Skip Brown Roadspeed Suspension - Stiff?

[brian j 32]

I paid a visit to Skip Brown today, for a Roadspeed suspension kit and solid rear beam mounts (on a 306 but I am still hoping for comments from 205/309 owners)

 

Paul told me it would be stiff for the first few hundred miles until it all settles, but on the way home it was as hard as a very very hard thing for the first 100 miles or so. It seems to be starting to soften up a little now. (250 miles down, and a detour onto some nice a roads round stratford-upon-avon to give it a work out) Has anyone else had this experience with a new suspension kit? I DO trust Paul and Del, but I am a bit nervous about the ride quality on my car at the mo, which is now poor.

 

On the up side cornering is AMAZING

[richsmells 2]

What does the roadspeed kit include? I have roadspeed springs and they felt very hard to begin with but after about 1000 miles and a new beam the ride is firm but perfectly tolerable. Handles well too!

[Toddy 7]

SBC Phase 1 kit is a harsh ride on uneven roads & may appear crashy to some, depends how much you like a comfortable ride, comes into its element on track thou

 

Will soften up a little in time

[Robsbc 0 1 Cars]

SBC Phase 1 kit is a harsh ride on uneven roads & may appear crashy to some, depends how much you like a comfortable ride, comes into its element on track thou

 

Will soften up a little in time

 

Been running the phase 1 kit since 1996....Your asking too much if you want a soft ride....It's a trade off beteen comfort and handling.

[brian j 32]

Been running the phase 1 kit since 1996....Your asking too much if you want a soft ride....It's a trade off beteen comfort and handling.

 

I knew it wasn't going to be soft, but I had a ride in Del's white 306 gti6 and that was fine by my book (it has the full kit fitted) At the moment mine feels about twice as stiff as that though. Hence the question about if they soften up dramatically with time.

 

Oh and Rich, the full kit (for a 306) is Front and rear shocks, front springs. Solid rear beam mounts are also strongly recommended by them. Someone with a 205 will correct me if it's different.

Edited April 6, 2006 by brian j

[Super Josh 4]

I thought Dels 306 was only running the phase 1 and not the 'full kit' ( phase 2 ), do you have the phase 1 or 2?. I have the phase 2 fitted to my 205 and it is just about acceptable on the road, although having decent quality dampers it is alot less sever than some of the cheaper kits that if ridden in, i.e AVO and the like. The spring damping is great, and on 'bump' the springs/dampers seem to absorb the shock and sort of 'catch' you and lower you do gradually( if you've ridden in a car equipped with this system, you'll know what i mean ).

It is definatley a bit harsh for the first 500 or so miles, then it settles down, although it can be a PITA and our bumpy pothole ridden roads.

Maybe having adjustable dampers would help alot, at least that way you could have a softer setting for the road and then tweak it for the track. Is your car road only? or a road/track car?

 

 

 

Josh

[C_W 3 1 Cars]

You can't really compare a 306GTi with the equivalent kit though - it will always ride better than a lowered 205.

 

I rode in NickRs 205 that had the whole lot on it and I thought it rode really well, probably a bit better than my 205 on Koni shocks, which I think rides fine. I got the impression from Nick that it was more road orientated so not the firmest stuff out there.

[brian j 32]

You can't really compare a 306GTi with the equivalent kit though - it will always ride better than a lowered 205.

 

I don't think they do a pahse1/2 setup fro the 306 as such, IIRC the phase 2 is thicker rear torsion bars and negative camber on the 205?

 

Mine is, I am assured, identical in setup to Del's which was lovely as a passenger. (Std GTI torsion and ARBs, Roadspeed dampers all round, roadspeed springs, solid rear beam mounts)

 

Handling wise it is amazing, There is NO understeer that I can provoke, it is very neutral and it gives plenty of warning before getting oversteery. I have not had it too near the edge and I won't until I am used to it and can find somewhere safe to do so, but that way it is A1.

 

However, the car is primarily a road car and I do need tolerable ride. The country roads I don't mind being rough, but it bouncing over imperfections on the motorway is a pain.

 

I think I will give it another 500-1000 miles to bed in and see how it goes. It is significantly better than it was, because the first 5 miles out of SB's I was making myself feel sick, but it is now nearer to being acceptable, particularly at speed.

[Robsbc 0 1 Cars]

Mine is, I am assured, identical in setup to Del's which was lovely as a passenger. (Std GTI torsion and ARBs, Roadspeed dampers all round, roadspeed springs, solid rear beam mounts)

 

Her car has done about 100,000 miles and no doubt the shocks have done quite a few miles unless she's changed them.

Edited April 6, 2006 by Robsbc

[Guest Aggs]

How is the car now?

Been on the phone with prices to SB and cannot decide whether I need Phase 2 kit as well.

I want a reasonable road ride as well, current set up with Spax adjustables too hard for country roads,but perfect for smooth roads.

Do you mind me asking how much you paid?

They quoted me over £1500 for fitting phase 1 and 2 seems expensive.

Edited April 12, 2006 by Aggs

[Robsbc 0 1 Cars]

SBC would have said if you mainly did motrway driving you don't really need the phase 2. If the majority of your driving is on A roads then it's worth deciding to go for the phase 2 aswell.

 

The prices are sky high because Bilstein increased their prices a few years ago and torsion bars from Pug are not cheap and the phase 2 kit camber kit on it's own is around £250 + VAT cheaper than anyone else I think if anyone does do them anymore.

 

SBC = not cheap but does = quality/years of ecperience.

[Guest Aggs]

Am going to order the bits and fit, to save drive north,I think Phase 2 would be a bit too specialist to fit and set up anyway.

I was hoping some more people whom have had the kit fittted to their 205 s would have given some feedback on ride quality, it is an expensive option and would feel a bit more confident in this instalation,esp as my car is currently pretty good on smooth roads and excellent on the track,because it has the adjustable front shocks,but is awful on country roads where the more fun is!!

Thanks for reply, but think will still go the SB route as they are the experts as you say.

[brian j 32]

How is the car now?

Been on the phone with prices to SB and cannot decide whether I need Phase 2 kit as well.

I want a reasonable road ride as well, current set up with Spax adjustables too hard for country roads,but perfect for smooth roads.

Do you mind me asking how much you paid?

They quoted me over £1500 for fitting phase 1 and 2 seems expensive.

 

OK, sorry about the long wait for the post.

 

1500 miles down, the final verdict.

 

Car has settled nicely. Ride is stiff, but definately not harsh, and the harder you push it the more it absorbs the bumps. Damping is amazing. There is a stretch of straight B road near me with the worst broken/rutted surface over a set of dips/crests I have ever come across. Before, at 50 the car bounced all over the place, now it is perfectly drivable at 60.

 

However, while the ride is fine when you're pushing on on backroads (for me anyway) it has still got a bit of an unsettled quality on a-roads and motorways, unless they are perfectly smooth (in the UK, right...) which is a shame but I can live with it.

 

Overall grip has not significantly changed, but it was only when I had a ride in a standard car again that I realised how well it responds to change of direction. Oversteer is just as available as it was, but a LOT more predictable, so it tempts one to play a bit more.

 

So, in summary. Great fun, great handling, but a pretty stiff (though not harsh or crashy ride)

 

Total bill to me was £1000, for kit and rear-steer deletion on the 306. (plus another 700, for front and rear ARB's, new rear torsion bars, various bushes etc because my car wasn't a GTI to start with).

 

I now love the car on my own, and it never bothers me. But it is a bit harsh for most non-enthusiast passengers. If I were you I'd try to get a ride (or better still a drive) in one first to chack it's what you want. Del was amazingly helpful, so ask her. Maybe she can point you to an owner to help you out?

 

B.

[Guest Aggs]

Cheers for report.

My Phase 1 kit being fitted to 205 this week, hope its worth the money!!!

Looking forward to the road test.