First Handling Mod

Going on the various threads, including the one about lower braces. What do people think is the best first handling mod?

I've done my wishbones etc and am now thinking of bracing. I get the impression that adding just springs would give a crashy ride and overtime may ruin the dampers, so I'll leave that until later when I can get uprated dampers or coilovers.

So this choice is between Front Lower Subframe Brace, Rear Whiteline ARB or Strut Brace? Opinions please

rear arb-no doute,most bang for buck

I dont' think you can beat a strut brace for the money, the difference afterwards was very noticeable for me

yup - strut brace first.

The rest in (roughly) this order (listed by effectiveness, not cost)

Shock absorbers
Springs
Rear ARB
Front ARB
Lower subframe brace
PolyBushed wishbones
Camber adjustment
Better seats (yes, I know they don't improve handling, but it leaves the steering wheel for steering, rather than being used as a circular grab handle)

All the above assumes that the basics are in order - wishbones, top mounts, track rods, rear radius arms etc)

Thanks all, and Nigel that's a very comprehensive list!

How can I check my rear radius arms?

Jack the car up, grab the wheel and give it a wobble back and forwards - as in towards the centre of the car and towards yourself.

First and biggest handling mod: lowering springs.

MattB - So if the entire wheel wobbles into and away from the car then they are gone? As opposed to tilting the wheel top and bottom like checking for a bearing?

You can also tell if it has gone, by the fact you have negative camber on the rear wheels

What a load of rubbish!

If you don´t have the money for a nice seat, you could always buy a CG-Lock seatbelt tensioner.

Cheers for the input chaps, Strut Brace it is

I hear AA sell the LE one(?), which would be nice to keep the car as close to the standard looks as possible.

A printout I received from Elite after having my tracking done showed that I have negative camber on one rear wheel and positive on the other side... Could knackered rear radius arms cause this?

Sorry for the hi-jack

Yep, but it's generally the bearings for the trailing arm that has gone. You can get replacements from alt auto's for about £30 a side instead of the £120 a side for a trailing arm

depends by how much i have the same and the bearings etc. are fine.

I try to dig up the printout later and find out. It certainly wasn't a great deal though...

I can let you know if mine is similar - it was within manufacturer's tolerance.

Back to the original handling list

Eibach ARB set has Front & Rear Anti Roll bars with better bushes and bars are made some better harder steel?

Front is 26mm diameter
Rear is 22mm diameter

I have just ordered that set with very reasonable price, I think. Is it crap when compared to whiteline rear ARB, any comments? Someone using it which what kind of results?
Whiteline do not make front ARB?

what was difffrent mate?
stut brace on my list to,for the money it must be a good mod

Speak to Julian at Balance Motorsport:

http://www.balancemotorsport.co.uk/

Sorry to jump on this thread and apologies if it has been asked before... But will a strut brace from an Alfa 145 fit on my 20VT?

The one in question was an OMP one.

Cheers.

im no expert i would say yes

no it wont its to high get the right one,
http://www.strutbracer.co.uk/page1.php?sitepage=4&partid=125&modelid=254&manuf=26

and beaware you might need to wait six weeks to arive and take a look at this
http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=131955

The one I was looking at was from YB Racing. But if it won't fit I will wait and get the correct one.

Cheers.

First and biggest handling mod?

Good Tyres.

I had the same shocking attitude when I tried to organise a group buy of upper and lower braces from strutbracer.
Firstly it took over a month to receive one of the two bars I'd ordered and when I tried to chase them up I got the same abusive answers to my email ? This was after quite a few normal conversations whilst sorting out the group buy. Group buy was cancelled obviously, I wouldn't give them the time of day.

Now I read this as I ordered one last tuesday well just have to wait and see what happens now. Was going to get a friend to make me a stainless one

I am very tempted to make myself one as well. I have access to some steel and I am good with a mig welder.

I can also get it power coated.

A polished stainless would look goodthough imo

A stainless one would look great I agree.

rob40 has one but of what i dont no

I bought mine from Strutbracer, only £48 sparco one from 16v, very cheap and fast delivery to Ireland.

its gone upto 60 quid for a omp

What has to be done to make a 16V one fit a 20VT? Do you need to move the relay box on the passenger side and the wiring on the drivers side near the strut tops or is there more to it?

think thats it, 16v strut braces look better.. am sure there was a post on fitting the 16v braces onto the 20v somewhere.

I also heard that the 16V one does a better job of stiffening the front, because it is straight and locates on 2 bolts on the strut top, as opposed to the 20V which loactes on one. I think it was the sparco 20VT one BTW.

i did say this,16v one fits all and they are better,when you take the nuts of you will need to cut the washer of 2 of them to make them fit inside the hole

There's a place in Minster Lovell that powder coats unless you have even better access to it I'll eventually get some bits done at Minster.

robs is nice though, cant remember where he got it from.

like i said,im no expert[lol]

back of the class for you son,lmao

OMP 16V ones are £81 on ebay including delivery from YB racing.

It is quite tempting..

get a price of strutbracer there the same thing and come from same place,only thing is you might need to wait a bit,but you will get it

There's a place in eynsham too - Oxford Industrial Finishers, speak to Colin

£60 at strutbracer, not sure about delivery price though.

I know Colin, as he does work for us.

The design of the 20vt strutbrace is farcical as its the wrong shape and it only attaches the suspension mount on the passenger side, hardly ideal tbh! Be careful with the OMP braces on ebay as the mounting plates need to have holes drilled for the bolts so can be a pain if you dont have some large metal drill bits.

I will buy an OMP brace I think. I have access to large drill bits and a Pillar drill.

Trouble is now I have to save some cash as I am worried about loosing my job.

I bought the 16v brace for my old 20vt and it came with holes pre-drilled. The only thing that was mildly difficult about fitting, was removing the washers from the bolts

akeme were the hell did you drill holes they come with holes ready to fit,unless you had a faulty one

i heard there easy to fit but everyone says that and some thing always goes wrong,does for me anyway[lol]