Got Some Uprated Bits..but Should I Fit Them?

[axnutty 10]

Now I know that really the answer to this question is personal taste but Id like some opnions from people in the know

 

Basically my car is running bog standard 205 GTi 1.6 suspension set up.

 

Ive a few bits kicking about though in my garage. Namely a 25mm (IIRC) 205 ARB and a set of Bilstein Sprintline rear shockers. Ive also a set of 1.9 rear arms with nearly new shafts on.

 

So my options are:

 

1./Leave my car as is.

2./Put the 1.9 rear arms on -disc conversion and newer shafts

3./As above plus, 25mm arb and billies - scare the crap out of myself as the front suspension would be standard..as well as the TBs!!

4./As above plus Do as MaxO has and buy myself a set of Gaz coilovers.

5./As above and fit uprated TBs.

 

OR

 

Sell the ARB and just do as everyone else does and get a 309 rear beam and wishbones (meaning Id have to find 309 Gti ARB, TBS, tube and wishbones)

 

In short it comes down to finding the TBs for a 205 back axle at a good price. I know about the van ones. But vans arent exactly common place so looks fairly unlikely. Or find a 309GTi suspension set up. Which again isnt easy to do by the looks of it.

 

Just interested to see what people think is the way ahead.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also on a slightly different vain - how much is a 25mm 205ARB worth these days?

[damien 22 1 Cars]

what are you using the car for? road, track or abit of both?

[jonnie205 1]

Leave the car on std rear dampers, fit sprintline front dampers and convert rear to 1.9 setup. 309 arms are a good idea but dont do the beam as it makes the rear bouncy due to not enough weight in back of a 205

[max0 5]

Sounds like a good time to inspect the beam and possibly rebuild it.

 

a 24mm ARB went on ebay for £62 Item number: 260063797721 not so long ago...

 

i think its been commented on that the standard rear shocks are better, could be wrong

tho so try a search.

 

noticed your not that far away so could give you a shout when i get my shocks fitted

 

Andy

[Wurzel 16]

Fitting the rear anti roll bar is a quick job and easy to revert back from should you not like it. I say give it a go.

 

I'm sure you're aware that replacing the arms will mean a rebuild of bearing and seals which you said you were going to do anyhow at some point. If you are prepared for the brake pipe changes etc then you could go for that as well, again, not a majorly difficult job if you have all the parts to hand.

 

Suspension is a personal thing as you say. You're used to driving an ax with uprated sus, so expect something in between that and the the standard 205 set up. I will say that the sus on your 205 hasn't been touched since I had it so it could be very tired by now, it could be fairly new?

 

From experience, I'd go slowly with sus mods. I have tried standard, Billy sprintline, and then the Gaz with different rear dampers. I've also tried different diameter torsion and rear anti roll bars. I've put on, and taken off a 309 front anti roll bar on a standard shock set up but using a 309 rear beam (standard) and hated it, it's now ready to go back on with my current set up. I did do a few mods in one go but retro fitted the old stuff and then went one thing at a time to see what differences there were.

 

Currently, despite being harsh for a lot of people probably, I find the car very well balanced for back roads and a roads alike. It is hard, but I wouldn't say crashy. I will be fitting some more bits soon, ie uprated bushes and different top mounts of the eccentric type. I'll also be stuffing on the 309 front arb soon to see what it's like.

Edited December 26, 2006 by Wurzel

[axnutty 10]

Thanks Nick for the Advice. As you say I dont remember your car being crashy when I was in it (seems many moons ago now )

 

Ive spent a lot of time researching this now and am surprised to read that indeed people have very good things to say about the standard rear shocks. I suppose as already mentioned Im used to AX's (The GT's ARB is a puny 11mm as standard - so you can imagine what the standard shocks are like!!)

 

If standard 19mm 205 torsion bars equate to 95 lb poundage, then that would make 309 20mm ones work out at roughly 115 lb / 120lb... which whilst an improvement doesnt seem to be a massive improvement considering the amount if work finding a beam... but then theres the extra track width to take into account as well I suppose. However I dont want to loose the slight oversteer effect of the standard 205 that this set up would oppose.

 

So the 205 1.9 rear beam is going on as standard spec (ARB/dampers/TB) but with just the addition of uprated mounts. Which from reading on here have a slightly uprated turn in effect and promote understeer marginaly.

 

I shall drive that and get used to it and make further improvements from there. As you say Nick I'll fit the rear ARB and see what difference it makes. I guess it will bring the back end out more which I cant say Id really find all that confidence inspiring... so Im thinking something may have to be done upfront. If thats in the form of uprated dampers or ARB at this stage I dont know. I suppose the answer is get hold of a 309 ARB first as its going to be a cheaper option to start with.

 

The main thing I am concerned about is making a car that isnt in balance with itself

 

INCREASED OVERSTEER: (or decreased understeer)

 

U/R rear ARB

U/R rear dampers

U/R torsion bars

-ve Camber wishbones

 

 

INCREASED UNDERSTEER: (or decreased oversteer)

 

U/R front ARB

U/R front dampers

U/R spring poundage

U/R rear suspension mounts

309 rear beam

 

Obviously there is a lot of other factors (tyres, tyre pressure, ride height, spring poundage, geometry set up, etc) But if Ive got the above right, its just a case of modifying appropriatly from each area to increase overal grip but without upsetting the balance. Hence if I do ahead and fit U/R rear dampers and ARB things would get interesting in terms of oversteer....unless I go ahead and fit U/R ARB, 309wishbones and dampers up front as well...On this point MaxO I may take you up and have a look at your new front shocks at some point in the future. (PM'd)

 

Thanks for the input so far guys