frequency that they would dampen.....
(or something like this  ) 2006 TDV6 SE Auto Buckingham Blue
1990 Audi 90 2.2E Sport 5-cyl Tornado Red
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| Tue May 13 2008 10:54pm |
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Nigel McBurney
Joined: 13 Mar 2008
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 5
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Hi I posted a similar problem some time ago,no solution was forthcoming .and the stealer could not rectify the problem. so i got an ultimatum from my wife,sell it as I cannot ride in,it has also made the dog scared of riding in any vehicle.The owner of the local trailer centre was surprised when I turned up in a nissan,wheres the disco i explained the problems, all he said was go and tell my wife,she told me that they had borrowed a disco and she could not ride in it,felt ill and also disliked it rolling around when cornering,I heard recently that the source for the computer(processor) has been changed.When these kind of of problems occurr It is impossible for the average mechanic to diagnose such problems let alone solve them.I worked in the computer industry and if we had similar problems it could take a team of good graduate engineers to fix it.I am still in the s... as the new type X trail gives an awful ride when towing.It is worth checking the swinging weights as they do have an effect on the ride,they can get caught in the towbar wiring.
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| Mon Jun 23 2008 9:37pm |
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Bushwanderer
Joined: 27 Nov 2007
Location: Sydney, Australia
Posts: 146
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Hi TrackMuncher,
I don't where in Sydney you live, but if you're unhappy with Alto, try Trivetts @ Parramatta (their service centre is actually at Camellia (near Rosehill Gardens Racecourse). Speak to Ian Connell, the Assistant Service Manager, he is VERY switched on.
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| Tue Jun 24 2008 4:36am |
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TrackMuncher
Joined: 03 Sep 2006
Location: Sydney
Posts: 26
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Thanks for the advice.
We've had fewer complaints from the kids lately. On the one had we've avoided some windy roads and on the other we have new tyres. And I suspect that if you plant the throttle a little more you get less rocking back and forth. Given the mass of the vehicle (i.e its momentum) I find that at slow speeds in traffic you can be on and off the throttle enough to produce a slight surging - like a bad taxi driver. Ever had one of those? There used to be some theory among taxi drivers in Sydney that repeatedly accelerating and then coasting saved them gas while simultaneously  off the customer.
All up I think the suspension comes into its own off-road - particularly cruising down a dirt road. But it does produce a floating sensation on bitumen that isn't agreeable with everyone.
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| Tue Jun 24 2008 10:20am |
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