Suspension advice please

[wilja]

Hi,

I bought a 172 Cup this summer to use as a track car. Having stripped out the rear seats and put in Cobras and racing harnesses now I really need a better suspension. It will only be used on track, albeit it will be driven to and from the track rather than trailered. Getting cut slicks put on over the winter ready for some spring time action.

Can anyone advise what the best options are for stiffening the suspension? I have read a bit on here about coilovers/springs etc but am a mechanical moron so dont claim to know what they really are! I just like driving, not pissing about with car parts, so will be getting the upgrade done at a local friendly garage.

I had a 172 FF years ago and used to be on this forum all the time - glad to be back!

W

 

[bozothenutter]

replace all the bushes aswell...makes a world of difference, especially if yours are as old as the car.

some ppl swear by just replacing the shocks with new oem ones.......from here the sky is the limit.

 

[Vicky.]

Hi,

I bought a 172 Cup this summer to use as a track car. Having stripped out the rear seats and put in Cobras and racing harnesses now I really need a better suspension. It will only be used on track, albeit it will be driven to and from the track rather than trailered. Getting cut slicks put on over the winter ready for some spring time action.

Can anyone advise what the best options are for stiffening the suspension? I have read a bit on here about coilovers/springs etc but am a mechanical moron so dont claim to know what they really are! I just like driving, not pissing about with car parts, so will be getting the upgrade done at a local friendly garage.

I had a 172 FF years ago and used to be on this forum all the time - glad to be back!

W

If you're going to be using the car on track then I would suggest coilovers. It's as simple as you get what you pay for.

If you're not looking to spend a lot and won't be adjusting the suspension much you can get cheaper sets. If you want to splash out on the best then KW V3's are awesome and with those you can adjust how hard and soft you want the suspension which is ideal for track use.

I use mine on track occasionally and at the moment have Ktec/Raceland coilovers, they have been fine for what I needed but seeing as I plan to go on track a little more next year I'm upgrading to Bilsteins.

EDIT: Also a must and seriously one of the best things I've done to my car is fitting a Whiteline Anti Roll bar. They are very good and a bonus is they look pretty cool too .

 

[Chip-mk1]

What is your budget?

 

[JackJack]

If you don't want to mess about with dampening etc try the bilstein kit imo.

+1 for an anti roll bar and bushes (powerflex or pure motorsport for a track car)

 

[bozothenutter]

nothing is 'a must' maybe he likes the handling of a standard car!

 

[Vicky.]

nothing is 'a must' maybe he likes the handling of a standard car!

If he liked the standard handling then I can't see why he would he post a thread asking for advice on how to stiffen his suspension

 

[wilja]

Thanks folks - I defo want to stiffen up the handling as it was quite soggy at Bedford when I took it out.
Not really sure about budget - obviously the car is not worth that much and so far the mods have added up to quite a bit so I want to get good value for money and really improve the performance without breaking the bank <<< I dont have a sense therefore of what options cost more than others.
If I get coilovers does anything else need upgrading? I have new bushes on the front already. Roll bar front and rear defo on the list as I think this is quite a cheap mod anyway.

 

[mr.pink87]

I'd go for SPAX RSX/FK Konigsport or H&Rs (which are fixed damping). New suspension bushes, joints and solid top mounts will improve the feeling aswell.

 

[Adam G]

If you are putting slicks on then you're basically going to have to upgrade everything suspension wise. They should be last on the list really as they will outperform the car.

 

[Emma.]

I have bilstein b14's, mark fish top mounts, rear anti roll bar, and the car corner weighted, camber and toe out professionally set up.

For me on the track it's a great set up. It surprises much more expensive machinery time and time again.

It is admittedly a bit of a hard ride for the road though but it is also a daily.