Suspension

Site Subscriber Joined: 24 Apr 2004 Posts: 318

Think the rear dampers on my 1.8rt (chammy) age going/gone - seems very soft and bouncy at the back.
I know nothing about suspension so here is my question(s):

Would like to improve the suspension/handeling all round so if I was replacing the rear then I'd do the front as well, possibly might like to lower slightly but not too much and would like to keep a decent level of comfort over our potholed roads - so what are the options/reccomendations? - oh and it's all standard at the moment.

Is the suspension on the 16v different to the 1.8rt?

Cheers, Mark

Level 6 User Joined: 17 Apr 2004 Posts: 166

yeah its diff but better dont see why 16v rear shocks woldnt fit sttraight on but could be diff size mountings on the front chris would know better than i, suspension and rack and fuel pump is the only thing still left on my car everything else has been off and on again at somepoint

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

rears will bolt straight in, its only a damper after all.

fronts are different.

To get 16V fronts you need to get 16V front top plates etc. Easiest to buy a whole 16V strut from a scrapped car or something.

Yes you will most definately notice the diff in handling etc.

Site Subscriber Joined: 24 Apr 2004 Posts: 318

Cheers, it would appear that a 16v set up would be the cheapest/easiest option.

Just a few more questions:

Rears seem easy enough - I presume it would be a bit dodgy to upgrade the rears and not the fronts?

What parts exactly do I need for the fronts and how easy is it to DIY?

Would the 16v setup lower the ride height at all?

Is the Chammy dampers the same as the hatch (I'm wondering if the rear might be different stiffness or something due to weight difference - or maybe I'm talking crap!

Chris - you wouldn't happen to have any of the parts I need for a knock down bargin price would you Wink

Thanks again!

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

not got any rears and it woudl be best to buy these new anyway they are cheap enough. And you can do the rears and leave the front if you so wish.

i have some dodgy front struts you can have, the top plates etc are fine but the springs need replaced and 1 strut is leaking.

The front 16V would lower it a tiny bit, about 10mm or so if that.

Forum Moderator Joined: 18 Feb 2004 Posts: 7432

i currently have konis on the back only, fronts are still waiting to go on. I havent careered off the road yet Smile