Au Fairmont Ghia Handling Like A Boat!!!!

[aufairmontghia]

Hi All,

My AU FAIRMONT GHIA drives & handles like a boat!!! It's got the tickford setup & 17's but seems to float on the road especially cruising on the highway..... It doesn't have a rear sway either & don't know if a S1 should have it???

I've been told this is typical & normal for all AU's to handle like that!!!! WOTDA....

Is this true???

Anyone else have this problem & have you been able to fix it????

Cheers

[blueoval]

Sounds like shocks could be worn out.

My advice is to go to your nearest Pedders and get a 28point safety check. It cost $14. They will give you a written report of your entire suspension setup and let you know if anything is worn and also give you a price on fixing it.

BUT

DONT, I repeat, DONT get them to do work on your car unless you have money burning a hole in your pocket.

I would recommend speaking to one of the site sponsors here on this forums with regarsd to the findings of the report and seeing what they can do pricewise and fitting also.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by aufairmontghia

My AU FAIRMONT GHIA drives & handles like a boat!!!

My S3 Ghia was like that when I bought it.

Mine had the stock ghia suspension and 16"s on it but I note that yours has the Tickford + 17"s.

I swapped mine to 17"s and XR coils and shocks but found the ride too hard.

I've then swapped to F and R lows "touring" coils and shocks which I bought from a member in here - from memory they are a Pedders brand. Much, much better ride.

I then swapped to 18"s but didn't like the ride so swapped back to 17"s.

My driving is all long trips. Car sits in the garage week in and week out and then 4 or 5 times per year we'll go for a 4000k drive.

That "touring" combination works very well for us (old farts) but I'm over driving on the bleeding edge and now look for that compromise between reasonable handling and ride.

Given that you've got reasonable suspension to start with, I'd be looking at shockies for starters but the suggestion to get the safety check is a very good one.

[bodes-sh]

could also be an alignment issue. and my series 1 forte has a rear sway bar and live axle, although i thought ghia's had irs. as above get a pedder's check and also get an alignment done somewhere decent too. incorrect camber and toe settings can majorly upset the car

[brad`]

series 1 and series 2 IRS was optional and only became standard towards the end of series 2 and all series 3 models came out with it

[RG]

You buy a barge and expect it not to handle like a boat?

Seriously I'd get the shocks and bushes looked at. Sounds like you have an IRS equipped model so I dare say that the upper shock mounts are knackered and in need of replacement, when they're stuffed they do give the rear a very loose feel.

[grandpa_spec_F6]

I 2nd the barge analogy, although quick cornering on stock S1 ghia suspension results in an even quicker 180 degree turn :(

[SSVPom]

Originally Posted by brad`

series 1 and series 2 IRS was optional and only became standard towards the end of series 2 and all series 3 models came out with it

(I think IRS was standard on Series 1,2 and 3 Ghias.... 100% on all Series 2 onwards anyway.)

Sounds like the wheel alignment and/or rear shock mounts need checking as a first port of call !

[THR347]

Originally Posted by aufairmontghia

Hi All,

It's got the tickford setup & 17's but seems to float on the road especially cruising on the highway..... It doesn't have a rear sway either & don't know if a S1 should have it???


Cheers

I've got an s1 XR6 with IRS and it has front and rear swaybars.

[aufairmontghia]

Forgot to mention... The shocks were changed all round & has had 4 wheel algniment with a camber/caster adjustment kit up front!!!
Another set of rear top shock mounts (not new) were fiited up... My mounts & the ones fiited looked in good nick & didn't seem to have the rubber perishing or any wearing!!!

The sway/float/roll???? seems to be from the back... not a huge amount but enough to make u feel usteady on the road!!!
I'm not being petty but it doesn't give you much confidence....

[RG]

Did you add the washers under the cup when you fitted the new shock mounts?

[au11futura]

Originally Posted by RG

You buy a barge and expect it not to handle like a boat?

Seriously I'd get the shocks and bushes looked at. Sounds like you have an IRS equipped model so I dare say that the upper shock mounts are knackered and in need of replacement, when they're stuffed they do give the rear a very loose feel.

all ford sedans have been known to handle like the tittanic.

the barge theory is true.

but with a little attention and the right setup your ford can handle quite well, but dont expect it to hanle like a jappo.

dont forget they are made for open roads and cumfort in minde.

[bodes-sh]

if it's coming from the rear i'd second shock mounts, but it still doesn't mean the alignment was done properly just because it has been done.... if it's out of specs it will cause problems

[Jimmyd]

Originally Posted by bodes-sh

if it's coming from the rear i'd second shock mounts, but it still doesn't mean the alignment was done properly just because it has been done.... if it's out of specs it will cause problems

AU1 Fairmont Ghias had IRS standard - with the Tickford 17"s and Sports Suspension they handle well enough to scare the crap out of some euro sporties costing astronomically more $$$$.

Two likely causes for your problem -

1. incorrect fitting of the rear upper shock mounts - if you don't fit the parts in the correct sequence the shock rod does not clamp down properly on the mount, also some aftermarket shocks have the incorrect length between shoulder and end of threaded section on the piston rod - may sometimes need an extra spacer to ensure it clamps down properly

2. Has the wheel aligner used the correct settings - with the Tickford suspension & 17"s you MUST use the XR6 settings otherwise it'll handle like a pig(relatively speaking).....

These are specific issues I have come across that match your symptoms but may not reflect your reality.....

Cheers

[buickman]

The AU 1 ghia IRS suspensions did not come with the rear camber kit I know mine didn't I think only the XR's did. I found when I fitted 17"s on the car it felt rough and bouncy especially with a full tank of fuel.
I fitted super lows and pedders sports struts and a rear camber kit which made the car so much better in the handling dept but gave a harder ride.

[ronwest]

Originally Posted by buickman

The AU 1 ghia IRS suspensions did not come with the rear camber kit

Neither did the Series 3.

I fitted the kit (2 eccentric headed bolts) prior to wheel alignment after suspension work was done.

[Jimmyd]

Originally Posted by buickman

The AU 1 ghia IRS suspensions did not come with the rear camber kit I know mine didn't I think only the XR's did. I found when I fitted 17"s on the car it felt rough and bouncy especially with a full tank of fuel.
I fitted super lows and pedders sports struts and a rear camber kit which made the car so much better in the handling dept but gave a harder ride.

I was a Ford Service Manager when the AU was launched - IIRC the factory fitted Tickford 17" wheel/sports suspension option on the Fairmont Ghia basically received the Tickford XR6 VCT suspension - including the rear camber adjustment, as noted without this you can not get the car to ride/handle correctly with the change to ride height, damping/spring rates and 45 profile tyres employed with the Tickford 17" wheel/sports suspension option.

Maybe some ex Tickford/production line assembly man will be able to recall that it was only fitted to blue ones on fridays or some such story that is usually trotted out on these occasions; this is just recollections of what I saw fitted to Fairmont Ghias with the Tickford 17" wheel/sports suspension option as they rolled off the truck and onto the predelivery inspection hoist.....

Cheers

James