Standard struts, Koni Springs - any point?

-westy-

-westy-

-westy-

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When I replaced the engine in my 205, I bought a job lot - engine, gearbox, and some Koni Adjustables. Now, having had a look at the Koni's, one of the struts is bent at the bottom, so I can't use it.

Now - is it advisable to use the springs from the Konis on my standard struts? I have a feeling that the front of the car is lowered as it is, I don't want it much lower to be honest - I'm just looking for better suspension.

Any ideas?
 
You *might* kill the standard shocks quicker and there's the chance that the ride quality might suffer, but overall, it should be ok.

I had Avo springs on standard shocks on the 220. They were used when I bought them (springs and shocks already assembled) and I had them fitted for about 12 months. The car then went onto become a track car with the new owner who said it handled very well. Ride was a bit crashy but it was good fun to drive.

That was on already 'worn' shocks.

On the other hand, the G-Max springs and shocks on the 420 are pants in comparison. Want to upgrade to coilovers at some point :cool:
 
agw_01 said:
You *might* kill the standard shocks quicker and there's the chance that the ride quality might suffer, but overall, it should be ok.
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Well, you've been in it, you know that the ride is fairly...firm already :D

I might just leave it then, maybe upgrade to some Bilstiens in the new year.
 
depends, some springs are made for standard shocks? i.e most that lower no more than 35mm are normally OK?

So i have been told, and tbh on my fiesta eiback springs were fine.

You do notice that they are a bit more crashy tho!
 
on my 2l and previously on my v6 i had koni springs on standard shocks, made a nice difference over standard, but changing to koni adjustable shocks too made a massively nice difference :)
 
It'll make a difference, but as said will potentially wear your standard shocks out quicker. I've been running Eibach springs on standard shocks (when I bought the springs I bought a new set of standard shocks to go with them) and it's been great so far.
 
Matt82 said:
uprated springs on standard dampers only leads to a cack ride as the damper cannot control the springs movements.
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I disagree, depends on what the standard dampers are like. Ask any 172/182 owner who has fitted Eibachs (prolines or sportlines) and the ride is a lot better with them than standard springs.

Also depends on the quality of the springs, are they designed to just slam the car or are they actually designed to try and improve on standard? As good as the Koni adjustable shocks are the springs that come with those kits are often said to be too harsh and are often swapped for Eibach/H+R, at least the people I know who have bought the kits :)
 
the 172 etc is a good example as they come quite firmly damped from the factory therefore they stand a chance when trying to control the rebound of an uprated spring, but the recoil will still be beyond what the damper is typically designed to handle so it starts to get messy as the damper wears.

suspension is such a juggling act. my brother went from eibach pros, to H&R and then eibach sport on a 1.2 16v clio, as the ride height got lower and the spring rates increased, the dampers were further and further out of their depth. with the eibach sports the ride was down right dangerous, but he is a chavver so knew no better

we found some apex sport items, and the firmer damping actually improved the ride quality ten fold and the handling was so much more fun. unless youre not taking it too seriously (ie how the car drives) then standard dampers with uprated springs are a bad combination in my experience
 
Ev0 said:
I disagree, depends on what the standard dampers are like. Ask any 172/182 owner who has fitted Eibachs (prolines or sportlines) and the ride is a lot better with them than standard springs.
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ask a lot of people what they reckon to aftermarket suspension stuff on a Williams (even things like polybushes).

:D
 
MrMatteh said:
ask a lot of people what they reckon to aftermarket suspension stuff on a Williams (even things like polybushes).

:D
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Polybushes are nasty though imho, as are the poly dogbone mounts :p

Williams is a different machine, guessing the aftermarket stuff isn't as nice as standard? But thenit was pretty perfect right from the factory so you wouldn't want to change anything, it even had the the suspension bits from it's superior older brother rather than the Clio 16v didn't it? :)
 
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i love the polys ive put on mine, but i hear some cars dont react to them too well (integra owners say similarly, basically avoid them)

on the golf, they make it so much better
 
Ev0 said:
Polybushes are nasty though imho, as are the poly dogbone mounts :p

Williams is a different machine, guessing the aftermarket stuff isn't as nice as standard? But thenit was pretty perfect right from the factory so you wouldn't want to change anything, it even had the the suspension bits from it's superior older brother rather than the Clio 16v didn't it? :)
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which car would that be?

The williams was pretty much bang on the money right out of the factory, EVO rated it as the 6th greatest drivers car a few years ago, beating the likes of a Lotus elise 135 and E46 M3 and Impreza P1
 
MrMatteh said:
which car would that be?
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Lol, some of the parts used for the track and stuff were taken from the 19 rather than the Clio :) Loved the way my 19 handled, it was unreal, I remember it being better than my current Clio. Pity the engine lets it down nowadays as there's a mint one for sale, and they are pretty cheap :)
 
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