Integrale Suspension Advice

[integrale1]

Having completed a full engine rebuild on my Evo 1, I now need to upgrade the old shocks.I am looking for a 'cost effective' upgrade on standard, as standard shocks are really difficult to source and fairly expensive.
I would be interested to hear of anybody's expierence's of non standard items.
I don't do any track days, mainly country/mountain roads, so nothing too harsh.
Any advice welcome
thanks

[Harris_I]

I'm not sure what is cost effective for you, but I spent around two grand on John Whalley's recommended set up by Black Art Designs (albeit I also have poly bushes).

These are a high quality coilover kit with tender progressive springs. The end result is the car is relatively supple on bumpy roads and beautifully controlled when you press on. In other words, it's true to the OEM philosophy (i.e. a suspension for road use) but much much better.

If you intend to track your car, I do not recommend it.

Ohlins and the like are an order of magnitude more expensive, but I would only go that route if I was serious about track work.

Edited by Harris_I on Tuesday 25th May 14:58

[Setch993]

Hi

If the boys on evoforum don't know, on-one does.
Google evoforum for the link.
Also check this out:

http://www.deltaparts.co.uk/

Nick

[integrale1]

Thanks Harris1, I have considered the Black Art set up but really cant afford the 2k ! Springs are Evo 1 standard items and I was hoping I could fit some Bilstein or something of that ilk which would be less expensive.

[integrale1]

Just looked at the Deltapart site, and the BC Racing Coilovers look about on the money, however even though I am a Lancia nerd I have never heard of these guys and would be interested in any feedback you may have on the company or the product.Thanks

[Fulvisti]

I've heard good reports on the BC racing setup on the integrale, I was thinking about them for mine too but there really wasn't enough info for me to splash out on them. They're a bit more pricey down here in NZ, and need another $350(£170) spent to have them certified by an approved engineer, a bit silly, but it keeps people from building their own.

Anyway I googled bc racing reviews and had a read of how people found them on other cars. Still good reports. There's also a thread on lanciasport.com about them.

I'd be really interested to hear what you think if you do go for them. I've also been recommended the black art setup and really want that, but it's far too many pacific pesos. More info on how these perform would be interestimg too

[Harris_I]

Fulvisti - regarding the BADs:

I tend to be fussy and sensitive to mediocre vs. good vs. very good set ups. For a road car, I want suppleness so that I can go down a pock-marked road and not wince every couple of seconds- it's not 100% perfect in this regard (no high performance car is), but it's certainly not crashy like modern over-wheeled sports cars.

At the same time, I want no slack and firm body control when I pick up the pace. Bump and rebound on these coilovers is absolutely perfect for a twisty B-road blast meaning the contact patch is doing its job properly (unless WRC yumping is your thing) - so the suspension is neither too stiff nor too soft. I have kept the original 16" wheels and standard ride height which I think important for an honest experience.

However if you are travelling in a straight line on a relatively smooth highway at around 120 km/hr and above, you will experience a slight pogo-ing effect, though this is not surprising in a relatively stiff and short wheel base car. I've played with the stiffness but can't completely dial this out, so have learnt to live with it. Besides, I don't think of the 'grale as a highway commuter car so it's less of an issue.

Given that you're in NZ, you might know Onno LeRoy who runs the Lancia register? He's out here in Dubai and has driven my car, as has our local tech who is just about the only real expert in the country and has driven loads back in the UK. Both concur with my view that the BAD set up is just about perfect for a road-going integrale.

[Fulvisti]

Excellent, thanks for that, they do sound good. I've currently just got FE springs and koni adjustables on soft and it feels pretty good, but there's room for improvement. I like the standard ride height bit. Lived in the UK for a few years so know your roads, and wish I'd had the foresight to buy grale bits when I was earning proper money. Ha ha.

I know Onno's dad quite well, have met him a lot through Italian car rallys and Fulvia info for my resto(I think he has eight) and I've bought some bits off Onno, and put him on to possible work when he gets back. Small world eh! Looking fwd to catching up with him when he gets back.

[Muzzlehatch]

integrale1 said:

Just looked at the Deltapart site, and the BC Racing Coilovers look about on the money, however even though I am a Lancia nerd I have never heard of these guys and would be interested in any feedback you may have on the company or the product.Thanks

Martin has a lot of experience of both standard and modified integrales (all variants), and also of creating bespoke parts to a specification. I've known him for coming up to 10 years, and he started Deltaparts a few years ago (I built/host his website).

Impartially: He has many happy customers (plus one vocal detractor with an axe to grind, which is normal for any business), and is within the Club Lancia Sport and Evocorner communities, so he's certainly no fly-by-night charlatan.

BC Coilovers are just about the only integrale suspension system I haven't experienced. I really rate Ohlins and Intrax/RSR (I've experienced John Whalley's progressive setup in his Blu Lagos car, which is also excellent), but they are at the more expensive end of the scale.

For the price, BC are certainly worth a punt over other sub £1k setups, particularly as they include adjustable top mounts. Go with the softer springs if you intend to use it mainly for the road. You can always wind up the dampers for the occasional trackday.

[deltaevo16]

I have known Martin at Deltaparts for a few years, I have done some of the pictures for his website and blog. The BC coilovers are fantastic value for money. The first car Martin put them on I went with him to test drive it. The setup is very forgiving on cruddy roads even on the hardest damper settings, the adjustment is very easy to do. The build quality is far superior to my fk coilovers.

Im sure you will love the setup it takes the handling to a different league, without busting the bank.

[integrale1]

Thanks guys, I think I'll give them a go and see how I get on.

[Fulvisti]

What did you go for in the end, and do you you find your set up? I've just rebuilt my engine and got the car back on the road and am back to thinking about coilovers. Interested to hear where you are with this.

[911944]

I've got a set of bc coil overs on my grale and they're fantastic for the money! They're well made and the system for adjusting the ride height is fantastic. They fit well, look the part and resist the uk weather well. Had mine for nearly 18 months and done approximate 10,000 miles on varied terrain and I can't fault them

I also installed power flex bushes all round.

T

[Fulvisti]

I took the plunge and fitted them a couple of weeks ago too, yeah I like them, finally got the correct spring rates from the supplier too. The rears were too stiff, and it was unbalanced. Much better now. Loving it! Powerflex all around too, mine's done 170 000k's now and when I put the new bushes in I think the old ones were the originals from new, pretty loose.