Getting annoyed with the FR's harsh ride!!

[terrymcg]

Chaps,

I am starting to get really annoyed with the ride quality on my 56 FR, its a joke!

So are Eibach Sportlines an answer to this to any degree? I have read some people say they soften the ride up quite noticeably, while lowering the car to get rid of the MPV like arches!!

So do you guys running sportlines really have a smoother ride?

Terry

 

[AndrewJB]

Ive fitted Sportlines the other week and yes it is alot better and obviously looks alot nicer now

I am running Aero Kit 18" Wheels so it looked like a tractor before.

Most people on here are running Eibach Pro-Kit rather than Sportlines tho

 

[Marshall]

Well I fitted sportlines about 6 weeks ago and initially I thought the ride was better but now they have settled they are pretty much as harsh as before. The answer maybe to fit shocks at the same time?

 

[terrymcg]

Oh dear, not what I wanted to hear!! Maybe I will just get shot of the car, not sure I can live with it!!!!

 

[Robbo73]

I just traded my 57 FR in and now have a Cupra K1. Much as I liked the FR, the ride was very firm and did grate on me for the last couple of months- the roads around where I live are awfully bumpy though. Strange as it may seem and contrary to what some people say, the K1 is quite a bit smoother a ride and not as jerky. Even my better half agrees and she was not a fan of the FR's ride, but has mentioned the Cupra is far more comfortable as a passenger. Maybe that's an option for you. I test drove a new common rail FR before I bought the Cupra and this car is a much softer ride than the original Mk2. Not sure what suspension the new one has but definitely a big difference to what I had.

 

[robdf2]

. I test drove a new common rail FR before I bought the Cupra and this car is a much softer ride than the original Mk2. Not sure what suspension the new one has but definitely a big difference to what I had.

The new leon has been praised for its new ride smoothness , one of the plus points of the new shape.

 

[nc30rider]

I test drove a new common rail FR before I bought the Cupra and this car is a much softer ride than the original Mk2. Not sure what suspension the new one has but definitely a big difference to what I had.

The new leon has been praised for its new ride smoothness , one of the plus points of the new shape

Have they changed both the springs and dampers, or just the springs on the FL Fr?
I wonder what the price of the new spring and dampers would be from the FL Fr?
This would probably be the best solution for a common complaint

 

[FR_Flavoured]

With Eibach you have primarily 2 options - Sportlines or the Pro Springs.
Each delivers a different package I guess, a couple of questions

- Which Spring Kit lowers the car the furthest? (I originally heard it was the Sportlines).
- Is there any difference in firmness between the Two Kits?

The answers to these 2 questions will probably be the decider, depending on what you want out of your lowered car!

 

[Bretty]

Not long after buying my FR i bought a full set of cupra shocks and springs off fleabay and fitted them, the ride is still firm but noticeably better than the FR setup

 

[terrymcg]

Whats the main thing that softens the setup, springs or shocks?

 

[FR_Flavoured]

The full Cupra suspension must have set you back quite a bit Bretty? Also how much did that lower the car by, compared to the FR kit?
Did you have to pay for someone to fit them too! Could have worked out quite expensive.

At least you are comfortable in the knowledge that your suspension setup is all still original SEAT.

 

[Bretty]

The full Cupra suspension must have set you back quite a bit Bretty? Also how much did that lower the car by, compared to the FR kit?
Did you have to pay for someone to fit them too! Could have worked out quite expensive.

At least you are comfortable in the knowledge that your suspension setup is all still original SEAT.

I bought the whole lot for around £60 delivered and fitted them myself (never again), it has lowered the ride height slightly maybe a few mm. I also had the wheel alignment done which was £80.

 

[daboy3000]

Well I fitted sportlines about 6 weeks ago and initially I thought the ride was better but now they have settled they are pretty much as harsh as before. The answer maybe to fit shocks at the same time?

How are springs going to help, you need to change the shocks

 

[Marshall]

How are springs going to help, you need to change the shocks

Well I read all the other posts on which mod made the biggest difference and they all said the sportlines improved the ride more than just shocks.
Obviously shocks and springs is the way to go, anyway I aint complaining about mine i was just answering the original question.

 

[robin cur]

cant say mine are to bad, last car ibiza mk5 sport seems about the same to me

 

[FR_Flavoured]

On the plus side, the FR Shocks are at least optimised for a lower/sportier stance.

Therefore its said that you can safely just replace the Springs, to achieve an even lower stance, and you wont risk the FR shocks getting damaged over time due to this change - unlike the Mk4 Ibiza for example, where if you lower the car on just a different set of Springs, your SEAT shocks will likely pack up after 6 months and start leaking....

For the ultimate setup, on the FR, you might want to go for a full coilover suspension kit if you want a custom ride height (LOW), perfectly on the wheel arches, but also with the ability to configure the rebound (smoothness) of the suspension, but this obviously works out as the most expensive option.

 

[JoshSimpson]

Comfiest car ive ever driven!! Saying that ive had a lupo on cheap nasty coilovers and then a polo 9n3 on FK coilovers, if anyone feels the FR ride is uncomfortable i would steer well clear of coilovers!!!

Josh

 

[joolsvern]

16" wheels with fat tyres.

 

[Nath.]

16" wheels with fat tyres.

Agree, I can't see that fitting springs that lower the ride height will make the ride softer, even with matched dampers.

I'm 99% sure that the biggest cause of poor ride quality and noise on my Leon is the 18" wheels and skinny side walls. Having said that the Leon rides way better than my old mk4 Ibiza.

 

[Paulki]

Agree, I can't see that fitting springs that lower the ride height will make the ride softer, even with matched dampers.

I'm 99% sure that the biggest cause of poor ride quality and noise on my Leon is the 18" wheels and skinny side walls. Having said that the Leon rides way better than my old mk4 Ibiza.

I can assure you that it can make a huge difference; I have Eibach Pro's with Koni FSD's and it transformed the car even after changing from 17" to 18" wheels.

There are lots of previous threads on this topic, just do a search and you will find many happy FR/Sport owners with similar suspension upgrades.