Advise on suspension/brake mods

[t5 pete]

My coil overs all ready got them jamsey

[jamesy12345]

My coil overs all ready got them jamsey

Nice one....cable tie-ins an all. I'll see if our lass can make them, about time she got that sewing machine back out

[jamesy12345]

On a serious note do coilovers cope with the winter weather ? I've also heard they need rebuilding every couple of years.

I was looking for information on the above - protecting coilovers in the winter. On the forums ACF-50 keeps getting mentioned but it looks too expensive for me, any water repellant should do the trick like GT85 spray or some kind of grease. Electrical tape over the threads maybe. Those covers I posted wouldn't be enough on their own but I think they would help.

[AcidicDavey]

Suspension wise I'm running KW V2s and to be honest they're not that great, the ride is a bit bumpy. I've got iPD anti roll bars too which are maybe too stiff.
I wouldn't recommend the setup I've got! ...but then maybe that's just me.

My KW V2s were brand new in November/December.

They're set quite low with 215/35/18s so I'm not helping them, probably more me to blame than the hardware plus they haven't been professionally set up quite yet.

The ride isn't that much worse than before fitting them so probably more to do with everything.

Jamesy, I'll send John Price an email, thanks.

[V70 Graham]

Looks like it's going to be the H&R springs with either B6's or Koni Yellows with new top mounts etc.

Just a quickie, would the B6's be ok with the lowering springs ?

[jamesy12345]

Looks like it's going to be the H&R springs with either B6's or Koni Yellows with new top mounts etc.

Just a quickie, would the B6's be ok with the lowering springs ?

That sounds like a good choice, Graham. I was wondering the same about the B6's, think so but best to get it confirmed

I spoke to Don at Kalmar Union today...the plan was swap the FSDs for Yellows but looks like it will be the Gaz kit

[t5 pete]

Gaz seem to be pretty good classic swede also has a deal with them were they do 240 coil overs

[jamesy12345]

Gaz seem to be pretty good classic swede also has a deal with them were they do 240 coil overs

I saw/heard some comments about needing them re-built after a couple of years but can't say that I'm worried about it since they are made in the UK

[AcidicDavey]

A friend had GAZs on his MX5 but in less than a year they were buggered but then he was using them as low and as stiff as possible!

[jamesy12345]

A friend had GAZs on his MX5 but in less than a year they were buggered but then he was using them as low and as stiff as possible!

Thanks for the heads up...not planning on going too low....ride height is fine now...maybe only 10-20 mm below normal R height

[Wobbly Dave]

Having owned and run many suspension setups I will try to give you my honest opinion

In order of ownership

Eibach prokit springs and monroe reflex - most comfy and relaxed ride. Not sure you can get them these days. Not too expensive.

Eibach prokit and Koni FSD - bit firmer good road/track compromise. Long lasting (over 100K miles)

Eibach prokit and Bilstein B6 - owned since 2009 - firmer still - excellent track option - expensive - high quality.

BC Coilovers - BNIB not yet fitted.

Depends what you want to use the car for. If you want to bimble around to BKV events - then I would leave the coilover option alone. Koni FSD/Eibach represented a really good fast road and VFM option.

Brakes - again BBK are all well and good - but I've had compliments on track days for how well the Ferodo pads on 302mm actually arrest the car. I would like a BBK option but remain skeptical of plunging for non-standard compilation of parts due to the effect on brake balance. AP kits are OTT, expensive to maintain, rotors don't last and whilst nice to look at - are too rich for my taste.

I did want Kirsty's tested set-up but even at 800 quid - I can't justify right now.

[jamesy12345]

Having owned and run many suspension setups I will try to give you my honest opinion

In order of ownership

Eibach prokit springs and monroe reflex - most comfy and relaxed ride. Not sure you can get them these days. Not too expensive.

Eibach prokit and Koni FSD - bit firmer good road/track compromise. Long lasting (over 100K miles)

Eibach prokit and Bilstein B6 - owned since 2009 - firmer still - excellent track option - expensive - high quality.

BC Coilovers - BNIB not yet fitted.

Depends what you want to use the car for. If you want to bimble around to BKV events - then I would leave the coilover option alone. Koni FSD/Eibach represented a really good fast road and VFM option.

Brakes - again BBK are all well and good - but I've had compliments on track days for how well the Ferodo pads on 302mm actually arrest the car. I would like a BBK option but remain skeptical of plunging for non-standard compilation of parts due to the effect on brake balance. AP kits are OTT, expensive to maintain, rotors don't last and whilst nice to look at - are too rich for my taste.

I did want Kirsty's tested set-up but even at 800 quid - I can't justify right now.

Thanks Dave, what is Kirsty's set up?

I can't say I would recommend Eibach/FSDs on anything but very smooth roads when pressing on a bit

[Wobbly Dave]

It wasn't Kirsty - it was Keri-WMS (I knew it was a girl-like name beginning with K)- and the thread was here...

http://www.vpcuk.org/forums/showthre...-pot-brake-kit

as usual a lot of noise but little uptake. I would have gone for it - I just can't justify it at the moment despite numerous PM conversations.

The last quote, June 2014, I had was this...

It looks like this:

- 331.7x30, T30x (big) caliper, fits 17" Titan with NO wheel spacer (based on the test in the photos) = Est £668.46+vat (+/- 5%) including discs.
- T30x-fit Ferodo (deep / 49mm type) DS2500 = £109.24+vat/set
- WMS/Earls lines = £35.39+vat/pr
- UK zone 1 shipping = £FREE (if using a bank transfer which saves us PayPal fees, failing that PayPal is fine and shipping is £10.00+vat!)

Total = £813.09+vat

I know they clear on 7.5J comets. This is their site - http://www.wms-brakes.co.uk/

[Wobbly Dave]

The other commercial option is Wilwood from the states - but I have no idea what they are like...http://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_fr...o&LH_PrefLoc=2

[V70 Graham]

Having owned and run many suspension setups I will try to give you my honest opinion

In order of ownership

Eibach prokit springs and monroe reflex - most comfy and relaxed ride. Not sure you can get them these days. Not too expensive.

Eibach prokit and Koni FSD - bit firmer good road/track compromise. Long lasting (over 100K miles)

Eibach prokit and Bilstein B6 - owned since 2009 - firmer still - excellent track option - expensive - high quality.

BC Coilovers - BNIB not yet fitted.

Depends what you want to use the car for. If you want to bimble around to BKV events - then I would leave the coilover option alone. Koni FSD/Eibach represented a really good fast road and VFM option.

Brakes - again BBK are all well and good - but I've had compliments on track days for how well the Ferodo pads on 302mm actually arrest the car. I would like a BBK option but remain skeptical of plunging for non-standard compilation of parts due to the effect on brake balance. AP kits are OTT, expensive to maintain, rotors don't last and whilst nice to look at - are too rich for my taste.

I did want Kirsty's tested set-up but even at 800 quid - I can't justify right now.

Comments appreciated Dave, but I don't think Koni FSD's suit lowering springs.

[jamesy12345]

Comments appreciated Dave, but I don't think Koni FSD's suit lowering springs.

They're not bad but I'm getting torque steer and don't inspire confidence at higher speeds (with Eibachs/FSDs I mean). I've got a dash camera with GPS/G-force logging...maybe it would show up in there, pulling left & right. If they were standard I might not notice, but for a 1000 quid aftermarket product I expect better to be honest.

(Sorry Yosser...maybe my roads are worse than yours!)

[Ettienne]

If you want to wait you can drive both of my sets ups back to back

B6s lesjford springs

Koni yellows eibachs

[V70 Graham]

If you want to wait you can drive both of my sets ups back to back

B6s lesjford springs

Koni yellows eibachs

Sounds like a plan Steve, I'm hoping to try a few at Gaydon as well.

[Yosser]

(Sorry Yosser...maybe my roads are worse than yours!)

No worries.

The suspension was adequate but was certainly the top of the list for future attention.

I'll be interested to see how you get on, I'd probably have gone for koni yellow or bc coilovers.

I look forward to getting this car back once you've finished it for me

[MoleT-5R]

Should have my FSD's fitted later this week, so you can check them out at the Shropshire meet, if you like Graham