Uprated LCR suspension - advice and opinions

[skahigh]

Hey guys, I've decided that I'd like to uprate the suspension on my '03 LCR as I find the ride quie crashy, I suspect that as it's now 6 years old and on the original springs and dampers this will have alot to do with it.

I've done a fair bit of reading around the subject and come to the conclusion that what I am after is a set of matched springs and dampers. I know alot of people will say coilovers are the greatest etc. etc. but I don't plan any track days and only use my car for occasional joy rides and what not. I have no interest whatsoever in being able to adjust the setup once its fitted hence, I can't justify the cost of coilovers.

I don't really want to spend too much money (around £350 maybe) but I would like something that will improve the crashy ride. A small drop would be nice for aesthetics but I don't want to slam it and I don't want to run into avoidable problems by dropping it.

I've been around here some time and I know people will suggest ARB's etc. for handling and although these are on my list I've decided it's the ride comfort I'd like to sort first.

Can anyone recommend a setup within my budget that will improve the ride comfort and handling and also offer any other advice on what potential problems I may face please.

 

[Willie]

You will find it very difficult to get any spring/shock let alone with a budget.
The Koni FSD's are about £400 just for the shocks (anyway these are supposed to be pish)

I've just bought a 44,000 mile set of LCR shocks and springs (mine are 6 year old and 92,000 mile)

http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/product_info.mhtml?product=3916780
http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/product_info.mhtml?product=3917195
http://www.europerformance.co.uk/pages/products/product_info.mhtml?product=3949944

Please check that these actually have the LCR fitment.
There are coilover kits available but think if going for your price range better off with spring/shock

 

[skahigh]

You will find it very difficult to get any spring/shock

Why's that mate?

DPM do something like this:

http://www.dpmperformance.co.uk/weitec-50mm-ultra-gt-kit-leon-1m-14-16-18-18t-0999-p-1502.html

Any thoughts on this? I'm a strong believer that you get what you pay for but I really cant justify the expense of a track quality product like some of the more pricey coilover products.

I'm not after cheap and cheerful, more something in between that and the decent quality coilies. I've seen people mentioning Jamex coilies for £150ish but I wouldnt touch those with a barge pole.

 

[Willie]

That set up looks alright.
The reason I say that is I've been looking for a spring shock set up aswell but found it very difficult. But I was looking for a more track orientated set up.
I think I'll go for coilovers now as I want the car corner weighted

 

[skahigh]

Any idea on what drop the 50mm kit would give on an LCR? As I understand it, the stated it drop is on the base model leon?

Like I said, I'm really not bothered about going low, don't want to run into problems with speed bumps etc.

I've just been reading coxw thread in the suspension section (which I've just discovered ) and I see people talking alot about also upgrading all the bushes etc. Anyone know the best place to buy new bushes and what the cost is likely to be?

 

[Willie]

Yup I have done all the front end bushes.
There not that expensive but getting the work done will cost a bit, I did it myself.

50mm drop would be about 25-30mm on the LCR

 

[skahigh]

Cheers fella, I'm not well up on suspension at all. Is it the wishbone bushes that need doing?

 

[Willie]

When you change the suspension you will need to fit new top mount bushes and bearings in the front (these are ontop of the suspension turrets allowing these to turn and absorb some of the bumps).
The wishbone bushes are the other ones that will need changed, both front and rear bushes (there is pictures of these in my readers rides thread).
A car the age of your really could do with all the suspension related bushes getting changed, that what I'm doing first before I change the suspension, this is not cheap to do though

 

[skahigh]

Nice one, appreciate the advice.

Have you changed all your bushes, etc. already? If so, where did you buy them from?

Also, standard vag parts or aftermarket like powerflex?

 

[DanAPR225]

I fitted FSDs and Eibach pros afew months back, and the difference is fantastic, streets ahead of the standard set up and compliments my neuspeed arb setup. Loads less crashy and handles really well. Makes the car sit nicely too. Id definitely get them again.

 

[skahigh]

I fitted FSDs and Eibach pros afew months back, and the difference is fantastic, streets ahead of the standard set up and compliments my neuspeed arb setup. Loads less crashy and handles really well. Makes the car sit nicely too. Id definitely get them again.

I've read today that that setup can lead to a numb feel at speed, have you noticed this?

 

[DanAPR225]

No, not at all. Dont know if the ARBs stop this, i havent experienced the setup minus the ARBs. It has fantastic grip now and you can make much faster progress accross the bumpier surfaces rather than gritting your teeth like with the standard crap! I feel the damper/spring setup is how it should have felt from the factory to be honest. Its a much higher quality feeling ride, and the ride height is still practical, yet does look a lot better than standard.

 

[DamianPM]

The kit you're looking at, the Weitec, is a great choice and as said will give you around a 30mm drop on the LCR.

Damian @ DPM

 

[skahigh]

The kit you're looking at, the Weitec, is a great choice and as said will give you around a 30mm drop on the LCR.

Damian @ DPM

Thanks Damian, I've been hearing good things about Weitec. What I'm most interested in is better damping than stock, am I likely to attain that with this setup?

 

[DamianPM]

Yeah and especially now your stock setup is 6 years old. The Weitec stuff is made by KW so the quality isn't a question. Gets the thumbs us from us everytime!

Damian @ DPM

 

[skahigh]

Yeah and especially now your stock setup is 6 years old. The Weitec stuff is made by KW so the quality isn't a question. Gets the thumbs us from us everytime!

Damian @ DPM

Thankyou my man, you will probably be getting a call from me once I've replaced all my bushes.

 

[DamianPM]

Damian @ DPM