Apex or Eibach ?

[bmh.01]

My birthday is coming up and the rents keep asking me what I want so might as well sort the suspension front out. Just unsure of whether to go for a kit or just springs.

Only want to go circa 40mm or so and i've narrowed it down to either some eibach sportlines or an Apex 40mm kit.

Which would be the better option ? Is the full kit worth the extra £££ ?

 

[Justin182]

If you really want 40mm then Apex. But eibach for about 30 -35mm with better ride. Cant comment on kits.

Although yours being a 1.6, the Eibach may drop further. They say 50mm on the box but the sports are lower to begin with.

 

[edde]

Kit all the way.
Personally I'd spend th extra on Coilovers Fk are superbe value and worth the extra. Plus with coilovers you can set to 40mm lower or 50 or 60 unlike kits alone.

 

[Renault_Boy01]

i agree with edde

 

[Maz]

Apex for looks only imho handling is gash

 

[edde]

Apex for looks only imho handling is gash

Thats the problem wih just using springs the dampers arn't set up for the spring rate.

 

[bmh.01]

Not really that bothered with going the full hog with coilovers as they are still substaintially more expensive than the kit option.

Apex for looks only imho handling is gash

Really that bad? Want a nice performance upgrade as much as looks.

Anyone have any experience of putting an Apex kit on a non rs ? Would rather opt for something else entirely if the only improvement would be the drop.

 

[Alan]

Got Eibach sportlines on my 182...apex on their own suck balls...tho i had a full apex gas kit (-60mm springs with matched gas shocks) on my dynamique and it was spot on!!

My dynamique on -60mm apex kit:

Cheers, Alan.

 

[bmh.01]

Apex for looks only imho handling is gash

Thats the problem wih just using springs the dampers arn't set up for the spring rate.

So the kit should be ok ? Got to be an improvement over standard at least ?

 

[edde]

Not really that bothered with going the full hog with coilovers as they are still substaintially more expensive than the kit option.

Really that bad? Want a nice performance upgrade as much as looks.

Anyone have any experience of putting an Apex kit on a non rs ? Would rather opt for something else entirely if the only improvement would be the drop.

I wasn't amazed to hard for my liking on a bumpy road they arn't ideal.

I'd always save fot the coilover might be twice the price but they sell on for more so you cvan think of it as an investment. Perosnally I'd never bother touching suspension unless you inted to spend a fair bit. The only other option is whole new standard stuff which depending how bad your stuff is can make a huge difference.

So the kit should be ok ? Got to be an improvement over standard at least ?

Yep kit will be better by miles than just springs.

 

[bmh.01]

Although the coilover option is tempting I just don't think they'd see the use to warrant the cost, only want it for looks and so it clings to the black stuff better than it does now when I fancy chucking it round a roundabout.

The firmness could be interesting tbh because I think its pretty damn stiff as it is now on the standard "sports" suspension, do have an absolute shiteload of speedbumps around here too. Wouldn't bother me that much as long as it sticks better.

 

[bmh.01]

Anyone else actually fitted an apex kit to an non rs ? What did you think yourself ?

Just after some personal opinions really.

 

[Alan]

Check my pics mate ^^

Full apex kit on my old dynamique!!

 

[edde]

Anyone else actually fitted an apex kit to an non rs ? What did you think yourself ?

Just after some personal opinions really.

I fitted them to a Giles car a few week ago. When he took me out later they were IMO quite hard you realy need to change springs and dampers to get the best.

 

[bmh.01]

Check my pics mate ^^

Full apex kit on my old dynamique!!

I swear they weren't there before, looks good for sure. How did you find them in use ? Any problems ? Did you find them too harsh a ride ?

Got me wondering if 40mm is enough now as that looks spot on.

 

[Alan]

They were spot on mate....on rails for want of a better expression!!

No problems at all with it...very slight rubbing on the inside of the rear arches tho i think that was because i was running 16" 172 wheels, tho i had 5mm spacers they still rubbed a little when pressing on over back roads when the suspension was being worked hard.

Its now my brothers car....and the kit is still goin strong after 24k...it was very very chuckable indeed, very planted but wore tyres a bit quicker than standard as the suspension had less give so the tyres were being used to their limit especially on back roads on hot dry days.

One particular time i went out a blast with my mate, me in the 1.2 16v and him in the C2 VTR he had at the time and he said he was finding it hard to stay with me through some corners as he had to back off at times where i just kept going without breaking at all.

 

[bmh.01]

They were spot on mate....on rails for want of a better expression!!

No problems at all with it...very slight rubbing on the inside of the rear arches tho i think that was because i was running 16" 172 wheels, tho i had 5mm spacers they still rubbed a little when pressing on over back roads when the suspension was being worked hard.

Its now my brothers car....and the kit is still goin strong after 24k...it was very very chuckable indeed, very planted but wore tyres a bit quicker than standard as the suspension had less give so the tyres were being used to their limit especially on back roads on hot dry days.

One particular time i went out a blast with my mate, me in the 1.2 16v and him in the C2 VTR he had at the time and he said he was finding it hard to stay with me through some corners as he had to back off at times where i just kept going without breaking at all.

Sounds like they'll do me fine. Just got to get hold of them now.
Only seem to be able to find them on K-Tec and they want £270, where did you get yours from/how much if you don't mind me asking ?

 

[edde]

No problems at all with it...very slight rubbing on the inside of the rear arches tho i think that was because i was running 16" 172 wheels, tho i had 5mm spacers they still rubbed a little when pressing on over back roads when the suspension was being worked hard.

Its now my brothers car....and the kit is still goin strong after 24k...it was very very chuckable indeed, very planted but wore tyres a bit quicker than standard as the suspension had less give so the tyres were being used to their limit especially on dry summers days on back roads.

172 wheels on there own without suspension catch at the back.

A decent setup should have meant more even tyre wear and longer life. Although it depends how you drive if you use it more on the limit as you end up doing with suepnsion mods tyres will always last less time.

 

[Alan]

No problems at all with it...very slight rubbing on the inside of the rear arches tho i think that was because i was running 16" 172 wheels, tho i had 5mm spacers they still rubbed a little when pressing on over back roads when the suspension was being worked hard.

Its now my brothers car....and the kit is still goin strong after 24k...it was very very chuckable indeed, very planted but wore tyres a bit quicker than standard as the suspension had less give so the tyres were being used to their limit especially on dry summers days on back roads.

172 wheels on there own without suspension catch at the back.

A decent setup should have meant more even tyre wear and longer life. Although it depends how you drive if you use it more on the limit as you end up doing with suepnsion mods tyres will always last less time.

Yeah the tyres wore even mate but i do live in Scotland and we do have some fine roads up here..was only getting about 8k out a set of toyo's...i also had it laser tracked every 6 months to keep everything tip top.

 

[edde]

Yeah the tyres wore even mate but i do live in Scotland and we do have some fine roads up here..was only getting about 8k out a set of toyo's...i also had it laser tracked every 6 months to keep everything tip top.

I don't even get 8k out of set of tyres last set was 5k this new set are on the limit at 8k or so on stock suspension.

 

[Alan]

Christ, how hard do you drive mate lol

Still got my facory PE2's on my 182 and its coming up for 10.5k.

 

[Kam.]

all springs are not made equal. I'd go for Eibach every time

 

[edde]

Christ, how hard do you drive mate lol

Still got my facory PE2's on my 182 and its coming up for 10.5k.

I like the back roads. Its one of the reasona a 172 isn't for me i'd be bankrupt.

 

[JclioD]

Were these pics from before it had settled? because it seems quite high (at the front i mean) mines lowered 40mm on apex, and looks just as low, its settled nicer actually, its flatter? i admit the back of yours looks lower, but the front not so much?This would only make sense if this was taken before it was properly settled?Unless the alloys have changed the ride height. Nice car though, good choice on the alloys, i was thinking of doing that myself.

Ans to first post, Apex are good option i think, 40mm's good choice too, much more than that and speedbumps become an issue (ps, if you go for apex, go over speedbumps slowly, otherwise can be quite a shock) and ive scraped my front skirt on a curb once before too when i wasnt careful with my forward parking (i didnt realise that bumper was low enough for that, but the curb proved otherwise)

Got Eibach sportlines on my 182...apex on their own suck balls...tho i had a full apex gas kit (-60mm springs with matched gas shocks) on my dynamique and it was spot on!!

My dynamique on -60mm apex kit:

Cheers, Alan.