Hi guys,

 

I'm planing to replace my shock absorbers and springs in the next few days. Which setup would you recommend for balancing performance/steering response vs comfort when driving over bumpy roads ?

There are already a number of posts on this subject.  A search will find you plenty of information and opinions.

I've got Sachs front struts and Meyle rear dampers. It rides and handles fine. I didn't change the springs though.

I'd fancy for a set of Bilstein B8s + Einbach Pro-kit. How about this setup ? Should I chose different springs? I've done some online research and some of the customers are not so satisfied because the car wasn't leveled equally (front vs rear).  

Is there any noticeable difference between this setup and the Einbach Bilstein B12 Pro Kit ?

Edited 19 May, 201511 yr by Alexandru

standard OEM springs & Koni FSD dampers & poly bush the front wishbone rear bush (console) with a two piece powerflex or superpro version........................

 

Best comfort/handling set up IMO............

I tried to find a set of Koni ones, but there are no dealers which could sell me those, so I had to look for alternatives.

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I tried to find a set of Koni ones, but there are no dealers which could sell me those, so I had to look for alternatives.

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eh??..............phone up Koni UK direct .........I got mine from demon tweaks.....

I can't really do that. I'm not from UK.

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I don't think it's worth spending much on the suspension on an MPI. The performance isn't exactly earth-shattering.

I agree, but I'm not really doing it for performance reasons, more for handling. It's a slowda, so it's not really going to be a 10 seconds car, but it might perform better on corners. This is what I am planning to enjoy this summer

along with some others.

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^ Scary road

I'd preffer to call it fun. New tires and suspension should keep me off the cliff. My car has no ABS or traction control though...but it's ok.

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I'd preffer to call it fun. New tires and suspension should keep me off the cliff. My car has no ABS or traction control though...but it's ok.

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No ABS? That's weird, I thought they nearly all had it.

Nope, not even ABS. It's a comfort version, from May 2000.

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My MPi had the following

 

Koni RSX coil overs

Fully polybushed

Cupra console bushes

Momo strut brace

Rear brace

Front lower brace

Jabba rear anti roll bar

vRS front anti roll bar

 

Wasn't a waste at all, handled brilliantly and was great fun to drive as the front end was nice and light, once it was wound up you could keep it going.

That's exactly my point:)

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I took a gamble and fitted these: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/221687104103?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

with :

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/251906482217?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

 

£176 for full setup :p

 

No idea how long they will last .. so far so good

 

Ohh we are talking more than the OP mentioned ...

 

I have polybushed inner and outter wishbone bushes, seat sport strut brace, whiteline RARB

My MPi had the following

 

Koni RSX coil overs

Fully polybushed

Cupra console bushes

Momo strut brace

Rear brace

Front lower brace

Jabba rear anti roll bar

vRS front anti roll bar

 

Wasn't a waste at all, handled brilliantly and was great fun to drive as the front end was nice and light, once it was wound up you could keep it going.

 

How did you find the braces as I was always temped but never did........

 

but did this:-

Koni FSD dampers

OEM springs

Powerflex console bush, front wishbone bush, front ARB bushs, rear beam bushs

Superpro dog bone rear bush

bigger diesel (not vrs) front ARB

 

when I re-did the suspension I renewed all nuts/bolts/top mounts etc with oem.........

 

also braking was EBC discs & green stuff pads back & front

EBC fluid

Stainless goodridge brake hoses on front & rear beam.........

 

Plus a few other mods............. :sun:

I can see that you replaced the oem bushes...does this also affect handling? I mean, my car might have the oem ones, can't tell for sure, they don't have any play, but I'm not sure if I should replace them yet or should I wait until the current ones will fail.

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Console bushes are about the single best mod you can do, the factory ones are shocking.

Do you have a link for them ? Sounds pretty neat.

I'd fancy for a set of Bilstein B8s + Einbach Pro-kit. How about this setup ? Should I chose different springs? I've done some online research and some of the customers are not so satisfied because the car wasn't leveled equally (front vs rear).  

Is there any noticeable difference between this setup and the Einbach Bilstein B12 Pro Kit ?

 

I'd say go for it, the Eibach springs are perfect on bumpy roads and the B8 dampers are uprated so should also be perfect, the springs will lower 30mm on your car.

Get a RARB with the money you save from not buying the B12 kit and polybush the consoles, handling will be excellent, mine is set up this way and the only mod left is to find a way to stiffen up the PAS, I'm looking to fit a hydraulic flow control valve inline with the rack so I can adjust the steering feel, it's just too damned light even on the heaviest setting.

I had to pushstart my car once, when my ex-battery decided to die. The power steering didn't come on (I guess it didn't have enough amps to boot the system), the warning light was in the instruments panel, but the feeling was flipping awsome in the 5 miles that I've driven the car just to charge the battery. The only way to keep it off is by disconnecting the fuse IMHO. Most of the torque required for steering is provided by the electrical motor and not by the hydraulical system. Driving it around corners was briliant, but don't try a paralel park without it. Been there, done that...

 

Later edit: keeping the hydraulics in the original state/configuration might be the only way to keep the rack in good condition (mostly for lubrication), otherwise it might get nasty. 

Edited 20 May, 201511 yr by Alexandru

Do you have a link for them ? Sounds pretty neat.

 

Have a search on here, be a million threads on them.

Most of the torque required for steering is provided by the electrical motor and not by the hydraulical system.

 

Nope, it's just an ordinary hydraulic PAS system with an electric pump, I'm going to fit an adjustable flow control valve to the pump output so I can tune the pressure and program the pump to velocity sensitive mode 00140 so the assist increases at low speeds.

 

You're forgetting I'm an engineer, I've thought carefully about this:

 

http://www.flowfitonline.com/acatalog/Online_Catalogue_BARREL_FLOW_CONTROL_VALVES_NO_CHECK_344.html