(G) Handling Improvements

Hi guys,

I’ve decided I can no longer live with the soft woolly handling of my 1.6 Active Sport 3 door so I’ve decide to fit some new shocks and springs.

The consensus seems to be to go for Eibach -30mm springs and the pro dampers. What sort of price will theses come to for front and rear? Where’s the cheapest place to buy them from?

Also, will these really make a different in improving the handling of the car?

I’m still deciding if I should just get the springs and not bother with the shocks?

Also, do you guys think I should try fitting a strut brace first before I do the springs/shocks to see if that improves that handling up to a decent level?

Cheers
Matt

As you have a 1.6 (east to fit) then I'd go for the strut-brace 1st.

Just go for the Eibach springs, designed to work with your standard shocks, do the job, notice the difference, the best £90 you'll spend.

If you are lowering by 30mm and retain the original shock absorbers, you may notice increased wear in them and they will fail sooner than expected.

Reason for this is that they will have to perform the same amount of work (ie damp the spring occilations) in a shorter travel distance, which means higher forces applied to the device.

You may want to replace the springs and shock absorbers as a matched pair.

There also seems to be increasing evidence that changing to sports shocks and keeping original springs may offer better results than only changing the springs (obviously this wont change the look of the car)

That's correct just changing the springs wont give you the absolute answer and as Steve has said your shocks are living on borrowed time due to the piston being compressed to a lower setting and travel restricted sports shocks have a shorter piston rod to go with the shorter springs ..people also need to realise that when you lower your car you also alter the track setting and steering geometry so make sure these are done as well or abnormal tyre ware can take place

OK, thanks guys. I'm being a bit lazy but what sort of prices are we looking at for each option?

Strut brace
Springs only
Springs and shocks

That may give me a better idea of the cost-benefits of each option.

I think I would like to go for springs and shocks, as surely springs only cant really improve the handing that much, I would have though that its more for looks than anything else?

Cheers

Which ever you decide on I can get you 5% extra discount on eibach but you will have to PM me first as I use one supplier on them only

strut brace eg

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/OMP-Front-Stru...QQcmdZViewItem

Don't know if these are good, bad or indifferent

In your original note you said you wanted to cure the 'wooly handling'. Be aware that a strut brace will make no difference to the handling, just tighten up any slack in the steering. The components that will affect handling are: springs, dampers and anti-roll bars. If you are not bothered by the cosmetic appearance of lowering, then I can recommend KONI Sport adjustable dampers with the standard springs. Less roll, taut handling, but no deterioration in ride quality over standard.

You need to stop telling people Eibachs are £90!!!! They are nearer £150 although PNL can get 5% off (he says in his post).

If you want ultimate handling then you need a full coilover set up, but for road use a set of lowered springs will be an improvement......
These are PI springs.....not bad....I have them and they are an improvement.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brand-New-FIAT...QQcmdZViewItem

This would be better still -
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KONI-SUSPENSIO...QQcmdZViewItem

if you really want to sort the wooliness, sell the Stilo and buy something with a better chassis!!!!