“It's just a daily” - Renaultsport Clio 182
Discussion
DoubleTime said:
Ok frayz - enough fannying about. Get out for a long blast and report back on....
A - coilovers
B - diff
Ha, well I've been back at work 3 weeks so I’ve driven it every day.A - coilovers
B - diff
The usual spring rates most go for on the ASTs are for track usage and many opt for 90N front with 110N rear. They basically set up the rear so stiff that the front just drags it around the track. Fine if you’re racing on slicks but awful on the road and much slower than a standard car would be.
I spoke to Simon Joy and Josh Cook (Ex Clio Cup racer/current BTCC driver) at AST at some length before choosing mine and Josh recommended 70N fronts with a 40N rear as this is apparently what he runs/ran on his own road car. While that may sound like they're really soft, let me assure you, on the road they're anything but!
I have 12 clicks of adjustment on the damper settings and am currently at 7 clicks front and 6 clicks rear. I'm still finding my feet with them so I’ll drive them like this for a few weeks and get myself used to them before altering them again.
I live in the east of Essex and the surrounding roads are all country lanes and fast B roads which are pretty undulating. Well kept for the most part but anything but polished and flat. On the road the dampers are firm, compliant but very firm. I'm so glad i didn't go any higher on the spring rates than i have. The body control is pretty good and on the R888s the corning ability is pretty staggering. The rate at which you can cover ground in it now is really beyond what should be available from a 15 year old French box. However i will say that along with the dampers, i added the roll centre hubs. This is when the wheels/tyres went on too, so a drop in wheel size from 16" to 15" and from Michelin PS3s to Toyo R888s.
So I’m attributing some of the firmness to the tyres as they have very little give.
I’m running a pretty low ride height, but not daft low like some. Even still, you do have to modify the bumper brackets in the front as these catch on the tyre and i can’t be dealing with scrubbing issues, I’m 37, not 17 anymore, Ha.
I could raise the ride height but to be honest i like its aggressive little stance it has. The front track is now approx. 42mm wider than stock (16mm spacers +5mm from the roll centre kit so 21mm per side) and with 2 degrees of camber up front it looks hard as nails head on. Again, i could go less aggressive on wheel spacing but i like how it looks.
If i was on track id say this setup would be pretty damn special for how i like to drive, i may even go firmer still, but i like to feel the weight transfer in the car. Go too stiff and you start to lose a lot of feel and that's not how i like my cars to feel.
As for the road, i think I’ll play for a bit and then try dialling it back and run it as soft as i can but still maintain the body control. The dampers have also massively reduced the amount of droop the car runs now so wheel travel is different to before and it will pick up a tyre front or rear almost anywhere if you're on it. I like my cars to be compliant and let the dampers control the tyre contact properly, none of this skipping about nonsense. As it stands if you hit a big bump at big speed it will skip so i want to dial a little more of that out. None of this is an issue thanks to the diff i might add.
Even with it being firmer than the Cup dampers / Eibach springs it wore before, the ride is significantly improved. Again, the car runs spherical bearings on both topmounts, lower joints and TCAs so you feel everything through the steering and there’s zero slack in anything attached to the steering wheel. With the ASTs you feel the damper working so much better than before and i think all the changes have attributed to amount of feel and feedback you now have.
The diff is probably one of my favourite additions. I think every hot hatch should come with one as standard. The hook up out of corners now is great, no more loss of drive and it just darts for the apex. Even as simple as pulling out of a wet junction or roundabout is now so much more confidence inspiring as you just feel the front end hook up. Lumps, bumps and any time you feel the car leave the ground you know the drive is kept consistent and it provides a much nicer feel IMO.
I think if you own a 172/182, don't mess with anything else and just put a proper diff in it. It’s the best thing you'll do as it can be enjoyed at all speeds and situations with zero negative effects.
If anything i think the modifications to the chassis now fully highlight the shortcomings in the power department. Its crying out for a bit more go, so i may look at a few tweaks in that area soon too. Nothing major, maybe some timing, mapping changes just to make the drivability better and allow it to rev out cleaner.
Overall i think the car is getting quite serious now in its focus and intent.
I’m looking at making it a proper little clubsport spec car with perhaps a rear cage, as the rear seats cannot be accessed with the Pole Positions and are just there for decoration anyway.
All carpets and trim would remain so it would be a mini R26-R / GT3 Clubsport if you will. I think done right it would not detract from it being a quality little package.
I hope that offers a little insight as to how it feels now.
Edited by frayz on Sunday 17th May 08:29
Edited by frayz on Sunday 17th May 10:39
TheDukeGTi said:
You're doing a great job on this. I bet it's gotta be one of the best out there.
I especially love how much tyre you're rocking on those wheels. Makes a nice change to see, rather than super low profile nonsense.
Thank you sir. Yeah i would say its nice to have a wheel with a bit of tyre around it, but due to the nature of these. I especially love how much tyre you're rocking on those wheels. Makes a nice change to see, rather than super low profile nonsense.
Comfort has not been improved haha
Finally some stopping power the little Clio deserves.
My pads of choice arrived today, I chose these based on my own experience as I’ve used them for years on my other cars.
Pagid RSL29s front
Pagid RS4-2 rears
I also dropped my black Turinis a the powdercoaters yesterday, these have been black for almost 10 years. They’re coming back silver and shoots add a different look to the little orange box.
My pads of choice arrived today, I chose these based on my own experience as I’ve used them for years on my other cars.
Pagid RSL29s front
Pagid RS4-2 rears
I also dropped my black Turinis a the powdercoaters yesterday, these have been black for almost 10 years. They’re coming back silver and shoots add a different look to the little orange box.
Cant go wrong with RSL29 i run them on my track car and they never miss a beat and are worth the outlay .
frayz said:
Finally some stopping power the little Clio deserves.
My pads of choice arrived today, I chose these based on my own experience as I’ve used them for years on my other cars.
Pagid RSL29s front
Pagid RS4-2 rears
I also dropped my black Turinis a the powdercoaters yesterday, these have been black for almost 10 years. They’re coming back silver and shoots add a different look to the little orange box.
My pads of choice arrived today, I chose these based on my own experience as I’ve used them for years on my other cars.
Pagid RSL29s front
Pagid RS4-2 rears
I also dropped my black Turinis a the powdercoaters yesterday, these have been black for almost 10 years. They’re coming back silver and shoots add a different look to the little orange box.
Kenich said:
You have done a lovely job on this, really tidy car you got there. Lovely spec to! I carried our similar cleaning / painting of the problem area on my 172 over the winter. Good to know when you got a good one!
Thank you. I agree, it’s satisfying to know that the car is as sound as possible. It’s no show queen but nice to keep things clean and tidy and hopefully it will provides many more years of enjoyment. chrismc1977 said:
It will look top notch on silver turini’s. Definite thumbs up for being back on OEM wheels
Just about to go PBS pads all round on my DC2. More than enough for fast road use. Should be mechanically perfect after it’s suspension refresh next week!!
A lot of the Honda & Clio guys seem to have the PBS pads and like them. Much like tyres, brakes are a personal thing, and I’ve been using RS29s for years and always had great results from them. Just about to go PBS pads all round on my DC2. More than enough for fast road use. Should be mechanically perfect after it’s suspension refresh next week!!
Expensive but last ages and you certainly seem to get what you pay for with them.
As for my Speedline Turinis, these will be more of a winter wheel being a 16” with a Pilot Sport 3 tyre. I like the way the car drives on 15s and the steering response and grip from the R888s.
I also like the Nangkang NS2R which despite their name I’ve also had good results from.
Managed to go for my first socially distanced drive out yesterday and caught up with some friends in a minty fresh Titanium 182 and another his in his lovely black R26 Meg.
Took a leisurely jaunt out to Bradwell and even stopped for some snaps. So nice to get out and drive for just the enjoyment of it.
Oh and i put my new Pagid pads in this morning so tonight will be some after hours bedding in post lateshift
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Ms3rWmEo[/url]
Took a leisurely jaunt out to Bradwell and even stopped for some snaps. So nice to get out and drive for just the enjoyment of it.
Oh and i put my new Pagid pads in this morning so tonight will be some after hours bedding in post lateshift
[url]
|https://thumbsnap.com/Ms3rWmEo[/url]Well that’s the pads properly bedded in and heat cycled. They’re no longer yellow anyway. Ha.
Obviously not put them on track yet but the initial impressions were exactly as I was expecting. Good bite, solid pedal and loads of feel. Finally have brakes that inspire confidence when pressing on.
Also, zero squeal.
Also had my front belts re webbed in black, looking forward to getting these in and doing away with the continually dirty silver.
Obviously not put them on track yet but the initial impressions were exactly as I was expecting. Good bite, solid pedal and loads of feel. Finally have brakes that inspire confidence when pressing on.
Also, zero squeal.
Also had my front belts re webbed in black, looking forward to getting these in and doing away with the continually dirty silver.
WZD Update:
So she’s started getting grumpy on cold start and developed a cold misfire/hesitation that clears within a few hundred yds.
Only on cold start, so i wondered if this is an injector or temp sender going down?
She’s knocking on 125k now, so either way I thought she could use a fresh set of injectors, as these are not uncommon to die at this age now anyway.
So fitted 4 new plugs and 4 new genuine Marrelli injectors last night.
Plugs removed all looked clean with no nasty signs. All injectors also have perfect resistance between 14.6 and 14.8ohms
It certainly seemed to start and idle cleaner, however only time would tell in the morning.
I'm pleased to say this morning starting and idle was perfect and back to the usual but still somewhat grumbly standard Clio sport idle.
No misfire or hesitation at all, and feels like it pulls much smoother and cleaner throughout. Not sure if maybe a plug was starting to go or what, but certainly feels like it was probably down on power a little previously .
Speaking of power, now the chassis is pretty much where i want it, its crying out for some more poke.
I'd love to stay NA if there could be a noticeable and worthwhile improvement to be had, but the allure of force feeding the little F4R is also there.
What do do?
So she’s started getting grumpy on cold start and developed a cold misfire/hesitation that clears within a few hundred yds.
Only on cold start, so i wondered if this is an injector or temp sender going down?
She’s knocking on 125k now, so either way I thought she could use a fresh set of injectors, as these are not uncommon to die at this age now anyway.
So fitted 4 new plugs and 4 new genuine Marrelli injectors last night.
Plugs removed all looked clean with no nasty signs. All injectors also have perfect resistance between 14.6 and 14.8ohms
It certainly seemed to start and idle cleaner, however only time would tell in the morning.
I'm pleased to say this morning starting and idle was perfect and back to the usual but still somewhat grumbly standard Clio sport idle.
No misfire or hesitation at all, and feels like it pulls much smoother and cleaner throughout. Not sure if maybe a plug was starting to go or what, but certainly feels like it was probably down on power a little previously .
Speaking of power, now the chassis is pretty much where i want it, its crying out for some more poke.
I'd love to stay NA if there could be a noticeable and worthwhile improvement to be had, but the allure of force feeding the little F4R is also there.
What do do?
Edited by frayz on Thursday 4th June 08:29
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