IMPROVE YOUR CLASSIC CAR’S RIDE QUALITY

A classic car doesn’t have to be a compromise on noise, handling and comfort. Follow our guide to improving its drivability

When the novelty value of driving a classic car wears off and the irritation of panel rattles accompanied by the noise of the suspension crashing over speed bumps gets the better of you, don’t throw the towel in just yet. There are a number of aspects of a vehicle that can be checked, maintained and updated to help improve ride quality and handling to turn it into the classic car that you want to drive instead of having to put up with driving.

The following pages examine the wheels and tyres, suspension components and geometry, whether the brakes are rotating true and if there’s too much free play in the steering, as well as how to reduce noise levels. All of these issues contribute to the ride quality and handling of a classic car and many of them can affect other aspects in an unusual way.

We discovered this when we started to improve the ride quality of a 20-year-old MkII Mazda MX-5. The first issue concerned scuttle shake, especially over the rear bulkhead, which was eliminated when the aftermarket 17-inch wheels that weighed in at 22kg each were removed and replaced with OE 14-inch wheels and brand-new tyres at half the weight. This not only fixed the scuttle shake, it improved the ride quality at high speed and the car’s cornering ability. However, there were still lots of panel rattles and the suspension crashed over speed bumps. So we visited Noisekiller and soundproofed the car, which transformed its level of refinement and made it feel like the nimble, agile sports car it should be.

Fitting OE-spec coil springs and KYB dampers tweaked the handling a little more, along with having the suspension geometry checked and adjusted. Checking the brake discs rotated true helped to reduce the rolling resistance of the wheels and also helped with even braking at each corner. Finally, checking for worn suspension bushes and ball joints has also helped to maintain the ride quality and handling. After owning this car for five years, it’s still a thrill to drive and never feels like hard work, however long the journey may be.