'Budget' Suspension Set-up?
Discussion
OK - I know there have been many posts regarding suspension set-ups, and the best for track / sprinting use etc.
But is there 'something close' to standard set-up for a straight replacement i.e. road use and the occasional track day (may be some adjustment?).
:standsbackandopenscanofworms:
The reason I ask is that looking at the various set-ups (and getting
in the process) there seems to be no limit to what you can do.
Is there a solution that isn't going to need me to sell a kidney
Oh - and also how easy (and what sort of cost) is it to replace the suspension bushes (front and rear), is it a DIY job?
All advice gratefully appreciated
Thanks
Chris
But is there 'something close' to standard set-up for a straight replacement i.e. road use and the occasional track day (may be some adjustment?).
:standsbackandopenscanofworms:
The reason I ask is that looking at the various set-ups (and getting
in the process) there seems to be no limit to what you can do. Is there a solution that isn't going to need me to sell a kidney
Oh - and also how easy (and what sort of cost) is it to replace the suspension bushes (front and rear), is it a DIY job?
All advice gratefully appreciated
Thanks
Chris
i got a great set up on my car for around 500 pounds with avos and alot of spring testing. i use cerbera rear dampers all round on my S, but if u want a low ride height the stroke is too long and the springs come loose on their seats.
you need either to use secondary helper springs or accept thjis limitation and wind the springs tight for mot time .. for this reason i wouldn't sell this exact set up to a customer, but shows that you cna get a good set up for little money, the S is devastating on tight twisty tracks and cn show a clean set of tail lights to cerberas and tuscans on very tight tracks where power doesn't mean anything.
you need either to use secondary helper springs or accept thjis limitation and wind the springs tight for mot time .. for this reason i wouldn't sell this exact set up to a customer, but shows that you cna get a good set up for little money, the S is devastating on tight twisty tracks and cn show a clean set of tail lights to cerberas and tuscans on very tight tracks where power doesn't mean anything.
I have Koni's all round which makes the car very 'pointy' but with the exhaust not having the best of clearance as stock, in the lowered state she does seem to bottom out occasionaly.
I believe this cost around £800 for the whole set up, but as i have only driven this one im not sure if i can properly comment.
@ £800 its not cheap
I believe this cost around £800 for the whole set up, but as i have only driven this one im not sure if i can properly comment.
@ £800 its not cheap
Woody, I am currently looking to replace the shocks on my S3 as well. Like you, I have looked up everything I can find about suspension on these pages, talked to a few dealers and phoned up some of the excellent gentlemen who post here.
The bottom line is, that if you talk to ten people, you'll get ten different opinions. This is not a bad thing, it just goes to show that there's not neccessarly a "right way" and a "wrong way" to go about it but that it's very much down to personal preferences, experience and so forth.
The problem here is, that it's easy to make a costly mistake. Nobody's doing a "try before you buy" deal, that would be nice.
Another surprise to me is that nobody seems to offer Konis (other than replacements for the originals) or Bilstein, probably the two largest companies with a HUGE product range.
Batty S4C, do you have any more info on the Koni shocks you are using or are they the type the S was manufactured with?
As far as replacing the bushes goes, I think it's quite hard to do. I read the relevant section in Steve Heath's book, and I wouldn't tackle the job myself. However, I got quoted £375 just to re-bush the front suspension. Ouch! I think they built some "safety margin" into this quote, as some of the bushes can be quite stubborn, but it's a fair bit more than what I expected.
If you find any interesting information, Woody, please share it!
Andy
The bottom line is, that if you talk to ten people, you'll get ten different opinions. This is not a bad thing, it just goes to show that there's not neccessarly a "right way" and a "wrong way" to go about it but that it's very much down to personal preferences, experience and so forth.
The problem here is, that it's easy to make a costly mistake. Nobody's doing a "try before you buy" deal, that would be nice.
Another surprise to me is that nobody seems to offer Konis (other than replacements for the originals) or Bilstein, probably the two largest companies with a HUGE product range.
Batty S4C, do you have any more info on the Koni shocks you are using or are they the type the S was manufactured with?
As far as replacing the bushes goes, I think it's quite hard to do. I read the relevant section in Steve Heath's book, and I wouldn't tackle the job myself. However, I got quoted £375 just to re-bush the front suspension. Ouch! I think they built some "safety margin" into this quote, as some of the bushes can be quite stubborn, but it's a fair bit more than what I expected.
If you find any interesting information, Woody, please share it!
Andy
The Koni's that were fitted to Matty's S4 weren't stock, they're slightly uprated. They were fitted and set up by www.castlesport.com
I went for the Tower View Gaz shocks and springs @ about £700. They work well, but I have mine set up quite a bit stiffer than the settings they supply them with. These do, however, suffer from the same problem Joolz mentioned with the rear springs leaving their seats. The rear spring adjustment is as low as it will go and still only gives me a fairly standard ride height and very little travel on the shock before it hits the stop. With the settings being fairly stiff this hasn't been a problem and I've never grounded the exhaust whilst on the road yet 
.
On poly bushes, I bought the front set from Tower View for about £80 and provided that you don't mind a little hard work, they can be a DIY job. They advised against DIY for the rears, as they can be a bit of a job to press the old ones out. I will do mine when I renew the trailing arms.
Andy
. On poly bushes, I bought the front set from Tower View for about £80 and provided that you don't mind a little hard work, they can be a DIY job. They advised against DIY for the rears, as they can be a bit of a job to press the old ones out. I will do mine when I renew the trailing arms.
Andy
HarryW said:
That reminds me I really must give you a ring Joolz, had a chat on friday with Paul at Austec about this very subject and he suggested I talk to you
Harry
Well hurry up
after I get the service done, a little chip fitted, and a little repair done I'll be doing the same.
So if you would be so kind as get them done quick I can see what yours are like first
Pies said:
That reminds me I really must give you a ring Joolz, had a chat on friday with Paul at Austec about this very subject and he suggested I talk to you
Harry
Well hurry up
So if you would be so kind as get them done quick I can see what yours are like first
In communications now
. I will hopefully have something fitted by the time you visit Austec, you may even see my car there as it'll be being worked on whilst a spend a week in the sun
. Harry
I found some interesting statement in an older thread from about a year ago.
What ever happened to these "Budget Nitrons? Any news?
Andy
P.S i double-checked, it wasn't posted on April, 1st...
joospeed said:
Nitron are going to have a new budget damper out soon .. should offer a real alternative to the AVO / GAZ route cost concious owners go for at the moment. Watch this space ...
The current NTR Nitron offers the best value for money you can get in a damper at the moment as far as I am concerned, and I've fitted alot of the competition but always come back to nitron in the end.
Hope that helps.
What ever happened to these "Budget Nitrons? Any news?
Andy
P.S i double-checked, it wasn't posted on April, 1st...
Ok so there seem to be 'options' for dampers - AVO's, GAZ etc all at varying prices.
But what about Springs?
Also (I know I'm probably being a bit dim) how can you tell if the springs are knackered?
I don't know whether its the springs or dampers or both that are 'past there best' - the front of the car gets a bit wallowy under braking. Don't have any problems opening the bonnet though.
Chris
But what about Springs?
Also (I know I'm probably being a bit dim) how can you tell if the springs are knackered?
I don't know whether its the springs or dampers or both that are 'past there best' - the front of the car gets a bit wallowy under braking. Don't have any problems opening the bonnet though.
Chris
Springs can sag with age but I would expect them to easily outlast the dampers, and problems with the car feeling wallowy etc are almost certainly caused by faulty dampers rather than springs. But having said that, most aftermarket dampers will come with new springs anyway. They are likely to be a different length and maybe different diameter to the originals. You will also probably find they're single rate springs rather than the original rising rate, and slightly harder than the originals.
Yep, I'm raising this old thread again
I've decided that if funds allow I'm going to upgrade my dampers+springs. This will come from my 'new wood dash' budget though
I'm still confused I'm afraid. I'm looking for a budget set-up - road use only for now. Increasing ride height would be a bonus.
As far as I can see, good options would be ether the Tower View Gaz shocks or the Joospeed AVO's. Tower would be easier as they are just down the road, Joospeed could be a nice day out though - depending on how long they take to fit. Alternatively, I assume I could get someone else to fit the Joospeed ones, although I'd imagine Tower to be a bit reluctant!
Any advice appreciated.
I've decided that if funds allow I'm going to upgrade my dampers+springs. This will come from my 'new wood dash' budget though
I'm still confused I'm afraid. I'm looking for a budget set-up - road use only for now. Increasing ride height would be a bonus.
As far as I can see, good options would be ether the Tower View Gaz shocks or the Joospeed AVO's. Tower would be easier as they are just down the road, Joospeed could be a nice day out though - depending on how long they take to fit. Alternatively, I assume I could get someone else to fit the Joospeed ones, although I'd imagine Tower to be a bit reluctant!
Any advice appreciated.
Podie said:
OK, I'm going to mention that word again... 
Austec were telling me they'd sorted a suspension setup... now it may not be nitrons or up to GreenV8S's needs, but should do for mere mortals.
Give 'em a shout...
Paul has a budget (relatively speaking 
} set up for the S using AVO's. As does Joolz . However if you want to spent a little more, they are more than willing to fit Nitrons sourced from Joolz too. All assuming that Austec are near you that is in the first place
. Harry
>> Edited by HarryW on Tuesday 2nd March 08:50
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