Clio 172 suspension on a budget
Discussion
Hi Guys,
Need to upgrade shocks/springs on my clio. Not sure what quality of OEM shocks is like. Is it worth just adding some decent lowering springs. Or do I need full coilovers.
I only use at weekends/trackdays so ride comfort not that important.
Anyone got anything 2nd hand to sell?
Alex
Need to upgrade shocks/springs on my clio. Not sure what quality of OEM shocks is like. Is it worth just adding some decent lowering springs. Or do I need full coilovers.
I only use at weekends/trackdays so ride comfort not that important.
Anyone got anything 2nd hand to sell?
Alex
Edited by AlLondon on Sunday 21st August 22:43
Second hand suspension is a bad idea in my experience. Also the 172's are very well set up in standard form. If your trying to get faster lap times on a budget then spend the money on driver tuition. If you just want to lower your car for cosmetic reasons thats fine. But don't expect it to improve the handling.
Depends entirely on what you want to do. What do you want to achieve? (scratch that, just re-read 1st post).
If it is just for road driving (and assuming your dampers are still working as renault intended) then get standard replacement springs. The original 172 is setup remarkably well for the UK roads.
If you're chasing lap times, driver tuition and a limited slip diff will work wonders.
After that, get the car corner weighted and have some springs made and consider height adjustable spring seat shock bodies and inserts that are rebuildable and have them valved for the springs (LEDA do some decent kit).
Then it starts to get complicated with geometry, tyre choice, tyre pressures, rear downforce (in my experience, you need really hard rear suspension and/or a rear wing to get decent heat into the rear tyres to make them work) and look into polybushing and rose-jointing components, anti-roll bar strength etc etc.
Then onto brakes etc etc.
Just talk to LEDA - http://www.leda.com/ they know what they are on about and will be able to advise.
If it's just a budget trackday only car (not actually competing in racing etc) then I'd be inclined to put new standard stuff on again, thicker front and rear anti-roll bars, invest in tyres and driver training and a quaife type helical LSD when you've got spare cash. Oh and the correct geometry for the track - which makes a MASSIVE difference and only costs buttons.
Worry about rideheight, undertrays, damping and rebound etc later (if there is any need at all!)
If it is just for road driving (and assuming your dampers are still working as renault intended) then get standard replacement springs. The original 172 is setup remarkably well for the UK roads.
If you're chasing lap times, driver tuition and a limited slip diff will work wonders.
After that, get the car corner weighted and have some springs made and consider height adjustable spring seat shock bodies and inserts that are rebuildable and have them valved for the springs (LEDA do some decent kit).
Then it starts to get complicated with geometry, tyre choice, tyre pressures, rear downforce (in my experience, you need really hard rear suspension and/or a rear wing to get decent heat into the rear tyres to make them work) and look into polybushing and rose-jointing components, anti-roll bar strength etc etc.
Then onto brakes etc etc.
Just talk to LEDA - http://www.leda.com/ they know what they are on about and will be able to advise.
If it's just a budget trackday only car (not actually competing in racing etc) then I'd be inclined to put new standard stuff on again, thicker front and rear anti-roll bars, invest in tyres and driver training and a quaife type helical LSD when you've got spare cash. Oh and the correct geometry for the track - which makes a MASSIVE difference and only costs buttons.
Worry about rideheight, undertrays, damping and rebound etc later (if there is any need at all!)
Edited by JimGTxx on Tuesday 23 August 11:44
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