Budget Suspension (An Overdone Thread I Know)

[artois7 21]

Hi all,

 

Novice help requried again. Spent the morning searching the site and have come up with what should be a fairly acceptable suspension. The car ATM is a 1.6 gti but will have a mi16 before it's back on the road. Aiming for a fast road car with enjoyable daily driving; very unlikely it will ever see a track.

 

About to fit a 309 rear beam but need a pair of dampers for it. I was going to hold off and go aftermarket but the searching this morning has lead me to believe that 5206K6 for the 306 gti6 is actually a good upgrade over stock, although NFP so 5206TE is the damper to go for at approx £50 per side? Certainly better than equivalent value aftermarket ones.

 

I intend to put 309 front arms/wishbones and driveshafts on. I think I'll be continuing to use the 1.6 "pepperpot" alloys as everybody jumps to 1.9 speedlines. Reading up on this and the forum seems to suggest Bilstein B4 shocks, with Eibach springs and solid top mounts. Is this correct?

 

If so, can you point me in the direction of where I should be sourcing the Bilstein shocks (loads new on ebay but are fakes an issue?), same with the springs and mounts, and is there an Eibach spring in particular I should be going for? dimensions, size etc.

 

Cheers.

 

Edit

 

So the 306 dampers are now £53 each inc VAT. Looking on kamracing and I can get Bilstein group N tarmac dampers for £75 each. Which is a better solution?

 

And they also have the Bilstein B4 dampers at £83.45 for the pair. This seems reasonable.

Edited December 28, 2014 by artois7

[calvinhorse 870]

B4 rears are crap, avoid at all cost!!

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

I've got xsara b4's on mine on the back and i think they are good.

 

Got 205 B4's on front with Eibach -30's and BBM top mounts, and new bearings, and an upper strut brace.

 

I find my set up ideal for fast road and its also been good on track, no harshness on normal roads at all, firm but comfortable.

[welshpug 1,655]

B4 rears are crap, avoid at all cost!!

that was the case about 8-9 years ago but they have changed since

[Alan77 78 1 Cars]

5206TE rear shocks are great, just right for a road 205.

BBM top mount rubber doughnuts are excellent too, firm but not OTT imo.

[artois7 21]

B4 rears are crap, avoid at all cost!!

 

The Bilstein B4 dampers I mentioned should have said struts for the front, not rear dampers. Read all about that.

 

Was thinking Bilstein B4 dampers on the front with Eibach springs then either the 5206TE dampers or Group N Tarmac dampers. Only £20 difference per side between the two so would welcome some opinions on which route to take.

 

Also it's believed the beam I'm about to put on is lowered approx. 30mm, so I'll have a very similar setup to you Dobboy, although I intend to keep the 1.6 wheels and assume you use 1.9s.

Edited December 28, 2014 by artois7

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Cool. Might be worth considering solid rear mounts too on your beam while you have the chance, i've got a set to fit when i eventually get my finger out!

 

Yeah 1.9 wheels on and it sits nice.

[artois7 21]

Contemplated solid mounts but as it's a road going car, I'm not sure if it's worth it. The mounts that have come with the beam are in excellent condition. I think for now I'll get it on with the decent mounts it has currently, and then I can fit solid mounts down the line to see if they improve the ride for my driving style. Small steps and all that.

[calvinhorse 870]

I've got b4s on the front of my 405 and they are really good especially for the money

[mmcgtk 2]

Contemplated solid mounts but as it's a road going car, I'm not sure if it's worth it. The mounts that have come with the beam are in excellent condition. I think for now I'll get it on with the decent mounts it has currently, and then I can fit solid mounts down the line to see if they improve the ride for my driving style. Small steps and all that.

Ive fitted solid mounts to my road car.

 

Tbh there isn't enough of a vibration/noise issue to be concerned about

 

If I'm honest you couldn't even tell after awhile,except for a well planted rear end

[artois7 21]

Have you fitted just the solid mounts or the rubber bushes too? The rubber bushes are what puts me off as it looks like a right pain in the arse. If I was to fit a solid mount I'd probably just do the 'sandwich' type mounts for the top as they're easiest?

[Tom Fenton 1,540]

The front bushes are more difficult to change, but they are also the ones that make the difference. Changing the rear mounts only for solid I doubt you will notice much difference.

[dobboy 231 2 Cars]

Yeah, i got nylon ones fitted when my beam was done.

[mmcgtk 2]

Nylon front bushes

 

alu. Rear mounts

[artois7 21]

Hi all,

 

Anthony has offered me a second hand but low mileage pair of B4 Bilsteins fronts. He has brand new rear B4s or the Peugeot 306 OEM ones - not sure if it's the newer or earlier version of the B4.

 

Also offered me a set of 40mm lowering springs but think I'll order a new set of Eibach ones as they seem to come highly recommended. Just need to find/order a set of top mounts to match the B4s.

[artois7 21]

http://s23.postimg.org/wmislvtjf/IMAG0039.jpg

 

Are these the newer or older B4 dampers? How would they compare to 306 OEM ones? Been offered them for the same price.

 

Also I need to find top mounts as mine are knackered - what should I be looking for?

Edited January 4, 2015 by artois7

[Batfink 201]

306 ones are stiffer, not by masses though. I sell them as a mild upgrade for road 205's

Same goes for the front shocks.

[welshpug 1,655]

306 ones are (or at least were) the same part number for o.e and bilstein black rears

Edited January 5, 2015 by welshpug

[Batfink 201]

You are right Mei. Dont know why I typed 306. I use the Xsara ones. I'll try and get the differences in spec between the two..

Edited January 6, 2015 by Batfink

[welshpug 1,655]

think xsara and possibly zx are shorter, higher spring rates typically so one would expect higher damping too

 

be interesting to see the numbers.