Styling Suspension

[markdarbypearson]

Help! Can I put mk2 16v sporting suspension on my mk2b 1.2 active sport?
What do I need if I can do it cheaply from breakers?!

 

[Meho]

Hello Mark,
I've recently changed my suspension on mine mk2b 1.4 sporting so maybe I can help you.
First, I think they share the same suspension if it's 3-door but I am not 100% sure.
Second, I honestly wouldn't recommend buying used suspensions parts no matter what due to having a bad experience on my previous car (Peugeot 307) with used shocks.
New shocks are not that expensive tbh and can make huge a difference on the car's handling.
The job itself isn't that hard, rear shocks are held with two bolts, so it's an easy replacement, the front ones require a bit more fiddling, but it can be done using simple tools available, just be careful.
There are countless youtube videos on how to replace your shocks so look it up if you are looking to do the job yourself.

 

[markdarbypearson]

Hello Mark,
I've recently changed my suspension on mine mk2b 1.4 sporting so maybe I can help you.
First, I think they share the same suspension if it's 3-door but I am not 100% sure.
Second, I honestly wouldn't recommend buying used suspensions parts no matter what due to having a bad experience on my previous car (Peugeot 307) with used shocks.
New shocks are not that expensive tbh and can make huge a difference on the car's handling.
The job itself isn't that hard, rear shocks are held with two bolts, so it's an easy replacement, the front ones require a bit more fiddling, but it can be done using simple tools available, just be careful.
There are countless youtube videos on how to replace your shocks so look it up if you are looking to do the job yourself.

Thanks! I'm just looking for a cheap way to stop my 1.2 active sport looking like it's on stilts compared to how my previous mk2 sporting looked.
Can you tell me what I need? Do you recommend any make?
I was going to the breakers for straight swap.
Alternatively can I just get a sporting front and rear spring set from breakers and swap with mine? My shocks are fine so would the spring swap be all I need to do?

 

[Meho]

Thanks! I'm just looking for a cheap way to stop my 1.2 active sport looking like it's on stilts compared to how my previous mk2 sporting looked.
Can you tell me what I need? Do you recommend any make?
I was going to the breakers for straight swap.
Alternatively can I just get a sporting front and rear spring set from breakers and swap with mine? My shocks are fine so would the spring swap be all I need to do?

Like I've said previously, I think those two models share same suspension set up in 3-door cars. But, again, I am not 100% sure.
I went with magnum front and rear shocks

https://www.onlinecarparts.co.uk/magnum-technology-3329534.html

https://www.onlinecarparts.co.uk/magnum-technology-3329538.html

I didn't change the springs, mine where just fine.

If you are looking to make the car more "aggressive" looking, you could look for lower springs, there are countless third party who make them. I have no experience with them, so I can't tell you if they are good or not.

I am not sure how does your car look right now, but what makes sporting look more aggressive are the bumpers, side skirts and bigger alloys.

Post a picture of your car and I can have a better understanding of the current look.

Cheers.

 

[markdarbypearson]

Like I've said previously, I think those two models share same suspension set up in 3-door cars. But, again, I am not 100% sure.
I went with magnum front and rear shocks

https://www.onlinecarparts.co.uk/magnum-technology-3329534.html

https://www.onlinecarparts.co.uk/magnum-technology-3329538.html

I didn't change the springs, mine where just fine.

If you are looking to make the car more "aggressive" looking, you could look for lower springs, there are countless third party who make them. I have no experience with them, so I can't tell you if they are good or not.

I am not sure how does your car look right now, but what makes sporting look more aggressive are the bumpers, side skirts and bigger alloys.

Post a picture of your car and I can have a better understanding of the current look.

Cheers.

I put the skirts on which improved the look but it's still too high ?

 

[Meho]

I put the skirts on which improved the look but it's still too high [emoji849]

Have you changed suspension or springs recently?
The gap between the wheel and the fender is too high

 

[markdarbypearson]

Have you changed suspension or springs recently?
The gap between the wheel and the fender is too high

No was like it when I bought it. Its a 1.2 active sport. Thought they were like that?

 

[Meho]

The rear side seems okay, but the front looks to me a bit high. Maybe I am mistaken because there aren't to many cars like that around me.
I would love if someone else can take a look who has more experience with these models

 

[nitramtpr]

This is what mine looks like on standard suspension, quite a gap between the wheels and arches.

You can buy a set of coilovers for £225 (no idea about the quality though!) but do you want to be spending that sort of cash on the old girl?
If the dampers are OK you could just buy a set of lowering springs, if these are genuine new old stock then they're a bargain as they're normally closer to £150. I would recommend getting new boots, dust covers and top mounts.

For a full set of oem suspension (front and rear with new boots and top mounts) you're looking at about £200.

Replacing rear suspension is dead easy. two bolts hold each damper in place, you need to be able to jack the car up and leave the rear axle dangling, once the rear dampers are off the axle should be free enough to get the springs out.

The fronts are a bit more of a pain. If you're replacing the whole front assembly then don't forget to buy new boots and you may as well get a new top mount too, no point cheaping out too much on suspension!. When you take out and re-assemble the suspension the bolt that holds it all together at the top has an allen key hole in it, so when you do the nut up you need to have a long allen key in the bolt so you can do it up tight enough, this means either having a decent swan necked ring spanner, or a special socket for it.

Watch from about 40 seconds, it shows the type of socket arrangement needed to unbolt (and subsequently do up) the suspension top mounting.

When rebuilding and replacing the fronts you also have to get them aligned right when you put them back in, there is an outside facing side to the whole suspension strut assembly. Look at the same video again it shows how the suspension needs to be built and aligned correctly. If it isn't then the car will handle very strangely.

 

[chris3234]

The gap is exactly how it's supposed to look it's a cheep hatchback not a sports car
You look at 80% on cars on the road they have a 2-3 inch gap between the tyres and wheel arch is needed unless you fit really stiff spring's that don't conpress much over bumps

 

[markdarbypearson]

Thanks guys. The old girl (16yrs) has only 67000 on the clock and the struts look and feel fine.
Because she is old though I'm going the cheap route and looking for spring lowering only. Initially scrappers if I can get them off a 16v sporting cheap. I assume you can do this?
If all is not well with handling then I'll replace everything.
I just want it to look a bit more like my old sporting at the front and not handle like a prancing pony round corners!!