Hold out for B14s or get the SPAX?

[Dan]

How much difference is there between fully hard and fully soft on the spax?

 

[dmallett]

I cant say i have ever set it to either tbh, i imagine a massive amount? put mine up 4clicks all round at the weekend so its in the top 3/4's of the adjustment towards hard and its pretty solid.

 

[Dan]

Cool, how easy is it set the clicks when on the ground?

Obviously it's wheel off and set but is it really stiff?

 

[dmallett]

I dont even take the wheels off, can get to the backs by lying on floor , for the fronts i just turn the wheel full lock one way and can reach in then repeat to get access to the other side. Considering they are open to all the elements etc they seem to adjust easy enough still

 

[Tony Hunter]

I have no experience, with Spax, but I had the chance to drive 2 cars last week with B14's on a track, not sure what springs they had fitted, but I found them soft.
One was a stripped out Clio and the other was full of everything.

Just my opinion of course.

 

[Lal B3N]

How much difference is there between fully hard and fully soft on the spax?

In terms of stiffness i would say a lot. I run the spring and damper set up version and i can't ever imagine even needing to go over 20+ unless it was a pure track car.

 

[Dan]

I have no experience, with Spax, but I had the chance to drive 2 cars last week with B14's on a track, not sure what springs they had fitted, but I found them soft.
One was a stripped out Clio and the other was full of everything.

Just my opinion of course.

I think this is why I'm leaning towards the spax now as at least if I get on track and think I need it a bit firmer I can just go up a few clicks and then try it
Again, then note down what was the best setting for myself and then just set it straight to that when I go next time.

 

[Chip-mk1]

Iirc the b14 are about 400 lbs, nice for the road and ok for a trackday but certainly no touring car.

 

[Chip-mk1]

I think this is why I'm leaning towards the spax now as at least if I get on track and think I need it a bit firmer I can just go up a few clicks and then try it
Again, then note down what was the best setting for myself and then just set it straight to that when I go next time.

Bear in mind you are only changing the damping not the spring rates and hence total body roll won't be altered once settled into a long bend. Adjustable shocks are ok but you need an adjustable arb (proper bladed one not whiteline one) or to change springs if you really want to alter how the car drives.

 

[Dan]

Where can you get a bladed ARB for a Clio 2?

 

[Chip-mk1]

Where can you get a bladed ARB for a Clio 2?

Cornering force will make you one but make sure you are sitting down when you ask for a price. Flol.

 

[Dan]

Cornering force will make you one but make sure you are sitting down when you ask for a price. Flol.

That bad? Lol

do you have a ball part figure?

 

[Bobby.]

I dont believe that mate, we looked at doing it when we did my mates, there would only have been a couple of mm before the hole broke through, I wasnt happy at all with the amount of material so recommended swapping hubs instead.
Just cause it works, doesnt mean its safe.

The top hole is slotted, and the bottom hole is only 7-8mm from the edge, so move it 6mm and you have a real potential for problems.

Your right chip! (as normal lol) just had a look for that thread and the chap who said he could get them machined actully ended up using non cup hubs.

 

[Cup_Phil]

I have no experience, with Spax, but I had the chance to drive 2 cars last week with B14's on a track, not sure what springs they had fitted, but I found them soft.
One was a stripped out Clio and the other was full of everything.

Just my opinion of course.

Utterly agree - but every time I say it people **** me off lol

They're too soft by a long way

 

[Tony Hunter]

Utterly agree - but every time I say it people **** me off lol

They're too soft by a long way

I don't care.

 

[Chip-mk1]

That bad? Lol

do you have a ball part figure?

A pair is going to cost you more than you are spending on coilovers by a fair margin mate.

I think its the route I will go down eventually with my mk1 though.

 

[Dan@SJM]

Funny thing is they haven't knocked once since being on my car phil...

 

[Tony Hunter]

Get yourselves a bargain.

http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?687864-Bilstein-B14-kit

 

[Chip-mk1]

Funny thing is they haven't knocked once since being on my car phil...

Is yours the set phil claims were knocking then? If so then I agree I've been in dans car plenty of times and never noticed it knocking so god knows what phil is on about there.
Mosley's spax though definitely did leak within a couple of weeks from brand new, so based on people local to me with a set of each I would certainly still be going Bilstein out of those two options. Emma hasn't had any issues with her Billy's either has she dan?

 

[Joe#]

I'll look uprating mine eventually (ktecs). I've got oulton next month so I shall see how they perform. Only problem I have is that I have the PM top mounts and strut brace kit. And iirc you need a different top mount for the Billy's.

 

[MG cup]

I'll look uprating mine eventually (ktecs). I've got oulton next month so I shall see how they perform. Only problem I have is that I have the PM top mounts and strut brace kit. And iirc you need a different top mount for the Billy's.

No you only need a different insert piece if you have proper Motorsport billies I.e cup racer suspension.

 

[Cup_Phil]

Funny thing is they haven't knocked once since being on my car phil...

Maybe the noise was louder or more apparent because I've got the PMS top mount and strut brace kit

If not then I have no idea at all lol
When they were off the car with the strut in the vice you could move the shaft around and see visual play in the top bearing.
But if it's all good for you then I'm glad and we're both happy

I much prefer the teeth rattling KW setup lol

 

[Dan]

Damn it! I have been put off the spax well and truly after seeing the customer service and trouble people have had!

I think I will be getting on kamracing tomorrow and asking about how long the B14s will be if they are going to be too long them its going to be HRs

Anyone know where the best place to get HRs is?

 

[Emma.]

Is yours the set phil claims were knocking then? If so then I agree I've been in dans car plenty of times and never noticed it knocking so god knows what phil is on about there.
Mosley's spax though definitely did leak within a couple of weeks from brand new, so based on people local to me with a set of each I would certainly still be going Bilstein out of those two options. Emma hasn't had any issues with her Billy's either has she dan?

Mine certainly don't knock and they are a fair bit older then Dan's set. The only issue I have with mine is the front springs creak at really low speeds when turning which I think is down to the little plastic spacers on the front being missing.

I've personally never found them too soft, but then again I'm also probably not driving the car to the level that Tony or Phil does.

 

[Adamm.]

Damn it! I have been put off the spax well and truly after seeing the customer service and trouble people have had!

I think I will be getting on kamracing tomorrow and asking about how long the B14s will be if they are going to be too long them its going to be HRs

Anyone know where the best place to get HRs is?

I spoke to them yesterday, when they get a set in I'm on my way up to get them fitted to check they go on all okay and should be getting a bit of a deal

There just waiting for a set to come in then there giving me a call.

Could be a while though as the set they originally got in from Bilsten were completely wrong, hence the longer wait but hopefully it will be soon.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Anyone know where the best place to get HRs is?

I got from ktec, pretty much next day as well iirc. Awesome deal as well lol.

 

[Adamm.]

Ktec don't have them on there site, Kamracing do them for £900 though.

 

[Sir_Dave]

Ktec don't have them on there site, Kamracing do them for £900 though.

Everyone gets them from Eurocarparts as they are the UK distributor. Most car parts retailers buy their stuff from ECP so have a line with them. Hell, they even come in an ECP box from their distribution place lol.

Im not gonna tell you what to do, but most people buy at one price, add commission, then retail them.

 

[Bobby.]

So ecp's sell h&rs? I never knew that.

 

[Dan]

Well I will be holding out for the B14s as they should be available to purchase as of next Monday

They will be around the £600 mark which is considerably less than the H&Rs which is also another bonus