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Handling on springs, plus top mount question.



Hi, I've recently renewed all the engine mounts; I went for OE, plus polyurethane dog-bone. It has cured all the knocking under acceleration, and feels brand new again. I'm pleased to say the least.

I now wish to rid the knocking from the suspension top mounts, but I'm at a loss as to what to go for. I can imagine that brand new OE top mounts will cure the knocking, but then I read that the OE design can be prone to knocking, simply due to its design (and can be rectified with a shim, I think?) Can someone state the dimensions of the shim, and a general place I may find it to buy?

However, at the same time I am considering some after market mounts, specifically the KTEC ones.

This may sound like an open-ended question, but how long have OE top mounts been known to last? I wouldn't want to buy them, and within a year they give up on me again. Also, does anyone have a rough price for a pair of OE top mounts?

The next bit is Eibach Sportline springs. I am interested in these, because my springs have covered some mileage, and could do with renewing. I am tempted by the Sportlines because people rave about Eibach quality, and there seems to be a generally positive regard for them.

However, I can't help wonder if they are worth it. If a car supposedly handles better with these springs, why didn't Renault design the car around that spring rate, and ride height? Why didn't it come like this from the factory? I realise a road car is a compromise, but the 172 Cup does come across as a little single-minded anyway, so I wonder if the Sportlines have a place on the car, or if I should go OE? I wouldn't want to negatively alter the handling. As for the 'look', that is second on my priority. Ride quality and handling are things I want to stay positive. As for the tyres I use, they are Continental Sport Contact 3s.

Finally, at the same time as all this, I like to weigh up prices. If I went for KTEC top mounts and Sportlines, it would set me back circa £300.

If someone could state a rough cost of OE Cup springs, and an estimate for OE top mounts, I'd appreciate it.

I have searched the forum, but I have not been able to find threads that specifically answer my questions.
 
  Lionel Richie
£45 per spring (+vat) for OE

Eibachs are better - end of story

tops mounts are about £40each, the washer (aka the Fred fix) are OD 40mm, ID 18.5mm and 3mm thick
 
Superb, I hoped you would see this and reply :D

I realise that these questions are frequently asked, but I couldn't find anything that directly answered me. Sorry if other people are sick of these threads.

OE top mounts plus the washer, is a guaranteed knock eliminator? If so, I think I will go this route. The car gets used for commuting, and the occasional pleasure drive. Hasn't been on track, and won't do for a while (maybe one day, if we keep it).

Silly question, but it is one washer per side?
 
Sorry to ask again, but where can I get the top mounts from? Genuine only, or GSF/ECP? I have just looked on GSF, and I don't think I can find them.


457RE0060 STRUT TOP MOUNTING CLIO >98 £9.25

Unless this is it? A tenner?
 
  Megane RS 250
Thanks Fred, I've ordered from the dealer new top mounts, I'm going to make the washers myself here at work,stainless steel.
 
Can anyone confirm whether or not the pasted price for the the mount in my post #6, is correct?

Seems like a huge bonus them being £10? Or is that an incorrect price, or have I got the wrong part? Or is there another part that goes with it? I see the mounting, and also a bearing. Both parts at £10, bringing it to £20 a side, and thus £40 all in. Plus VAT of course. Can anyone confirm? If yes, I'll head down GSF and pick them up today.
 
  Focus ST-3
No that can be typical wheel hop u get of some 182s maybe not a problem at all just something they do

Really? like a creeking knocking noise? sometimes feels like once ive nearly gone to full lock that it is pulling my steering even further to full lock.. im not teribly mechanicaly minded... lol
 
  Westy. MX5
The reason why many Cliosport members use Eibach springs is because they ARE good. When you take off the old oe ones you will see how cheaply made they are. I guess you have already noticed how hard and crashy the oe sprins are, new ones will be worse. Try the Eibach Prolines, they are good, sometimes pop up on the Parts for sale forum. No more than £100 a set.
 
  Megane RS 250
Renault here in italy charge 40+ euros for the top mounts complete with bearings.


Small OT:
For Fastdanbar, there are two Eibach spring sets:
- prokit are progressive spring rate, they lower around 20 mm front, 15 mm rear, painted black.
- Sportline are fixed spring rate, -30 mm all around, painted red.
Prokit are good for oem dampers (on other cars, like the Mini Cooper S, they lower more and need short dampers, like the Bilstein B8)
Sportline are good with short dampers, with higher bound/rebound settings. Koni Yellow are spot on for them.

If you want just a bit of lowering, black eibach + new oem dampers is the way to go (if yours are worn out)
If you want more lowering, better handling (sacrificing a bit of comfort) go for sportline+koni. It's not cheap, many will argue that you can get (cheap) coilovers for those money. I say that if you use the car mostly on the road (especially B roads), any coilover kit lesser than a Bilstein or H&R is a poor choice.

The Koni yellow dampers are adjustable in the name, but that's not correct, as the adjustment is there to compensate the wear of the dampers when they age, so when it's time to change/refurbish them you'll have the adjustmen on full hard.
If you stiff them up our of the box they'll last a lot less.
 
  Volvo XC60 T8
I've had the pro-line springs on mine for a month now and they are loads better than standard cup springs :)
 
  Megane RS 250
OEM dampers Matt?
I bought the sportline used from here and I'm waiting for the Koni dampers...d*mn I'm poor :-( this month I've got MOT and insurance, pluse gas is going sky high!
 
  Lionel Richie
top mounts are dealer ONLY, the non genuine ones don't fit properly

sportlines are 100% fine on stock dampers
 
  Megane RS 250
Really Fred? I always though that just the prokit are ok with the stock dampers, and on different cars not even those...on the Cooper the pro-kit are -30~35mm and at 50k km I feel the dampers are not in the best shape.
The heavy 17" wheels don't help I guess.
I asked a damper specialist here in Italy about refurbishing mine and they told me that with -30mm springs they shorten and stiff (as much as you like, they have different setups)...in the end I decided for Koni because many people told me refurbished-readjusted dampers don't keep the stiffness for long.
 
  172 Ph1, Lupo GTI
The sportlines for the clio are unusual in the fact they dont really lower the RS models much at all. Cant complain against the benefits of using higher quality and lighter spring materials. Its a win all round.
 
  Megane RS 250
For a car so light and with not very big wheels they really are crap. I think the whole car is a bit under equipped for the performance it offers, bearings, joints, arms...
A golf GTI or a Cooper S is much thougher!
 

Dan

  172 track thingy
Really? like a creeking knocking noise? sometimes feels like once ive nearly gone to full lock that it is pulling my steering even further to full lock.. im not teribly mechanicaly minded... lol

Yep i have exactly the same feeling I thought o no something expensive gone here and found there's nothing wrong and it's flew the the MOT with no advisories so just something they do I guess :S
I try and stay away from full lock as much as possible so it doesn't make the noise
 
  Megane RS 250
Don't worry, mine is knocking too, from the right side, when I turn the wheel standing still...I hope I'll solve it with the new top mounts+washers.

Speaking of washers. I just checked, we've got 1400 40x3mm zinc-plated washers in storage...12mm holes so I will enlarge it and that's all!
We don't have stainless steel ones anymore :(

I don't see anything wrong in compare two cars of similare performance. I choose a Clio too (but I was very tempted by a Civic EP3, slighly over budget, at the time).
I don't think Clio owners have, as we say in Italy, ham slices on their eyes!
 
  Megane RS 250
I just talked to the Renault dealer for the top mounts I was waiting for. Turns out it's 50 € EACH...:S a bit steep don't you think?! It's the complete package with the bearing etc.
And he ordered just one. I'll get both this Saturday morning...
 
  Megane RS 250
Washers ready:
washers.jpg
 
  Stripped yozza'd cup
I've got Sportlines and they're very good.... the only thing I would criticise is the amount of body roll. So with a RARB, it should be great.
 
  Clio RS
used the search button, read this thread
thinking about getting a pro kit. don't want to lower it that much, just reduce the bodyroll. will these springs do that?

what about those washers? what is that all about?
 
  Westy. MX5
The Prolines will lower the car just a few mils. are much better over bumps, help body roll a little. You will also need a Rear ARB to control body roll further. You only need washers when changing to a certain set of new top mounts.
 


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