LCR suspension options - advice please

[JP_LCR]

Hi,

I am hoping to start upgrading my suspension in the New Year and would like advice please from the good people of SeatCupra.net. I have done plenty of reading before anyone points me at the search tool The most helpful thread is the one Ruddmeister wrote and have seen his comments in other threads which have also been useful.

The requirements for me are to:

- Sharpen intial turn in from standard roll, before car balances
- Make car flatter through corner to give confidence at higher speed
- Improve ride quality over crashy standard setup (appreciate there is a balance between this and other requirements above)

The car is as stated in my signature, with 50k miles on the clock, never been on a track but would not rule it out in the future. I don't want to lower anymore than 20mm as Sheffield council have decided to not bothered fixing any of the thousands of pot holes, instead they have surrounded my estate with speed humps not the flat ones, the ones which stick up between your wheels and make you cringe.

On the wheels/tyres I am either sticking with standard and a new set of Goodyear Eagle F1s all round or going for some 19 alloys on Falken 452s.

The routes to upgrade I was considering are:

Option 1 - Front and rear ARB 25/28 only on standard dampers/springs

Neuspeed £300 + fitting

Option 2 - Coilovers only

Cheap option - AP £325 + fitting
KW V1 £640 + fitting
KW V3 £961 inc free fitting

Option 3 - Koni FSD/Eibach, smaller ARB front rear 22/25, more of a road setup

Koni FSD £353, Eibach ProStreet Springs £107 + fitting
Neuspeed £300 + fitting

Option 4 - Coilvers and ARB all at once

Coliovers KW V1 £640 + fitting
ARB Neuspeed £300 + fitting

I cannot spend any more than £1000 and really would prefer to split into stages. Whichever option I choose I will also get the following done at the same time,

S3 front strut bace £57 + fitting
INA track density dogbone mount £99 + fitting

Grateful for any advice, on which to do first, or if any of you have the products listed above or (can recommend cheaper prices from anywhere,other products something I've not considered, would you buy same again?

Cheers,

JP

 

[warren_cox]

If I had a grand flat I'd get some KW Variant 1's, then maybe settle for the Neuspeed rear ARB and an R32 front ARB to save a few quid if you're running tight. If you can match up the ARB's it would be better. Dog bone is a must really.

S3 front upper strut brace is handy, but will make less difference than the rest. As its cheaper I would sort that later.

Don't forget whent the suspension is done you may find you need new top mounts, so factor those costs in too. Also I'd always go for a full Beissbarth 4 wheel alignment to get the the whole car running true otherwise you've effectively spend a grand and gained very little.

 

[JP_LCR]

Thanks for the advice, I am leaning toward the V1's as I havent seen anything but good reports for them. Is the R32 front ARB just a standard VW part?

 

[Willie]

Well JP it looks like you've done your research and looking at Rud's thread for a start is advisable.

I personally would advise you to go the S3 strutt brace and ARB's with INA street density engine and transmission mounts with a track density DBM.

This will allow you to feel the change these make to your set up without going the whole hogg and perhaps not liking how your car feels.

The ARB's I would go for the R32 23mm front ARB and the 28mm rear ARB. Remember that you will need to get the 4 wheels aligment done after this at about £50.

to get the right feel for this set up I would change your LCA rear bushes, your top mount bushes and bearings and your tracking rod ends. these addition bit will not add much to your fitting costs as when you get the front ARB done all these will be disconnected anyway. This is apart from the top mount bushes and bearings which will add a little to your fitting costs.

I would strongly advise to get these bushes freshened up before splashing out on an expensive suspension set up.

Even if you went the suspension route I'd still advise most of the above mods to get the best out of your set up.

Hope this helps a bit.

 

[Ruddmeister]

The requirements for me are to:

- Sharpen intial turn in from standard roll, before car balances
- Make car flatter through corner to give confidence at higher speed
- Improve ride quality over crashy standard setup (appreciate there is a balance between this and other requirements above)

Option 1 Rev A
Front and rear ARB 25/28 only on standard dampers/springsNeuspeed £300 + fitting
S3 front strut bace £57 + fitting
INA track density dogbone mount £99 + fitting

Start with the above Option 1 rev A

won't stop the crashy ride but you'll be having too much fun to care

When you have the funds add

standard and a new set of Goodyear Eagle F1s all round
KW V1 £640 + fitting

or if you are flush I rate Bilstein PSS coilovers (these are closer to KV3 money though)

 

[Ruddmeister]

Oh btw nice to see someone posting who has done some homework first

 

[DOLBY]

sounds very expensive...im in exactly the same boat JP ...i want to get the ARBS first but tbh it should all get done at the same time as suspension (save money in the long run)...

im after the eibach/koni option, but where were you quoted that price for the FSDs?..that undercuts my quote by about £100 lol...

 

[gulzar]

running bilstein sprintline on my lcr with eibach pro kit springs. work out to just over 600 pounds. lowers by bout 20 mm, stays flatter in cornering and ride is much less crashy. firm but solid feeling. just my experience. im still looking to uprate other parts but car rides ands satisfies brilliantly and i enjoy the odd spirited drive more and more.

 

[JP_LCR]

Thanks Junior Senior and Ruddmeister. If I do go Option 1 and maybe bushes it does give me the option to continue on if I want more with coilovers, or stop if it gives me most of what I need.

cupra79 I think I got the Koni FSD prices from the JKM website, http://www.jkm.org.uk/performance/suspensionseat.htm just double checked and that didnt have VAT so should be £406 with 15% VAT from Monday. I have not specifically requested quotes on any of these prices just what I have collected from other posts and websites. I'll probably be getting fitting and 4 wheel alignment through JBS as there local and always done a good job for me.

gulzar thanks for offering another option to consider.

 

[gulzar]

your welcome mate, also i see that you also owned a cupra 180 and now on the lcr. i was the same, had lc with revo car was brilliant but the r is something else hey.
also a bit of topic so apologies but i see that you dont have an upgraded full system i have to suggest that once you get suspension sorted get yourself a 3 inch downpipe with sports cat and go phase two, its awsome. i actually play with mate in his lcr with revo stage 1 while back and top end pulled away fairly nice, engine feels like its free with the down pipe restrictions gone . p.s i have the jabba map.

good luck with the work.

 

[JP_LCR]

The plan is get suspension setup then maybe go down more power route if needed later, quite happy with CC Phase 1 at minute, reason for only cat back was cost and old exhaust was hanging off and failed MOT previously, so just doing it all in small steps where I can.

Cheers,

JP

 

[AndyHazza]

Well JP i think you may have done more homework than i have seen in a while on any forum in a long while! so my hat goes off for you sir I personnaly think you'd be spot on with what you were thinking about doing, your option1 choice first. Just repeating what other people have said, the ARB's on their own should make a big impact on the overall drive of the car, and as you said yourself, it then leaves you free to look at other options later on. The only downside is having to do the 4 wheel alignment again, but if that will be some time away then you wont loose out too much. If you would like any advise with the ARB's then feel free to give me a shout

 

[cruising03uk]

will new R32 front or rear anti roll bars fit the mk1 leon cupra R???????????????????

 

[Nev_LCR]

what sort of price is just the rear arb

 

[DannyC87]

i think i paid £200 for my neuspeed one from awesome

 

[Ruddmeister]

will new R32 front or rear anti roll bars fit the mk1 leon cupra R???????????????????

it's the Mk4 Golf R32 front ARB AFAIK not the Mk5 Golf R32.

Aftermarket is the only option for the rear ARB, oh and BTW the Neuspeed is the only rear ARB that fits without hitting the back box on an LCR (Eibach, H&R all knock on the back box on OEM LCR exhaust)

 

[Ruddmeister]

what sort of price is just the rear arb

Why just the rear? I'd recommend doing a pair......I had just the rear and the car felt very wierd.

A pair of ARB's is the best value modification I did on the LCR (Remap and dog bone mount aside)

 

[sheffboy]

Hi,

I am hoping to start upgrading my suspension in the New Year and would like advice please from the good people of SeatCupra.net. I have done plenty of reading before anyone points me at the search tool The most helpful thread is the one Ruddmeister wrote and have seen his comments in other threads which have also been useful.

The requirements for me are to:

- Sharpen intial turn in from standard roll, before car balances
- Make car flatter through corner to give confidence at higher speed
- Improve ride quality over crashy standard setup (appreciate there is a balance between this and other requirements above)

The car is as stated in my signature, with 50k miles on the clock, never been on a track but would not rule it out in the future. I don't want to lower anymore than 20mm as Sheffield council have decided to not bothered fixing any of the thousands of pot holes, instead they have surrounded my estate with speed humps not the flat ones, the ones which stick up between your wheels and make you cringe.

On the wheels/tyres I am either sticking with standard and a new set of Goodyear Eagle F1s all round or going for some 19 alloys on Falken 452s.

The routes to upgrade I was considering are:

Option 1 - Front and rear ARB 25/28 only on standard dampers/springs

Neuspeed £300 + fitting

Option 2 - Coilovers only

Cheap option - AP £325 + fitting
KW V1 £640 + fitting
KW V3 £961 inc free fitting

Option 3 - Koni FSD/Eibach, smaller ARB front rear 22/25, more of a road setup

Koni FSD £353, Eibach ProStreet Springs £107 + fitting
Neuspeed £300 + fitting

Option 4 - Coilvers and ARB all at once

Coliovers KW V1 £640 + fitting
ARB Neuspeed £300 + fitting

I cannot spend any more than £1000 and really would prefer to split into stages. Whichever option I choose I will also get the following done at the same time,

S3 front strut bace £57 + fitting
INA track density dogbone mount £99 + fitting

Grateful for any advice, on which to do first, or if any of you have the products listed above or (can recommend cheaper prices from anywhere,other products something I've not considered, would you buy same again?

Cheers,

JP

Mate. I feel your pain when it comes to the shocking roads in Sheffield. I've travelled the lengths of Britain and swear blind the roads in Sheff are the worst.

I've just upgraded my standard LC setup with a koni fsd/eibach pro spring setup.
The ride is firmer than the oem setup but seems to ride the bad road surfaces slightly better than the oem kit. It still crashes slightly but seems better damped and more comfy, Handling is greatly improved, especially turn in but I'm yet to upgrade my ARB's due to having a 10 month old who seems to eat up any spare income i have With the uprated ARB's i reckon this setup will be very good indeed.

The only thing I've been a bit dissapointed with is the lack of drop the Eibach pro springs give you. I knew they were only going to give me approx 20mm drop but there's no way on earth the drop is 20mm, I reckon 5-10mm max and tbh you cant tell the difference between standard. When i bought the fsd's from awesome gti, i was told that the fsd's will slightly raise the ride height of the leon if used with standard springs so maybe this explains why the eibachs have dropped so little.

Imo you'd have to be a brave man to go down the coilover route in Sheff but If you know a good chiropractor then go for it.

 

[JP_LCR]

Its good to hear from someone who has to drive the same bad roads. I think I'm pretty much decided on ARBs with S3 brace and INA DBM to start then possibly suspension kit at a later date. I had a Saxo that was lowered 60mm and very quickly grew tired of making all passagers get out so I could drive over speed humps, think I've grown up since, well a bit anyway

I've put my name down for that Sheffield RR session in New Year so hoping I can have a chat to other people there or maybe go for a spin as a passenger to see what ride different suspensions like.

 

[JP_LCR]

Right, just been informed potential to fail MOT on suspension so need to decide this weekend, didnt want to spend anything till New Year

NSF shocker top mount excessive play
NSF wishbone bushes spliting
OSR spring broken
Rear ARB bushes spilt and bar thinned

I need to decide this weekend on parts to order Monday morning...

Polyflex bushes in pairs to replace broken ones
Pair of std rear springs OR set of 4 Eibach pro street, to get Koin FSDs at a later date
Either Neusepeed ARBs Fr/Rr OR Eibach Fr/Rr ARBs (about £200 difference)

Any thoughts gents?