Best Track Only Coilover Kit

[ravydavy 0]

hi everyone i'm searching for a new coilover kit for my 205 gti mi16.

was wondering which kit to get. i want real info from people who are using them and not from those trying to sell.

just want some good honest opinions especially from the people who trackday. not bothered about it being harsh. thats the last thing on my mind when i was bombing round cadwell.

oh has anyone ever got rid of the torsion bar rear suspension and maybe turreted the back so you can have coilovers front and rear. like what they do to the escort mk 1 and 2. where they four link it and stuff. would be nice to know if you could improve on the torsion bar type suspension.

thanks in advance for the advice and best regards david

[boombang 2]

First up the rear turretted thing has been done, but I cannot see realistically why you would do it for a track car - the cost in time or money doesn't make it worthwhile. It's not like the rear setup is particularily bad, and does a lot for the character of the car. For how easy it is to change the torsion bars, although not cheap compared to a pair of springs, would just do that.

 

There are loads of options for the suspension, but again most cost effective IMHO is the Gaz setup.

 

If you've got the money there is probably better, but unless you are a pro you'd struggle to notice too much.

 

I know a rallycross guy who spent £2700+vat on his suspension, and although it handles like a dream he's gone for Gaz on the new car at a far far cheaper price.

 

It's all about your budget really, and if you would notice the extra £2k worth of technology and setup or rather spend that on another aspect of the car.

[Batfink 201]

A few of us have ditched the rear torsion bars for turreted rear. I love the setup as its predictable on the limit. I can't comment on whether its better than a car with uprated torsion bars on track as I havent experienced the other setup. Xsport certainly didnt think so when I was down talking to them.

I felt I was consistant and the car very stable when attacking curbs so theres great value in it on a racecar.

PM Eyeore (hopefully correct spelling!) - I've got a similar setup to what Colin makes and he can give you a price on his setup. Talk to him about your use of the car and he will give an honest opinion on whether its a setup worth getting.

As ever the main question is budget

[ravydavy 0]

hi batfink how is your rear suspension set up then?? is it like an escort?

the thing about coilovers is the instant adjustability. can you adjust camber etc etc.

i think with a little time and effort its gotta be better than the torsion bar and def more adjustable

plus each wheel will be independant of each other. bat fink when yours lifts the inside wheel does the rubber still make contact with the floor or does it still have the trademark wheel lift?

ive heard many a good report about the gaz shocks although i'm generally a bilstein fan i think i'll opt for the gaz gold.

[welshpug 1,657]

the torsion bar setup is independent, its not a torsion beam system like many cars use.

 

most of the coil over conversions for Peugeot's retain the trailing arm assembly but do away with the torsion bars for springing and have a turret welded to the shell and an upright damper fitted, so the camber isn't adjustable per-se, but once set you shouldn't need to alter it.

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

I would say the main benifit is having both side adjustable, How many people have measure the rear beam to find it different from one side to the other, even with all new parts they are rarely the same due to all the tolances there.

 

But as for Damper's, AST are very good as are KW but it really does depend on your budget, As you;ll need larger rear Torsion and Anti roll bar's and really a adjustable front end too, the list goes on and on

[ravydavy 0]

I would say the main benifit is having both side adjustable, How many people have measure the rear beam to find it different from one side to the other, even with all new parts they are rarely the same due to all the tolances there.

 

But as for Damper's, AST are very good as are KW but it really does depend on your budget, As you;ll need larger rear Torsion and Anti roll bar's and really a adjustable front end too, the list goes on and on

my budget is 600/1000 quid. def no more than that.

just weighing up the options as its a long time till spring comes along with some good weather ha ha (not)

so there is plenty of time to tinker/alter. plus research.

whats the best spring rate for the front on the gaz's for trackwork 225pound?

[bren_1.3 1]

slightly off topic but where is the bottom damper location on these sorts of turreted conversions? at the stub axle pin? or on the O.E location on the trailing arm?

 

this isnt a hedged bet question but ive seen both locations used on these conversions.

 

BTW batfink, has your brother managed to use the 13" x 7" alloy pepperpots i sold him a couple of years ago?

[Discostu 6]

As for spring lb'age i'd say 280-300 is better suited to a track setup

[Miles 331 1 Cars]

All depends on tyres as well, Get some Neg camber on the front as well

[ravydavy 0]

All depends on tyres as well, Get some Neg camber on the front as well

How many degrees of neg camber you running? I'm running a 309gti rear beam dropped one notch.

Does it matter what rear beam your runningto the amount of net camber you can run on the front?

Best regards for all the info lads it's well appreciated

[Batfink 201]

hi batfink how is your rear suspension set up then?? is it like an escort?

the thing about coilovers is the instant adjustability. can you adjust camber etc etc.

i think with a little time and effort its gotta be better than the torsion bar and def more adjustable

plus each wheel will be independant of each other. bat fink when yours lifts the inside wheel does the rubber still make contact with the floor or does it still have the trademark wheel lift?

ive heard many a good report about the gaz shocks although i'm generally a bilstein fan i think i'll opt for the gaz gold.

 

I dont really know what the escorts have as a setup. The trailing arms and beam are still in place but on mine the torsion bars are completely removed. You cannot adjust camber. For the front springrate we ran 280lb springs and with yoko ao48's they were not stiff enough for a dedicated track car.

We ran quite a soft rear end spring wise but it probably still cocked a wheel when cornering hard. I'll be testing stiffer springs to get the car sliding at the rear a bit more. Has a standard rear 309 antirollbar currently too.

 

 

slightly off topic but where is the bottom damper location on these sorts of turreted conversions? at the stub axle pin? or on the O.E location on the trailing arm?

 

this isnt a hedged bet question but ive seen both locations used on these conversions.

 

BTW batfink, has your brother managed to use the 13" x 7" alloy pepperpots i sold him a couple of years ago?

 

Ahh so you sold them to him. I now have them. They will be possibly going on my racecar, or a road 205 if I get one shortly.

 

Colins setup works from the stub axle pin