Centre Gravity - my positive experience

My better half has always complained about the jiggly (uncomfortable) nature of the ride. ( did i just write that???) so I took my 2004 996 C2 Tip (42k miles) to CG for a suspension check this week.

The trip down from Merseyside on that mobile car park called the M6 was frustrating. Things improved from that point. I was met by Chris who after discussing my concerns /needs took the car out for the the road assessment. That was an enlightening experience with Chris explaining what was happening at each stage. The road test showed there were no unexpected noises from the suspension but there was an indication that the geo was not what it should be. The way the car behaved on the bumpy B road section accentuated the behaviour seen on the A road section of the test. Chris also expressed reservations about the brand of tyres fitted - he rates Michelin.

Back on the ramp the checks showed all the suspension parts were in good condition. The only findings were a slight corrosion on one damper piston rod and a minor fluid weep from one of the rear dampers. Chris was not concerned by either of these. What did surprise me was that the front ride height had settled by 20 mm from stock but the rear had only settled by 3 mm.

The geo check showed problems with both both front and read alignments which had contributed to the on road behaviour though Chris did qualify the remarks with a comment that he was unsure how much the tyres may have contributed. We had discussed what i was looking for in terms of the road behaviour. I was in luck - another customer rang to say was delayed and could not make his appointment so Chris offered to go ahead with a full geo and this suited me fine. The job was completed after normal working hours and we went out for the road test. The unacceptable behaviour was no longer there and on the bumpy B road the car ran straight and true without any hands on the wheel. Not a test I would recommend unless you have completed confidence in the setup. Chris then handed the car to me for the completion of the road test. I was well satisfied - the car was so predictable in the corners and felt really planted. I finally left well after normal "office hours". The journey back up the M6 was the opposite of the morning experience - light traffic and the steering nervousness I had be experiencing in the cruise on the trip down was now gone.

Thank you Chris

Centre Gravity - Wow....

It's been said many times before on here what a great job CG do and I got to experience it for myself today.

Spending 4 hours with them getting my car set up was worth every penny. I drove home tonight in a different car it felt that good.

Can't recommend them highly enough.

+1 I went last week and can't praise them enough!

Brilliant :thumbs:

Another review... apols for lengthy post!

I visited CG for a 'health check' in early January. I had no particular concerns about my car as it had had a couple of full 'geos' in the past at a respected indy, and I've replaced most of the main suspension components.

Chris did mine and went through a very, very thorough analysis, inspection and systematic road test (including a cobbled section!) to diagnose any issues. First thing to say is that CG are not, as I'd imagined, keen for everything to replaced to 'as new', but all the important bits are tested to ensure they are functioning as they should. They won't make you spend money you don't need to.

Interestingly, this also included a damper test on a special rig; my 16 yr old 116,000 mile M030s were shown to be absolutely fine and functioning well within parameters.

The road test revealed that the car was keener to go left than right, but otherwise driving OK with only a front diagonal arm and rear coffin arm reported to be worn. The geo check revealed, disappointingly, that the alignment was quite a long way out, with toe-out at the front which Chris adjusted back to factory settings for my journey home.

I then returned a few weeks later for the full geo, and to change a rear coffin arm. I also had Chris do the 'dog bones' as I'd failed to undo a bolt myself, though I did change the front diagonal arm. Again, disappointingly given that I've paid for my indy to apparently do two full geos, all the rear toe and camber adjusters were completely seized so Chris had to sort that out which was a bit of a nightmare, with parts needing to be cut out laboriously. He saved my rear toe arms by replacing the rubber bush from some he had in his scrap pile that were OK.

Then finally, it was all back together (with all replaced fastenings meticulously metal-greased and lots of protective wax applied) and on to the geo. After discussion, we opted for settings that would suit my local bumpy A and B roads which involved less negative camber than factory settings, and numerous other detail changes. It was very satisfying to see the final report, with consistency between all the settings, all balanced and even, rather than the usual 'it's close enough' I'd experienced previously. Out for a final road test, and then home.

In the course of the day, lots of coffee and tea was drunk while I looked over Chris' shoulder as he worked and explained what he was doing. All absolutely fascinating, and worth the cost in itself as an education.

I've only done a few hundred miles since, but the car feels so much more planted and balanced in its responses, imparting a great feeling of stability and confidence as the front goes exactly where its told. The ride seems slightly better too, which Chris said was possible given that the lower negative camber was offering a larger tyre surface contact under normal driving. The best way to describe it is that you can feel each wheel and suspension component doing its job evenly and as it should.

The visit ended up more expensive than I'd anticipated due to the 4 hrs work getting the car ready for the geo, but all in all, well worth it. It made me realize that these cars suspension systems are precision instruments and need setting up exactly and properly.

In the scheme of what we spend on cosmetic repairs and general servicing it was a reasonable expense and great value given Chris' knowledge and diligence, and without it the car is not driving as it should. Indeed, given that the factory geo settings are 'one size fits all' there are considerable improvements to be had by tailoring the set-up to the sort of driving you do and the feel you want.

Chris said it will not need doing again unless I want different settings, replace something, or hit something hard enough to damage a suspension component or wheel. General bumps and mini-potholes will not knock it out as I'd always feared.

Highly recommended, their reputation is very well deserved and I am a convert!

It's interesting that you say you'd had geo's done prior to your CG visit. It makes me wonder whether some "specialists" know what they are doing in this area. I found the same (on my old 997) having had coilovers plus a geo done by a specialist local to me. Chris was critical of the job they'd done - not just the geo, but the install itself. Of course, once he and Pete had finished, the car was much, much better.

And as you say, Robert, they don't just throw new parts at a job; they explain what they are doing, invite you to observe, and generally treat you with respect and like a grown up. All this takes time, and experts' time is rarely cheap.

My 993 will be going to see them in early April. It'll hurt my wallet, but at least I know the work will be done properly.

And to be fair, their labour rate is no worse than an indy and they work very hard... Chris literally did not down tools from 8.45 til the road test at 4.15, sustained only by a packet of chocolate hob-nobs!

Agreed. My experiences with them have been entirely positive, even down to Chris working on my car with me present until past 10pm one night due to a tricky issue which he subsequently diagnosed and resolved. It's a good company - very good actually - and there's nowhere else I would trust to do geometry on any car I care about.

:thumb:

Another very positive experience from me, last month I spent a whole day with Chris as he went through his checks and adjustments on my 993. He found I needed some new rear toe arms and worked his hardest to find some available same day, sadly none available from any of this usual sources so he gave me the keys to the courtesy car and I popped back a few days later to collect the car.

It was really pleasing to find someone who is such a perfectionist, and the only geo specialist I have ever been to who clearly understood and was able to explain the first, second and third order effects of all the adjustments he made.

Even if you live hundreds of miles away, it's worth a visit.

Gwsinc said:

Another very positive experience from me, last month I spent a whole day with Chris as he went through his checks and adjustments on my 993. He found I needed some new rear toe arms and worked his hardest to find some available same day, sadly none available from any of this usual sources so he gave me the keys to the courtesy car and I popped back a few days later to collect the car.

It was really pleasing to find someone who is such a perfectionist, and the only geo specialist I have ever been to who clearly understood and was able to explain the first, second and third order effects of all the adjustments he made.

Even if you live hundreds of miles away, it's worth a visit.

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I have recommended Chris and Pete ever since I had my Turbo CG'd back in summer 2015. Brilliant guys who know what they are doing. And its a 200 mile round trip for me - for some of his customers they make considerably longer journeys - from Republ8c of Ireland, Scotland and the French Riviera!