Suspension & handling

[coopra R]

Alrighty....

Just dropped my LCR on H&R Coilovers with a pleasing result - both looks & handling.....

I want to make further improvement on the handling, but unsure on how to proceed - should I get Upper strut braces or front & rear ARB's

A lot of you guys will have tried one or the other...so.....

Your thoughts please !

 

[AndyHazza]

A strut brace will help - the best way to see if you really need one is to tie some string between the top of your struts, do it fairly tight, then go out and give the car a raz around some good corners...if the string has snapped then you'll benefit from one.

I reckon you'll feel more of a difference from ARB's though.

 

[RobM]

Have a read of Rudd's suspension guide that is stickied at the top of this forum.

 

[foxes]

Great choice the H&R collies. How much you lowered by coopra r
I cant fault the ride on my LCR with these on.

Arbs & strut the way to go too

 

[coopra R]

Great choice the H&R collies. How much you lowered by coopra r
I cant fault the ride on my LCR with these on.

Arbs & strut the way to go too

Well worth the money Foxes !

Lowered mine by 30mm front & back - really looks the DB's !!

I thought that by lowering the car by this amount, I was asking for trouble with the front lip....but surprised to find no probs at all !..I'll put that down to the quality of the coilovers !

I've had a good read at Rudds Post as RobM suggested and swapped a few PM's with Andy at Awesome....

I'm going for the ARBs first, front & Back & maybe a front strut brace - Not cheap though....maybe Andy'll do us a discount...

What you got yours lowered by foxes ?

 

[RobM]

How do the H&R's compare to others and to standard in terms of ride quality?

 

[Funkyfin2000]

mines got front and back arbs but isn't lowered and it frickin sticks to the road!!!!!!

 

[coopra R]

How do the H&R's compare to others and to standard in terms of ride quality?

Compared to standard, the H7R's have better road holding and the car definately feels less crashy over uneven road surfaces due to the improved damping.

Looking at the coilovers next to the OE components you can see why !...the standard dampers are a lot thinner !

mines got front and back arbs but isn't lowered and it frickin sticks to the road!!!!!!

If thats the case......

I cant wait to get the ARBs mate....I just know the handling's going to be special mated to the H&Rs!

 

[Skorchio]

A strut brace will help - the best way to see if you really need one is to tie some string between the top of your struts, do it fairly tight, then go out and give the car a raz around some good corners...if the string has snapped then you'll benefit from one.

I reckon you'll feel more of a difference from ARB's though.

Good plan. i might use cotton tho..

 

[Funkyfin2000]

ul love it............bloody sticks to the road...

 

[Nev_LCR]

oi coopra get rid of the pic of that volvo get one up of the r

 

[coopra R]

oi coopra get rid of the pic of that volvo get one up of the r

.............................................................................................................

.........All in good time matey !...My LCR's just about ready !

That 'volvo' though was my last project...heavily modded 300bhp ST3 !

C'mon now...surely I can give it a small 5 mins of fame !...

Lights touch paper....stands back....

 

[Nev_LCR]

to be honest mate, i like them and was tempted to buy one before my LCR.

 

[coopra R]

to be honest mate, i like them and was tempted to buy one before my LCR.

I would have to say in its defence, that it handles superbly & is an absolute hoot to drive....looks are not to everybody's taste...but each to their own I say !.......As usual I got itchy feet after a short period of time & someone else is now enjoying the benefit of my work !..

But i do love the LCR.....This is my second !....

Had thought about the new Cupra....but it wasn't pressing my buttons in the same way looks wise...but it is a nice drive having said that !

Anyway....already spent a s****load on my LCR & it's coming on nicely....this time i'm going to keep hold of it long enough to enjoy the fruits of my labour !!.

(Ps never hold me to that....I am an IMPULSIVE git !.....and thay might just beef up that new Cupra next year ! )

 

[thebeno]

Can you fit ARB's yo'self?

 

[coopra R]

Can you fit ARB's yo'self?

The rear ARB is no problem - straight bolt on with the original still in place.

The front requires the front sub frame to be dropped - possible if you have the right tools and environment !....

Unless you are confident in your DIY abilities, then I would get a garage to fit - Awesome will supply & fit for you I believe !

 

[speedsix]

Personally I think suspension tuning should always start with the anti-roll bars. Most of the complaints people have with the LCR's handling is excessive roll, this is best sorted with some stiffer arbs as it won't compromise comfort as much as swapping to coilovers.

I've no idea why people ditch the standard suspension tbh, the dampers especially, they're nicely tuned and pretty quick. Very adjustable on the limit, nothing wrong with them atall. Just stiffen up the roll resistance with some arbs. People assume because it rolls a bit, it doesn't handle that well. While roll may be pretty disconcerting for the driver, it doesn't actually impact performance very much atall. Maybe throwing the geometry out a bit. Look at the track times the LCR has set in various magazine tests (Evo etc.) it's one of the quickest hot hatches around.

 

[coopra R]

Personally I think suspension tuning should always start with the anti-roll bars. Most of the complaints people have with the LCR's handling is excessive roll, this is best sorted with some stiffer arbs as it won't compromise comfort as much as swapping to coilovers.

I've no idea why people ditch the standard suspension tbh, the dampers especially, they're nicely tuned and pretty quick. Very adjustable on the limit, nothing wrong with them atall. Just stiffen up the roll resistance with some arbs. People assume because it rolls a bit, it doesn't handle that well. While roll may be pretty disconcerting for the driver, it doesn't actually impact performance very much atall. Maybe throwing the geometry out a bit. Look at the track times the LCR has set in various magazine tests (Evo etc.) it's one of the quickest hot hatches around.

I get what your saying....but...

IMO standard suspension is just a bit too hard - a complaint levelled at most Seats....Changing to coilovers need not sacrafice comfort - that depends on the type you go for & how much you are willing to pay.

I can honestly say that the H&R's have actually improved comfort - the car doesn't have that every time you hit a mild pothole or suffer an uneven surface. Road holding has also improved.

Excessive roll....in particular the tail end, is not attributable to the suspension - so the decision to change was not based on that.
The advantage of coilovers, for my purpose was adjustability for ride height - this could have been achieved by springs, however, then you have springs which are not set perfectly for the dampers - not too good for road handling. The coilovers have a perfectly matched spring ratio.

The excessive roll as mentioned above and as you alluded to comes down in most part to the ARBs - These will be the focus of my modifications in the very near future...

 

[foxes]

coopra r

I have my H&R set at 30mm, f & r. Had this set-up for over a year now, no faults!!
Its just right and looks the dogs. I think handling is much better & well damped.
Think i could also do with some spacers (i dont know why though).

 

[Funkyfin2000]

hmmm intereting

my LCR has the neuspeed arbs and no after market suspension and fook me does it handle well with no roll, so your comments add uip for that!

i want to know what it will be like with a decent coilover setup! probably amazing!