Cheapest way to go low and hard (ooo errr)

[Skeeter]

Whats the cheapest way to get some decent lowering and stiffening on a stock 172?

Since fitting 15s and doing a couple of track days, it desperately needs lowering, and I would like a stiffer set-up. My initial though is just some Eibach Sportlines, but what about cheap coilovers? I'm not going racing, just some casual track days.

I know cheap coilovers get a lot of flack on here, but are the actually bad, or are they just bad compared to the better more expensive versions?

 

[chris_p]

Get some second hand coil overs off here, job done! Don't waste your monies on springs

 

[Struggler]

the chances are, the money you spend is proportional to the quality of suspension,

standard set up cost a lot more than cheap coilovers!!

 

[Skeeter]

Standard setup isn't that much. If i was to get Sportlines and camber bolts the complete cost would be:

Front shocks £120 + rear shocks £100 + Sportlines £125 + camber bolts £20 = £365.

Which by your rules means even the cheapest sub £400 coilovers would be better?

Basically, can i get a better setup than Sportlines on standard shocks without spending massively more? What about replacing the standard shocks with aftermarket ones but still using sportlines?

 

[Goodj]

you can get a low & hard riding car, but that's not to be confused with "better handling".

Suspension travel and compliance is a good thing.
Besides, for the sake of a "few track days", do you really want to have the car painfully uncomfartable and impractical "in the real"?
If it's purely a weekend toy, not a daily, then fair enough.

In any case, it's your car, spend what you like on it, just remember you're pouring money into a £1.5k, old French hatchback

 

[daveski]

Are the cup dampers different to the standard 172 ones? Fitting these and sportlines could show some improvement?

 

[Skeeter]

you can get a low & hard riding car, but that's not to be confused with "better handling".

Suspension travel and compliance is a good thing.
Besides, for the sake of a "few track days", do you really want to have the car painfully uncomfartable and impractical "in the real"?
If it's purely a weekend toy, not a daily, then fair enough.

In any case, it's your car, spend what you like on it, just remember you're pouring money into a £1.5k, old French hatchback

I dont drive to work so its pretty much doesn't move unless I drive it to a trackday. I wanna do it as cheaply as possible as it is, as you said, a pretty worthless French box. However, when I mention getting sportlines I get told I am wasting my money????

Don't the cup campers have different bolt spacing?

 

[Goodj]

yeah, unfortunately I dont believe you can simply swap normal and cup suspension easily.

I dont know about the merits of different springs. But I'd have thought, at an equal price point, a set of fixed springs & dampers would be better quality than coilovers.

Although there is the blue-sky idea. new OEM all round? 8yr old kit is going to be getting pretty tired.

 

[Skeeter]

The rear shocks are new, I would get some new fronts with the sportlines.

It needs to go lower though so stock springs are out. With the 15" wheels on it has a fairly comedy arch gap thing going on

 

[.Kev.]

Mk2 172 shocks will go on a 172 cup (sold my Koni shocks to a guy with a Cup) so i don't see why the reverse can't be applied.

Cup shocks with some sportlines maybe? Got to be better than some cheap coilovers that will go low and that's about it.

 

[.Stevo.C.]

Brand new cup shocks with sportlines is a great setup have them fitted to my ph1 172.

 

[Skeeter]

Would I need to fit new cup shocks all round? I've only recently replaced the rears.

 

[dmallett]

Eibach springs wont get you low.
Stay clear of cheap coilovers.
Buy some 2nd hand coilies cheap, best option imo.

 

[Nick172Cup]

Having had cheap coilovers on my track clio, you just as better off with a standard setup to cheap coilovers.

The best priced coilover setup with adjustablility is the FK Konigsport coilovers, they go stiff enough as well as hard wearing. I know a few people on these as well as myself having them and they never failed on me.

Save the extra and get better stuff, trust me I bought cheap and bought 2 twice!

Nick

 

[Firefly]

I refreshed all the shocks with OEM Renault on mine, and put Eibach Sportlines on. In my opinion that was a MUCH wiser option than cheap coilovers. It handles great. Cheap coilovers and crap and don't last, they are just for looks.

 

[Skeeter]

Having had cheap coilovers on my track clio, you just as better off with a standard setup to cheap coilovers.

The best priced coilover setup with adjustablility is the FK Konigsport coilovers, they go stiff enough as well as hard wearing. I know a few people on these as well as myself having them and they never failed on me.

Save the extra and get better stuff, trust me I bought cheap and bought 2 twice!

Nick

So... Your suggestion for a cheap way to get a bit lower and stiffer suspension is a £700 set of coilovers...

This thread is meant to be about any alternatives to sportlines, which means stuff around the same price, not 4x more. I'm well aware that more expensive setups are better, bit if I was after a more expensive set I wouldnt have posted this thread...

 

[clancy]

just be patient and look for some second hand coilovers mate, there was a set of weitecs went for like £350 on ebay the other week. and some FK coilovers

 

[Nick172Cup]

So... Your suggestion for a cheap way to get a bit lower and stiffer suspension is a £700 set of coilovers...

This thread is meant to be about any alternatives to sportlines, which means stuff around the same price, not 4x more. I'm well aware that more expensive setups are better, bit if I was after a more expensive set I wouldnt have posted this thread...

Lol, get s**t coilovers then, they'll be just as soft and no better on track like I've said. But hey it gives you lowz.

 

[TimR26]

Cut the springs

 

[Skeeter]

Lol, get s**t coilovers then, they'll be just as soft and no better on track like I've said. But hey it gives you lowz.

So cheap coilovers will be no better than standard shocks and sportlines? Thanks, ill stick with the original sportlines idea then.

See, that wasn't hard was it? I don't get some peoples attitude on this forum. If its not the most expensive stuff, its crap.

 

[Goodj]

If its not the most expensive stuff, its crap.

You get what you pay for in this life.

 

[Silent_Scone]

Second hand definitely. Buy cheap buy twice where as new is concerned. I'd stay away from the K-Tec crap if you use your car regularly, although theyre not as bad as some would make out. I picked up a set of B14s for £200 and all they needed was a tap, totally fine and ready to go on. Bargain

 

[Gray]

Second hand definitely. Buy cheap buy twice where as new is concerned. I'd stay away from the K-Tec crap if you use your car regularly, although theyre not as bad as some would make out. I picked up a set of B14s for £200 and all they needed was a tap, totally fine and ready to go on. Bargain

I am still angry for missing those LOL!

 

[Silent_Scone]

LOL. x

 

[2Damnsly Andy]

Brand new cup shocks with sportlines is a great setup have them fitted to my ph1 172.

What sort of cost was it to do this?

 

[Nick172Cup]

So cheap coilovers will be no better than standard shocks and sportlines? Thanks, ill stick with the original sportlines idea then.

See, that wasn't hard was it? I don't get some peoples attitude on this forum. If its not the most expensive stuff, its crap.

Pipe down you fool.

 

[.Stevo.C.]

What sort of cost was it to do this?

I'll have a look at my receipts and get back to you on that.

 

[Skeeter]

Pipe down you fool.

It's my thread, lol!

Sportlines and Cup shocks (fronts) will set you back about £250. Seen as any coilovers at this price are apparently made of tin foil and jam, if £250 is what you have to spend, this seems to be the best and only option.

 

[.GAZ.]

I love my Konigsports!!

 

[Skeeter]

I love my Konigsports!!

Good for you.

 

[.GAZ.]

Good for you.

Excuse me?