Suspension Upgrade- Help needed.

TAMBO · Post by **TAMBO** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:04 pm

Well i have decided to get my suspension upgraded on my car.

it is totally standard at the moment.

I will be using the car for track days, but donâ€™t want to too overboard, the car gets used allot on normal roads too.

I have looked at a few sites, but pretty lost to be honest, some pointers and advice, recommendations would be appreciated.

cheers

Tam

Rich H · Post by **Rich H** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:10 pm

The choice depends on budget.

A decent upgrade from the standard Konis is the S2 Bilsten dampers & Eibach springs, a full new set is under £500 IIRC.

There are lots of more expensive options though!!

Post by ed » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:29 pm

I am a big fan of 1-way nitrons, but wtf do i know!?

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 9:35 pm

Unless you are really seriously into track stuff, i would go for the S2 damper option. YOu can lower the car a bit, it'll handle better on track, ride much better on the road, and its only 500 quid. Plus, its fit and forget.

Nitrons are alot more money, need to be fiddled with to get the best out of them, and i just dont think they are worth it unless you use the car on the track, and then if you do, your better spending more money and getting 2 ways.

Stewart · Post by **Stewart** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 10:51 pm

Judging by your times at the sprint last weekend you don't need an upgrade

My car has the S2 upgrade on it and it seems fine. Can't really say if it is all that different from standard though.

TAMBO · Post by **TAMBO** » Mon Oct 29, 2007 11:00 pm

my car now just feels soft, and from pics ive seen my car dips and wallows allot.

up for spending up to 800 ish.

The nitrons I donâ€™t think I need, just want a more stable ride through corners.

Getting new tyres too, have bridgestones on just now and they have been great nothing fancy but i felt them go "off" on the track after 12 laps or so.

it feels my car bounces at times and at speed it makes the old heart flutter.

So any pointers of where to buy this stuff, who can fit? etc would be great

Cheers again!

tambo

Post by **campbell** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 12:15 am

If you are running original Konis, an S2 kit is the perfect upgrade.

Just a shade short of £600 either from Steve Butts or Lotus (latter with SE discount only). Steve's kit has slightly different brackets and a wider range of ride heights. Lotus kit is "one height" but according to Fergus' experience, "just right".

I am running this now after original Konis (twice) and Spax adjustables. Spot on for a road car which does the odd trackday. Very advanced damper design which soaks up bumps very professionally yet takes tighter cornering in its stride. Clever stuff.

Campbell

Victor Meldrew · Post by **Victor Meldrew** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 2:40 am

TAMBO wrote:my car now just feels soft, and from pics ive seen my car dips and wallows allot.

up for spending up to 800 ish.

The nitrons I donâ€™t think I need, just want a more stable ride through corners.

Getting new tyres too, have bridgestones on just now and they have been great nothing fancy but i felt them go "off" on the track after 12 laps or so.

it feels my car bounces at times and at speed it makes the old heart flutter.

So any pointers of where to buy this stuff, who can fit? etc would be great

Cheers again!

tambo

If your up for £800 then a set of S2 shocks and the rear uniball toe link upgrade is what your after.

No point being able to go quicker with stickier tyres if the back end of the car decides to start steering on its own... Just ask Shug..

I fitted the 100/110 S2 set up from SteveB, if you do the search thing you should find heaps of info. My car does roll a little bit but it remains compliant enough that it will crash around the back roads without bouncing you off into the trees. And it is still comfy over a long distance. I think there is a risk of going to stiff and making the car a bit unpredictable on the back roads and in the wet.

robin · Post by **robin** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:26 am

The other option for that sort of money is the Nitron reds - I don't know if they're available yet or if anyone has tested them.

S2 suspension is very good, though, and would be hard to advise anyone to go for the unknown nitron reds vs the known S2 kit.

Leave tyres alone until you get the suspension sorted - it may be that you're cooking the tyres because you're getting too much body roll on cornering. You say bridgestones, what actual tyre are they - the last S1-sized bridgestone I can remember is the S03 - probably not the tyre of choice

Suggest you get a complete set of bolts for mounting the brackets to the chassis and the dampers to the brackets/wishbones. Assuming you're planning on using proper torque settings, suggest you get 8.8 grade bolts as 10.9/12.9 will require more torque to stay tight ...

Cheers,
Robin

woody · Post by **woody** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 11:46 am

Geary was supposed to be getting the reds in about now to trial IIRC.

TAMBO · Post by **TAMBO** » Tue Oct 30, 2007 9:50 pm

thanks for all the help guys

Brunty · Post by **Brunty** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 11:41 am

For just over £600 you can get a set of Gaz Gold!

TAMBO · Post by **TAMBO** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:00 pm

Having a look at these GAZ gold ones.

has anyone got any feedback on these?

http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/prod ... mber=79015

tam

gorrie · Post by **gorrie** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:17 pm

No idea, but from that link.. it's gotta be worth a punt.
At a price similar to S2 kit, adjustable for bump & rebound, fully rebuildable, I guess you'd go for the road/trackday setup rather than race.

mckeann · Post by **mckeann** » Thu Nov 01, 2007 9:37 am

For £800 I could get a set of koni pinks. These are brand new dampers that have the look of 8 year old faded red ones, and with extra free rust to compliment the look.

That price is fitted and includes a free GEO.