Trackday Coilover and spring rate options

[(steven)]

Hello, first post (despite apparently signing up here 3 years ago…).

I’ve been doing some research on what the best track coilover setup for a road legal but track orientated Clio 172 should be but there doesn’t seem to be any consistent views across everything I’ve read.

So far from what I have read;

• Spax – Not got a great reputation (for clios or much else).
• BC – Good reputation on BMW’s but some quality issues on Clios but good adjustment and they will do custom spring rates.
• Bilstein B14 – Good but road orientated and too soft for track.
• Gaz golds – Mixed reviews. Will do custom spring rates.
• H&R – Mixed

Which really doesn’t point to an obvious purchase.

What are people running and how do they find their setup?
I want the setup to resist roll and everything I’ve read points to upping the spring rates hence the interest in Gaz and BC due to their greater flexibility with spring rates.

Any views on what does and doesn’t work appreciated.

 

[Alex Conway]

I'm enjoying AST Sportline 2s on the ph1 at the moment. Remember you can always get dampers revalved to stiffen the damping if needs be

 

[Sam@NP]

any coilover can have custom spring rates, some offer a choice off the shelf others require springs from actual spring manufactures.

For a trackcar go for AST

 

[(steven)]

Thanks for the info. The AST's look good but I should have said I was hoping to keep the cost of the coilovers below £1k.

By the time I have swapped the top mounts to give me camber adjustment etc I will spend more than the purchase price of the car.

 

[Kelv]

Look in the traders section at Cooksport, hes doing the AST's currently for £995

 

[MicKPM]

What quality issues on the BC Clio setup? Heard of loads on the Evo but non on the Clio II/III or Megane II - I personally run (and sell) the BC's on my Clio and love them. For the price they're extremely flexible and adaptable to just about everybody's needs.

I guess it comes down to what you can afford Vs actual needs. It's pointless buying something that allows you ultimate control and variation in setups if all you're gonna do is whack em on, set the ride height by eye then go B road blasting as you'll be in a ditch the first time you lift off mid-corner

 

[Sam@NP]

Thanks for the info. The AST's look good but I should have said I was hoping to keep the cost of the coilovers below £1k.

By the time I have swapped the top mounts to give me camber adjustment etc I will spend more than the purchase price of the car.

Camber is done with Camber bolts for around £17

Top mounts add very little handling wise so put them off and keep the money for the coilovers

 

[(steven)]

What quality issues on the BC Clio setup?

To be honest the BMW guys love them but this thread suggests a few people have had a couple of issues http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?620803-BC-Racing-Coilovers

Happy to be told otherwise as they look good value for the money.

Look in the traders section at Cooksport, hes doing the AST's currently for £995

Cheers for the heads up. What’s the difference between Ast 1’s and 2’s?

 

[(steven)]

Camber is done with Camber bolts for around £17

Top mounts add very little handling wise so put them off and keep the money for the coilovers

Thanks, good info.

 

[MicKPM]

To be honest the BMW guys love them but this thread suggests a few people have had a couple of issues http://www.cliosport.net/forum/showthread.php?620803-BC-Racing-Coilovers

Happy to be told otherwise as they look good value for the money.

Steven,

I can't comment on the AST as I've never run either setup but I believe they are about as good as you will get for a non-motorsport budget. They are however nearly double the price and will like the BC's require servicing but that's not an assault on the product and I'm not saying the BC's are 100% comparable to the AST in quality either.

Nowhere on the example thread above states any actual issues with the BR-Series on a Clio II though. Seriously, if you want to try a setup come drive our car at Bedford in Feb as I only run them as I was, like you, looking for a good compromise on a setup (Just remember that if you break my car you buy it lol)

http://www.diamondmotors.net/archives/1369

(I could even do you something further on the price if you become a CS member)

I've fitted a fair few of these now to various enthusiastic trackday and some sprint cars on this site and all have been happy with them to.
charlesk said he had issues on his EVO with the inverted setup and aldo172 said his mate had issues that required them to be rebuilt on a Civic. No coilover is designed for everyday road use so if you want to whack them up to full hard and do 9-15k a year road miles on them a rebuild is surely to be expected IMO

Mick

 

[(steven)]

I only run them as I was, like you, looking for a good compromise.
No coilover is designed for everyday road use so if you want to whack them up to full hard and do 9-15k a year road miles on them a rebuild is surely to be expected IMO

Mick

Useful context. I’m in your neck of the woods anyway so may pop by once I’ve sourced myself a decent clio cup.

 

[MicKPM]

Not a problem at all, just give me a call

 

[sbridgey]

BC's are quite harsh on the road, mine on soft are hard! MX5 though so not really comparable.

 

[Chip-mk1]

BC's are quite harsh on the road, mine on soft are hard! MX5 though so not really comparable.

IME the only way you can get a car to truely work well on the track and on the road, is to rely more on ARB and less on springs, or better still an adjustable ARB, that way you can adjust roll resistance as well as the damping, otherwise just turning the shocks soft and still keep hard springs just makes it all too bouncy.

 

[MicKPM]

BC's are quite harsh on the road, mine on soft are hard! MX5 though so not really comparable.

Time for a service then as the ones on my Clio are actually nicer than my Cup dampers and Sportlines were and i'm not on Soft yet.

 

[sbridgey]

grrr, how much is a refurb on them?

 

[underdog]

IME the only way you can get a car to truely work well on the track and on the road, is to rely more on ARB and less on springs, or better still an adjustable ARB, that way you can adjust roll resistance as well as the damping, otherwise just turning the shocks soft and still keep hard springs just makes it all too bouncy.

i have bc coilovers on my focus and think they are great. i soften up the shocks for travelling to and from track and at the track i go to my stiffer track settings. it doesnt handle as sweet on the road but it gives my bum a softer massage lol