Bilstein vs Black OE suspension (GC)
 

Firstly a thanks to Milan-San Remo who pointd me in the direction of a set of Bilstein struts :)

Bonesetter did a comparison here between Bilstein and kyb red OE

https://www.scoobynet.com/suspension...arison-gc.html

So I thought I would do a comparison as well for the earlier cars/suspension :)

Car is 1998 V4 Type R (300bhp) which recently had MOT and a few things needed sorting ,the rear struts were giving a small extra bounce when tested and numerous bushes were no longer rubber but almost plastic like :(

So OE struts were replaced with Bilsteins (standard springs used),track control rod bushes replaced (Whiteline) and rear droplinks replaced (Whiteline),steering rack bushes (Whiteline) and today a geo set up was done (nothing special just done by a good local tyre company)

Knackered old struts
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...914_143120.jpg

Nice new Bilsteins
http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...7-27125832.jpg

Difference between suspension sets...... well the Bilsteins are do seem make the car slightly higher than the original set (safari rally spec as the garage called it lol) but however they seemed to have settled with the weight of the car on them.
Now the comparison isn't that fair perhaps as plenty of the bushes were replaced but I have to say the Bilsteins gave me a far better feel of what was happening in relation to the road surface (could feel the bumps a little more)
Most noticable thing was the high (but legal) speed cornering which I will have to test a bit more as the suspension gave me a hell of a lot more confidence.

New geo (I know nothing about geometry values but it seems to work for me)

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...917_213533.jpg

I would say that when changing the suspension have a look at the bushes there is no point in buying coilovers and still using the tired,old rubber bushes
Bilsteins £600
TCA bushes were £100
Steering rack bushes £27
Droplins £85
Geo £36 (as nothing was siezed up)

Nice post, thanks. What model Type R is yours, and do you have a pic with the new dampers fitted (and possibly a pic before)?

1998 V4

Standard suspension (unfortunately can't really see much)

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...dlinesmall.jpg

Slightly better shot

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...ackwrx/111.jpg

Bilstein suspension

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...ps5e6db60e.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...psae2db6fb.jpg

http://i137.photobucket.com/albums/q...psa1462f0a.jpg

Have to say the cornering speeds and confidence the new struts give is fantastic,think I may wear out the left front tyre quite quickly :(

Will also be uprating the rear ARB at sometime (22mm) and maybe having a look at other Whiteline bits.
If I get an ALK fitted I guess the tyre company I use will be able to set the geo up?

Your 'Bilstein suspension' shot makes the car look lower than the std set-up ride height...? And tbh, at that height looks very good. Any lower and you're going into over lowering territory.

Good call on the rear arb - of course what I would do is go 24 adj rear (middle setting) and 22 front (firm) - very nice :D

Other thing to top it all of - P1 springs :D

Possibly is I think, I will get some measurements to see what the height actually is.

Think I will start with the rear then move to the front if needed :)

Also looking at DCCD Pro for the car as well.

As for P1 springs,perhaps I could look for the Yeti,Lord Lucan and WMDs and actually find them before I find P1 springs :lol1: as I did look just before the suspension was fitted.

LOL P1 springs - they are out there. I found 3 sets, 2 used and 1 brand new

22 rarb is OK, and a big improvement over std, but 24/22 is the dogs, esp with Billy's and P1's - that's my set-up on the Type R :D