NW coilover fitting

[Sumner]

There seems to be alot of people from the northwest on here so thought I would ask.

Where is the best place to get coilovers removed and fitted to a 197?

And if anyone is handy at doing this then I have cash waiting if they would to help me out!

I am from runcorn but dont mind travelling towards warrington/liverpool/manchester etc.

Thanks for any help, David.

 

[Russ.]

Birchdown in Cheshire should be able to do this for you. Google birchdown, their website is the 1st link on google

 

[clionoob]

what colour s it i have a 182 and my bird lives in runcorn, not seen any about in runc. yet?

 

[EllisC]

ABP motorsport in nantwich, they done torsion bar for me, n top marks to em great service n great bunch of guys

 

[Craig]

birchdown mate

 

[Icarus]

Whoever is fitting them really should have corner weight scales and geo gear as a minimum. Otherwise its just bolting bits on. Setup of the spring platforms etc. to ensure suitable corner weights is just as important as actualy throwing the bits under the car.

Cheers
M

 

[Craig]

brchdown take them to demon tweaks iirc

 

[Sumner]

what colour s it i have a 182 and my bird lives in runcorn, not seen any about in runc. yet?

My 197 is red mate, there is one black, white and albi around runcorn


Thanks for everyone elses comments, spoke to birchdown and they seemes like a good bunch. but didnt ask them about corner weighting etc so will do that 2moz. And they also gave me a good price i think

 

[172bagss2]

Get down to Birchdown - the one thing you can be sure of is that the Kevs (Steve and Andy) will fit them to your car as if it were their own.

You'll then need to take it 20mins down the road to Demon Tweeks who will charge you approx. £50 for a 4-wheel laser alignment. They don't corner-weight etc as for these cars it's total overkill unless you're preparing a highly competitive race car!

The Kevs will set the car up to the ride height you want, then Tweeks effectively 'tweak' it - they can adjust front camber (and castor if you can) etc.

You'll love it once you drive away... :race:

 

[tonksy26]

How important is it to get coily's setup correctly ?

 

[Gaz_]

Corner weighting is waaay over kill on a road car. Do you think Renault do that on every Clio that leaves the factory? The kevs will set the height, then Tweeks do a full geo set up. I left mine a week to bed down before i took it to tweeks.

 

[tonksy26]

Corner weighting is waaay over kill on a road car. Do you think Renault do that on every Clio that leaves the factory? The kevs will set the height, then Tweeks do a full geo set up. I left mine a week to bed down before i took it to tweeks.

So what would YOU reccommend that you get done once fitted ?

 

[Gaz_]

I left mine to bed down for a week. Then had camber/tracking done. I've had a 172 Cup, 182 and now the 197 set up like this. Tyre wear is even etc, no scrubbing. Not had any issues in 4 yrs of coilovers

 

[Icarus]

ROFL Oh FFS. Corner weighting is overkill is it? The only practical reason for height adjustable coil overs is to allow you to accurately corner weight the car in conjunction with running a lower static ride height if required.

Renault don't corner weight every car as standard because the effective spring/platform height is such that the corner weights are set during design and development.

Sticking a set of height adjustables on and guessing at ride heights by eye is not the way to do it. At all. Setting the platforms the same on each axle will not result in correct corner weights. Your weight in the car will change the weighting and adjustable platforms allow you to set the car up for you by equalising the weights with you on-board.

If you don't care about any of this then why spend money on dampers with adjustable spring platforms? Just stick a set of springs on, that'll give you a lower static ride height and for the most part maintain the standard corner weights assuming the springs are well matched in terms of height and rate.

Cheers
M

 

[Gaz_]

I would put money on 90% of coiloverd cars on this site are NOT corner weighted.

 

[Icarus]

I would put money on 90% of coiloverd cars on this site are NOT corner weighted.

So would I, but why on earth is that a good thing?

As I said set them up properly so they give a benefit or just stick some springs on.

Cheers
M

 

[Gaz_]

I'm not doubting that at all.

Your weight in the car will change the weighting and adjustable platforms allow you to set the car up for you by equalising the weights with you on-board.

If its set to account for you in the car as you mention above, what if your carrying a 20st passenger? Do you need to reset/adjust them everytime? As said, its no race car?

 

[SBV116]

Not arguing here for one minute, as i know Icarus deals with proper race pedigree cars!
And corner weighting is a benefit if your going for the absolute most out of your coilovers!

BUT, most of the cars on here have coilovers for looks, mine does especially, the handling is improved over standard, and its nice and low!! I am happy.

 

[172bagss2]

I'm not doubting that at all.



If its set to account for you in the car as you mention above, what if your carrying a 20st passenger? Do you need to reset/adjust them everytime? As said, its no race car?

I've never been in your cars Gaz-Kev!! :S

 

[SBV116]

He said 20ST, not 30!

 

[Icarus]

I'm not doubting that at all.



If its set to account for you in the car as you mention above, what if your carrying a 20st passenger? Do you need to reset/adjust them everytime? As said, its no race car?

When you've spent at least 600 quid why would you not set them up so you have the benefit? If you have adjustable spring platforms one would hope the car sees a bit of fast road/track action at some point and usualy if you're 'on one' you do tend to be on your own.

Maybe its me but I just cannot see why you would spend a big chunk of cash on something and not make use of it.

If all you want is 'wiked' low then just stick some springs on it and save yourself 500 quid for bitches and bling ;-)

Cheers
M

 

[Sumner]

Icarus thanks for your input, im not gona doubt anything you say tbh.

What am i best doing? know of any places that can do corner weighting?

But yeh I have gone from springs to coilovers as I do want to track the car this year so I do want to get a good setup.

Can I get them fitted and then set up correct later on?

Thanks.

 

[Gaz_]

Yep, they still need bolting to the car. I'm sure a decent set of coilovers, not corner weighted, but tracking/camber set up will be 80% there, better than your current spring set up. If you really want them weighted its just like a final setup. I'm happy with mine without, transformed the car

Again, just my opinion, but there is also more thigs to throw into the mix. Obviously Icarus is very clued up with race cars etc, but my car is 100% road. Now, things like mileage/rough, broken surfaces come into play. All the suspension components will be taking a battering. After say 20k, all the perameters will be out anyway with wear and tear. I get a full geo check every 12 months. You always carrying different loads/weights in the car, including full, half tanks. Can corner weighting take all this into account? Say its set up for you in the car, than you take your mate Dave for a spin around the track after doing that 20k. All the cornerweighting will then be to c**k...... So then ask yourself is it worh it? Its no 24hr race car with one driver........

 

[Sumner]

Cheers Gaz, rang Birchdown and they are the best I have spoken to by far. But my mate said he can do them for me for free, and then I will spend the money I havent to get it set up right correctly.

Do you think that is a good idea?

 

[Gaz_]

Yeah, any money in your back pocket is a bonus!!! Your mate will hate you though, nothing like dropping a MK2 Clio .

 

[Icarus]

Yep, they still need bolting to the car. I'm sure a decent set of coilovers, not corner weighted, but tracking/camber set up will be 80% there, better than your current spring set up. If you really want them weighted its just like a final setup. I'm happy with mine without, transformed the car

Again, just my opinion, but there is also more thigs to throw into the mix. Obviously Icarus is very clued up with race cars etc, but my car is 100% road. Now, things like mileage/rough, broken surfaces come into play. All the suspension components will be taking a battering. After say 20k, all the perameters will be out anyway with wear and tear. I get a full geo check every 12 months. You always carrying different loads/weights in the car, including full, half tanks. Can corner weighting take all this into account? Say its set up for you in the car, than you take your mate Dave for a spin around the track after doing that 20k. All the cornerweighting will then be to c**k...... So then ask yourself is it worh it? Its no 24hr race car with one driver........

I've never known a 24 hour race car with one driver, or a governing body that'd allow one driver to race for 24 hours.

That's the point of corner weighting the car though. It allows you to account for different fuel loads and driver weights and keep the car as close to ideal with all of it as possible. Without it you may end up with the car 'on mark' with one driver and an empty tank but way, way off with a full tank (some 100KG's in an endurance car) and the heaviest driver. By taking this into account when setting the car up you can ensure that the point on the car and the height of each platform takes this into account to ensure that no one scenario is such that the car will be way off mark.

Also the point about the condition of the public road is a mute one. Unless the spring platforms move or the effective height of the spring changes (which shouldn't happen with decent springs in 20K of road miles) the static height of each corner will remain the same and as such the corner weights will remain correct. If the spring platforms move on the damper tube/body then you've probably had a big accident and as such your corner weights will probably be quite a long way off ;-) If the effective height of the spring changes once its been subjected to 90% - 110% of its working load for a few tens of hours then its a shite quality spring. Realisticaly unless you are bumping kerbs, driving at every pothole and jumping speed bumps then in 20K a road car should maintain whatever Geo and suspension setup that has been put on it if everything is in good order.

Changing worn and knackered dampers and springs for nice shiney new stuff will always feel better, especialy if the shiny stuff is decent kit but when you've got to all the effort of fitting and paying for it I just can't understand not making full use of it/maximising the advantage it gives.

There are other aspects to corner weighting as well such as reducing/eliminating anti-roll bar preload caused be differing ride heights, all of which has knock on gains in handling and response.

Cheers
M

 

[Icarus]

Icarus thanks for your input, im not gona doubt anything you say tbh.

What am i best doing? know of any places that can do corner weighting?

But yeh I have gone from springs to coilovers as I do want to track the car this year so I do want to get a good setup.

Can I get them fitted and then set up correct later on?

Thanks.

What coilovers are you planning to go for and what adjustability do they offer in terms of bump and rebound adjustment?

Pretty much any proper motorsport place will offer corner weighting. Its an integral part of race car and sports car setup - if you have a Lotus specialist near you they'd be a good starting point as the Elise is extremely sensitive to setup/corner weights so most tend to carry the required kit.

What sort of track setup are you looking for and do you understand how to work with any bump/rebound adjustability you have to achieve a good setup? Geometry is only half of the setup ;-)

Cheers
M

 

[Sumner]

I will have KW variant 1, and I am not sure on the other bits mate. Sorry.

 

[Icarus]

Okay well V1's don't have adjustable bump or rebound. They are fixed damping rate. If anything they're a bit soft for track use but they do work well on the road and maintain suspension compliance which is very important. You don't have to worry about working out what bump/rebound settings to use though which'll save you some effort.

Cheers
M

 

[Naith]

im sooo happy ur lookin after my V3's lol

 

[Sumner]

Okay well V1's don't have adjustable bump or rebound. They are fixed damping rate. If anything they're a bit soft for track use but they do work well on the road and maintain suspension compliance which is very important. You don't have to worry about working out what bump/rebound settings to use though which'll save you some effort.

Cheers
M

So what should I do to get a good setup with the V1's? If you know any good places in the northwest that will be great!

 

[Gasket]

Corner weighting is the icing on the cake. You can achieve a reasonable set up by just setting the ride heights and rake accurately. Corner weighting allows the fine tuning for a set mass distribultion and required handling. Nice but not essential.

 

[Gaz_]

Thats the point i was trying to make.....

Id love some one to corner weight up some cheap GAZ coilovers :clown: That really would be money down the drain.

 

[Craig]

mine aint corner weighed but the handling is still 100x better than the standard setup with sportlines

 

[Gasket]

Thats the point i was trying to make.....

Id love some one to corner weight up some cheap GAZ coilovers :clown: That really would be money down the drain.

I wouldnt say it would be money down the drain but a proper corner weight takes time and a degree of skill ie more money.

Plans Motorsport, for example, who are very experienced in setting up the Lotus range will set a geometry and ride height to your request on adjustable platforms that would transform an Elise or Exiges handling with absolutely no corner weighting.

They could corner weight it as well and it would further sharpen it up, but it would cost significantly more.

 

[Sumner]

Ok thanks for all your input guys. My mate is going to fit these for me then I am going to go Birchdown so they can set it up to whatever they think is best. Obviously if corer weighting isnt that essential in day to day road driving I will most prob leave that out until I have the money.