New suspension ideas

[Vee8ight]

My Cerb is in need of new suspension. I don't want adjustable stuff as the temptation to mess it up is to great! I'm looking to upgrade to Tuscan S spec Bilsteins as advised by Ben Lang but was wondering if anyone could tell me how this would compare to a) Standard and b) Sagaris spec?

[Jhonno]

Speak to Joolz? I believe he has a decent Cerb 'Joolz' spec'd offering these days..

[ukkid35]

I bought Protechs from Joolz, but being very cheap I elected to swap the springs from my old shocks rather than buying the shocks with new springs ready assembled. I'm not sure I'd recommend a spring swap unless you have access to spring compressors that fit these narrow coiled thick springs. Apparently motor cycle spring compressors can work, but I've not tried them myself.

[ridds]

Jools
Protech
Done

There's even a cheap set on ebay currently. 4 springs from Faulkners and you're away. Recommend upgrading to PTFE bearings though as I've just replaced mine due to wear.

[aide]

+1 for Joo spec Protechs.
A set went on my Cerb yesterday with new springs.
Can't wait to get it back...

[Vee8ight]

I know Jools knows his stuff, but I fail to see how £1k worth of Protech coilovers can be better than £800 of Bilsteins. If we was talking £2k+ coilovers, ohlins etc that it would be different.

What spring rates are people running as the sagaris' run 456/400 lb F/R and Tuscan 200/285 and I'd like to know what these spring rates would feel like.

Thanks Darren

[gruffalo]

I think you will find that the Bilsteins are standard off the shelf item, I would imagine that the Protechs are set for the car not just a generic setting.

[ridds]

Protechs £1k? They're £325 on ebay. £40 a spring. Job done.

Billy's aren't adjustable and it can be handy to have.

[ridds]

Also the factory Billys were shot quality. Chrome plate fell off.

I run 500 fronts and 425 rears. Probably too firm for most people.

[Vee8ight]

ridds said:

Also the factory Billys were shot quality. Chrome plate fell off.

I run 500 fronts and 425 rears. Probably too firm for most people.

I thought Cerbera's didn't have factory Billy's?
These will be Tuscan 2 shocks, and rebuilt with sagaris valving if I decide to have the harder springs.

[Vee8ight]

ridds said:

Protechs £1k? They're £325 on ebay. £40 a spring. Job done.

Billy's aren't adjustable and it can be handy to have.

£325! So cheaper than Gaz? definately won't be buying them then. I believe you get what you pay for and Gaz are rubbish and don't even belong on a corsa. Spax/Koni are the lowest I think anyone who wants a half decent ride should have. I had race valved AST coilovers on my last car £1400 worth and they were good, superior to the Spax they replaced, but were quite hard

[ridds]

Crack on then, you've clearly made up your mind.

I've ridden in Cerbs running factory stocks, Gaz, Protechs and Nitrons and in my experience and preference the Protechs offer the best value for money.

Discounting a product purely on price is plain daft.

Also read up on Nitrons and serviceability, customer care and Gaz and durability.

[Gazzab]

Don't waste your money on the bilsteins.
Protech are considered an excellent shock. Joolz has these perfectly spec'd for cerbs. Job done.
Or ignore the advice and don't go with the crowd.

[jamieduff1981]

At the risk of upsetting people, running a car on Gaz shocks which isn't 'rubbish' casts a degree of doubt over the assertions made above. To have a preference for Nitrons or whatever is fine. They probably are better than Gaz Golds. The datum point from which one measures though is important to see where peoe are coming from though. To state that Gaz aren't good enough for a Corsa makes to whole arguement sound like emotive crap IMO. It's at best inconsistent with the other preferences and metrics mentioned.

It's your money though so do as you please - it's no skin off anyone else's nose.

[Vee8ight]

ridds said:

Crack on then, you've clearly made up your mind.

I've ridden in Cerbs running factory stocks, Gaz, Protechs and Nitrons and in my experience and preference the Protechs offer the best value for money.

Discounting a product purely on price is plain daft.

Also read up on Nitrons and serviceability, customer care and Gaz and durability.

Sorry, I have not explained myself correctly and got side tracked.

What I really needed to know what spring rates people have and what the ride quality is like in a Cerbera. I know it originally was sprung very soft and I need it to be more taught.