Wheels and suspension

Level 3 User Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 79

Hi

Have a 19 16V. When it was on 195 50 15" wheels and tyres I noticed that it span the wheels in first and second gears with little effort. Plus had lots of torque steer. Since then I have fitted 17" wheels 205 40 tyres and the car feels better. Especially at higher speeds where before you would drop down in to 3rd at 4000 rpm and feel the car twitching. However the 17"s do make the car slower to pick up off the line. My question really is do Renault 16v's suffer torque steer? I know the mk 3 Astra Gsi's did. Could it be time for some new suspension although the car is still stiff on each corner. Or even roll bar bushes? or something?

Also what would you from experience suggest as the perfect Alloy or tyre size to suit these cars, plus how much better is aftermarket suspension for handling on the 19 16v? Pleeease Renault Gods help me. Confused

Bridges

Forum Moderator Joined: 16 Feb 2004 Posts: 1356

Yes they do when in good form. Could go for polly bushes if you wanted.

I would stick with standard wheel size.

Forum Moderator Joined: 02 Mar 2004 Posts: 19978

No.

The reason the 15's span were they were crap and the tracking was out.

They don't suffer much torque steer due to the fact they have equal length driveshafts. If you look on migweb you will see that getting equallength shafst is a popular upgrade on astra's etc to reduce the torque steer on them.

My blue prima was the same, 13's on the front the steering was heavy and it wheelspan and torque steered all over the place, stuck the spare 17's on it all probs were gone, then eventually I stuck a set of 15's on which made the prob come back a little but eventually I adjusted the tracking cos it was sunny again for ohh must have been an hour.

The best wheel size for road use is the standard wheel and tyre combo, 15x6.5J wheel and 195/50 tyres.

Stock renault suspension is the best as well, its quite low as standard and the dampers etc are quite beefy so theres little roll with them in good or new condition.

DeCarbon was the original dampers but boge, sachs and KYB came in later. You can get bilstiens which are not to bad as well.

Also make sure the wishbone inner bushes are ok, they do wear and allow a bit of movement and the arb outer bushes wear as well.

new wishbones complete with bushes and lower balljoint are 30 quid +VAT each from GSF and the arb bushes are about 4quid + VAT each.

Level 3 User Joined: 13 May 2004 Posts: 79

Cheers Chris, Soneji.
Will get my tracking set up. Possibly will change back to my 15" alloys as it felt to turn in tighter on these.

Bridges