Spacers/Stance & Coilovers - No pics just Q's!

[The Boosh!]

Hi all,

I've done a bit of research on here but i'm still not 100% so i'd appreciate some guidance/ advice.

I've decided the 182 needs some work on its stance but i've got one problem:

If I go any lower on the front I get major scrubbing when cornering hard, which i do regularly - I'm also due to do a few RS trackdays this year so need it sorting.

To cure this i'm proposing:

• More camber on the front
• 10mm spacers on the front and 5 mm on the back
• Bend the bumper bracket out of the way

Hopefully I can then go lower on the front and bring the back down by quite a bit as well (but I still want a bit of rake).

Questions are:

What exactly does the bumper bracket look like so i know what i'm looking for
Will my proposed spacer set up have a negative effect on handling?
Will the measures above prevent scrubbing?
Do i need longer bolts with 10mm spacers? If so how long/what sizes are the clio bolts

Car currently looks like this:

Currently on ktec suspension however as i'm going to keep the car until i crash it or it blows up, within the next 6 months i'm planning to put 172 hubs on there and run KWv2 - obviously this will alter the track yet again i'm guessing but ill cross that bridge when I get to it.

You're help is muchos appreciated :star:

 

[JackJack]

I like that tbh mate nose down stance ftw imo.

 

[jenic]

As i found out today, the k-tec suspension is difficult to achieve camber from. The supplied bolts dont allow much -ive, and as you plan to swap to different suspension soon, i'd wait until then to sort it all out.

The bumper bracket cant be missed, look under the front arch and if you have been cornering hard enough it will have broke through the liners

Also, go lower on the back, for looks alone!

 

[The Boosh!]

Cheers jack jack but i want to drop the rear a bit more - probably around 20/30mm and drip the front about 10mm. More importantly though I want a wider & more agressive stance which will require some input from you guys

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Think the K-Tecs are supposed to be fairly softly sprung... that'll be causing some of your scrubbage issues.

Does it scrub on the inner or outer sidewall ?

I'd drop the back end down 10/15mm as that rake will be putting a fair amount of weight transfer forward, hindering you again. Could just be a funny photo tho

 

[LowLife.]

Lower profile tyres? I'm running 45's on mine and it's pretty low. But I have no scrubbing at all! Just when the exhaust scrapes....

 

[The Boosh!]

As i found out today, the k-tec suspension is difficult to achieve camber from. The supplied bolts dont allow much -ive, and as you plan to swap to different suspension soon, i'd wait until then to sort it all out.

The bumper bracket cant be missed, look under the front arch and if you have been cornering hard enough it will have broke through the liners

Also, go lower on the back, for looks alone!

Cheers mate.

Not really got 800 quid for suspension and hubs, so the plan is to do it bit by bit. Besides my car hasn't had a geo set up for 6 months so its due one. May as well do the changes then get it set up.

I found the ktec suspension good for progressive cornering, but as far as banging it in to a right hander is concerned they are a bit soft. You found this n'all?

 

[The Boosh!]

Lower profile tyres? I'm running 45's on mine and it's pretty low. But I have no scrubbing at all! Just when the exhaust scrapes....

Personal preference but I prefer how 50 profile tyres feel. There also cheaper for some reason from past experience. Think giraffe has a point about them being softly sprung also..hmmm...

They're scrubbing on the outside, they have really scraped the outer edge of my tyres - Looks like my tracking is proper fooked but its not

 

[jenic]

Cheers mate.

Not really got 800 quid for suspension and hubs, so the plan is to do it bit by bit. Besides my car hasn't had a geo set up for 6 months so its due one. May as well do the changes then get it set up.

I found the ktec suspension good for progressive cornering, but as far as banging it in to a right hander is concerned they are a bit soft. You found this n'all?

I find them too soft all the time lol. I had fk's on my old car which probably weren't technically better than ktecs but they suited my driving style better.

Agree about 'banging' it into a corner, car rolls and even on 15's at the height mine is your gouging into the tyres, took a chunk out of the 888's at cadwell
I dont know much about suspension, but know these dont suit me, I presume you have been talking to Dave regarding suspension? Nearly bought some H&R's the other week until he said something.

 

[Si]

Bracket looks something like this...

I trimmed mine back (as shown) and haven't had any problems since. Hardly trimmed any either! You can also see how awesome my arch lining is. lulz.

 

[The Boosh!]

So is yours modified si? Did you have to ruin the arch liner much? I've just paid for one from work and it wasn't that cheap for what it is so i'm a bit nervous about butchering it up.

 

[jenic]

Bracket looks something like this...

I trimmed mine back (as shown) and haven't had any problems since. Hardly trimmed any either! You can also see how awesome my arch lining is. lulz.

Dont some people cut it vertically, like where the shadow falls, and sack it off altogether. I have just whacked mine in a bit with a big hammer

 

[The Boosh!]

I find them too soft all the time lol. I had fk's on my old car which probably weren't technically better than ktecs but they suited my driving style better.

Agree about 'banging' it into a corner, car rolls and even on 15's at the height mine is your gouging into the tyres, took a chunk out of the 888's at cadwell
I dont know much about suspension, but know these dont suit me, I presume you have been talking to Dave regarding suspension? Nearly bought some H&R's the other week until he said something.

DAve who mate?

No i'm getting KW v2's becuase they were absolutely epic on Grays ph1 so i need some of that.

 

[Hutchie]

LOL

ohh and spot the rear springs.

 

[Tom@JMS]

My input is that you are relying on your springs to remove roll, instead of the ARB (it's its job!)

The excessive roll that your car is experiencing under heavy load cornering is naturally wearing the outer edge of the loaded tyre (right if your turning left, left if your turning right.)

For a cost effective solution I would raise the car (you've got soft spring rates - deal with it ) bend the bumper bracket out of the way, and dial in 2.2 deg neg camber, with a full alignment; then see how you get on.

 

[TheEvilGiraffe]

Personal preference but I prefer how 50 profile tyres feel. There also cheaper for some reason from past experience. Think giraffe has a point about them being softly sprung also..hmmm...

They're scrubbing on the outside, they have really scraped the outer edge of my tyres - Looks like my tracking is proper fooked but its not

So how are spacers going to help if you're already rubbing on the outside ?

For now, a bit of -ve camber, a bit higher at the front maybe .. and chill out til you get some decent coilies on there man haha !

 

[Si]

I wouldn't bend the bracket if i were you... as the plastic part of the front bumper is not easy to modify. If you bend the bracket you'll adversely affect the fitment of your front bumper.

You could quite easily trim it as I have without changing your arch lining (I think ). The only reason my arch lining is like that is because it Jettisoned itself on the way to the Nurburgring!

 

[The Boosh!]

My input is that you are relying on your springs to remove roll, instead of the ARB (it's its job!)

The excessive roll that your car is experiencing under heavy load cornering is naturally wearing the outer edge of the loaded tyre (right if your turning left, left if your turning right.)

For a cost effective solution I would raise the car (you've got soft spring rates - deal with it ) bend the bumper bracket out of the way, and dial in 2.2 deg neg camber, with a full alignment; then see how you get on.

When I have geo done I normally have 1.5 degrees - will 2.2 degree induce massive tyre wear or will the difference be negligible?

Cheers for your advice Tom, I will probably drop the rear a tad but raise the front - go for a drive and see how it feels

 

[Tom@JMS]

Nope, it will improve tyre wear in the instance of hard driving, and with proper geo and pressures it will have little if any effect on day to day wear. Simply keep an eye on the tyres, if you are finding they are wearing on the inner edges too fast dial out some camber.

Si mentions the bracket: you can bend it up without effecting the bumper, ok it's a bit more of a pain to get the bumper seated on top of it, but it makes no difference to the appearance of the bumper. I also think it's worth doing as I have seen examples where people have lowered the car, gone for a hard drive and the tyre has caught the bracket so significantly that it bends it downwards!

Lastly - spacers. If you throw a 10mm spacer on the front you will simply increase the lever effect on the coilover, usually prompting even more roll. Plus, as already pointed out if your scrubbing already - it will only make it worse.

 

[The Boosh!]

Lastly - spacers. If you throw a 10mm spacer on the front you will simply increase the lever effect on the coilover, usually prompting even more roll. Plus, as already pointed out if your scrubbing already - it will only make it worse.

:approve: Excellent - Didn't realise it would make it worse. Reason I suggested spacers was there was a lot of mention on here about adding spacers to stop scrubbing.

At least it gives me something to have a go at. First and foremost I need to sort the bumper bracket out - Does thismean I will also need to cut a slight hole in my brand new arch liner lol

 

[Dave.]

boosh you thinking along the same lines as i was a few weeks ago, as tom said, we have cheap coilies, and we are paying the price! mine sits a lot lower than yours tho, and hardly scrubs at all...

 

[Tom@JMS]

They will simply push the tyre nearer the to inner arch. Increasing the roll may be a bit of an exaggeration on second thoughts as the wider track will counter the lever effect, but it certainly won't cure the rubbing.

 

[Hutchie]

you need gaz golds and leda's my friend

 

[The Boosh!]

you need gaz golds and leda's my friend

Mates clio has these and they are shockingly bad, thats coming from me with ktec bad boiz (in my opinion anyway lol)

 

[Hutchie]

ahhh but mine are re-valved and running softer longer springs.
the rear stuff is only worthy of the scrap bin tbh

i driven car with H&R and i hate them