Wondering about how much the handling differs with cup suspension with coilovers vs non cup with coilovers

[OrionOne]

So I have a non cup suspension 182 ff and basically after reading a lot of posts, i am starting to feel like a made a big mistake in not buying one with the cup suspension.

I wanted to put coilovers on my 182 and spacers for fast road/odd trackday and i am wondering what is the difference in handling between a cup suspension 182 with coilovers vs a non cup suspension 182 with coilovers?

Am i missing out on a lot of fun? Should i sell my 182 and get one with cup suspension?

Or is the difference minimal with coilovers and spacers on mine?

Thanks all

 

[R3k1355]

Depends what coilovers you're looking at, get some cheap s**t and it'll be worse than what you've got by a long way.

 

[DaveDreads]

Only difference between cup and non cup suspension is the shocks, I have a non cup 172 with cup shocks and eibach springs and it's excellent on track, semi-slicks help too.

 

[hopgop1]

Depends what you use the car for IMO, if it's going on track you'll want coilovers if it has cup suspension or not, if it's just a road car, I'd want the cup suspension, although I've not driven a car without it so can't say if it's a huge difference (I suspect not). If the only thing wrong with your current car is not having cup suspension, I'd retrofit the cup hubs etc., rather than changing for a car with cup suspension. Better the devil you know.

 

[OrionOne]

Depends what coilovers you're looking at, get some cheap s**t and it'll be worse than what you've got by a long way.

Bc racing ds series, i heard they are great

 

[OrionOne]

Only difference between cup and non cup suspension is the shocks, I have a non cup 172 with cup shocks and eibach springs and it's excellent on track, semi-slicks help too.

I heard the track is wider too, so the performance difference is minimal?

 

[OrionOne]

Depends what you use the car for IMO, if it's going on track you'll want coilovers if it has cup suspension or not, if it's just a road car, I'd want the cup suspension, although I've not driven a car without it so can't say if it's a huge difference (I suspect not). If the only thing wrong with your current car is not having cup suspension, I'd retrofit the cup hubs etc., rather than changing for a car with cup suspension. Better the devil you know.

I will be using it for fast road with a couple track days a year. I like the idea of adjustability on the coils. How hard is it to put 182 cup hubs in a non cup 182?

 

[DaveDreads]

I heard the track is wider too, so the performance difference is minimal?

Yeah you're right actually but it's only a 20mm difference, set of spacers will sort that.

 

[Mr Underhill]

So I have a non cup suspension 182 ff and basically after reading a lot of posts, i am starting to feel like a made a big mistake in not buying one with the cup suspension.

dare to be different 😊

I wanted to put coilovers on my 182 and spacers for fast road/odd trackday and i am wondering what is the difference in handling between a cup suspension 182 with coilovers vs a non cup suspension 182 with coilovers?

With the state of our roads, I doubt you’ll notice much difference, unless you have a particular set of driving skills. If not, you’ll likely end up in a ditch - cup suspension or non cup 😂

Am i missing out on a lot of fun? Should i sell my 182 and get one with cup suspension?

I’m sure in testing, Renault engineers found some improvement over the non cup suspension, hence offering it as an option. Could your average driver find those differences on a public road or trackday? I doubt it. It’ll come down to who has the biggest set of gonads 😂

Or is the difference minimal with coilovers and spacers on mine?

Thanks all

The most honest answer I can give you is : My previous circuit car was a Cup-packed 182 factory car, but it featured heavily modified suspension, differential, and upgraded bushes etc…..

My current 182 circuit car has non-Cup hubs. However, it too has been extensively modified with upgraded suspension, differential, and bushes etc….. Despite these differences, both cars handle exceptionally well.

 

[DaveDreads]

I forgot mines fully polished too, that really helped stiffen everything up.

 

[OrionOne]

dare to be different 😊

With the state of our roads, I doubt you’ll notice much difference, unless you have a particular set of driving skills. If not, you’ll likely end up in a ditch - cup suspension or non cup 😂

I’m sure in testing, Renault engineers found some improvement over the non cup suspension, hence offering it as an option. Could your average driver find those differences on a public road or trackday? I doubt it. It’ll come down to who has the biggest set of gonads 😂

The most honest answer I can give you is : My previous circuit car was a Cup-packed 182 factory car, but it featured heavily modified suspension, differential, and upgraded bushes etc…..

My current 182 circuit car has non-Cup hubs. However, it too has been extensively modified with upgraded suspension, differential, and bushes etc….. Despite these differences, both cars handle exceptionally well.

I'd like to think I am a good driver ☺️😂

So to be honest, once youve heavily modified it does it basically make the differences between cup and non cup Negligible then?

My plan is to make this thing crazy in the corners

 

[OrionOne]

I forgot mines fully polished too, that really helped stiffen everything up.

If you dont mind me asking, what do you mean by polished?

 

[R3k1355]

So I have a non cup suspension 182 ff

Being slightly pedantic, but if you've not got Cup suspension, you've not got a FF 182

Only difference between cup and non cup suspension is the shocks, I have a non cup 172 with cup shocks and eibach springs and it's excellent on track, semi-slicks help too.

I thought the springs were slightly different too? Can't fully remember, but isn't some of the Cup stuff out of production anyway?

I will be using it for fast road with a couple track days a year. I like the idea of adjustability on the coils. How hard is it to put 182 cup hubs in a non cup 182?

Easy enough to do, but pointless if you're going straight for coilovers. Unless the ones you want are only available in the 182 Cup bolt spacing.
Usually you can get either tho, so it's just more money to fit the Cup hubs.

Bc racing ds series, i heard they are great

People really rate the Bilstein B14 coilovers, they're worth considering too.

 

[DaveDreads]

If you dont mind me asking, what do you mean by polished?

Bloody auto correct, I meant polly bushed.

 

[Mr Underhill]

So to be honest, once youve heavily modified it does it basically make the differences between cup and non cup Negligible then?

Pretty much. I would argue that only those who purchased a Renault Clio Sport brand new, would truly understand its intended driving characteristics.

I had the opportunity to drive a factory-spec Clio Sport with only 7,000 miles on the clock, and it was remarkably different from my own modified Clio 182.

The slightest modifications can significantly alter these car's handling characteristics. You can completely ruin them if you don’t have a decent understanding of what you’re doing.

 

[DaveDreads]

I thought the springs were slightly different too? Can't fully remember, but isn't some of the Cup stuff out of production anyway?

Tbh the first think I did to the car was cup shocks and eibach springs because I though the standard setup made it lean over too much in the corners.

 

[MLB]

I wouldn't worry, I've had a non cup 182 before my cup 182 now and there was very little difference in it. As above, good quality coilovers (BC racing should be good) and off you go.

 

[MRBILLYUK]

Being slightly pedantic, but if you've not got Cup suspension, you've not got a FF 182



I thought the springs were slightly different too? Can't fully remember, but isn't some of the Cup stuff out of production anyway?

Cup suspension was slightly lower and slightly stiffer than none cup suspension. So yeah, you're correct.
Cup springs are no longer available but cup shock absorbers are.

 

[OrionOne]

Bloody auto correct, I meant polly bushed.

Oh like powerflex bushings for the suspension parts, is that something i can do myself or is it easier to just let a specialist do it?

 

[OrionOne]

Being slightly pedantic, but if you've not got Cup suspension, you've not got a FF 182



I thought the springs were slightly different too? Can't fully remember, but isn't some of the Cup stuff out of production anyway?



Easy enough to do, but pointless if you're going straight for coilovers. Unless the ones you want are only available in the 182 Cup bolt spacing.
Usually you can get either tho, so it's just more money to fit the Cup hubs.



People really rate the Bilstein B14 coilovers, they're worth considering too.

Well idk what one i have tbh 😂 I havent measured the hub spacing but I know i have the front headlight jet sprayers, i have white wheels and half leather seats, also cruise control and abs and an esp switch.

Well in that case I will stick with mine, I will be going far with the mods eventually so I just want a good starting ground.

 

[OrionOne]

Pretty much. I would argue that only those who purchased a Renault Clio Sport brand new, would truly understand its intended driving characteristics.

I had the opportunity to drive a factory-spec Clio Sport with only 7,000 miles on the clock, and it was remarkably different from my own modified Clio 182.

The slightest modifications can significantly alter these car's handling characteristics. You can completely ruin them if you don’t have a decent understanding of what you’re doing.

Well I am new to modding cars and clios as ive only had mine for a year, i was going to put bc coilovers on and change the wheel as the stock one im sure we can all agree is utter sh*t.

 

[OrionOne]

I also wanted to ask, if i get coilovers, do I need to replace all the bushings on the suspension?

 

[Mr Underhill]

Who’s going next? Go on, I dare you 😂

Any green in the house?

 

[DaveDreads]

Oh like powerflex bushings for the suspension parts, is that something i can do myself or is it easier to just let a specialist do it?

You can polybush the anti roll bar inner and outer bushes, the wishbone bushes, the engine mounts, you can get an aftermarket rear anti roll bar too as they don't come with one, there's loads of things you can do to them to maximise handling.

 

[Mr Underhill]

Lots of guides in the forum section, but you’ll need to be a member to view them. And plenty of great threads in the Project section too. 😊

 

[OrionOne]

Lots of guides in the forum section, but you’ll need to be a member to view them. And plenty of great threads in the Project section too. 😊

I will have a look, honestly do you know any garages who are good at this stuff, my local one is very busy and I am happy to throw a bit of money for someone to just do the bushings for me at this point 😂