Help on Clubman suspension, now all fixed!!

JBT · Postby **JBT** » Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:49 pm

Suspension looks very noice indeed.

Tyres look like cr@p. :mrgreen:

tbro · Postby **tbro** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 1:29 pm

All fitted.

Think I'll need to lift it up a bit though!!

Before (4x4 Clubbie)

Now!!

The best part is the ride, took the car on my favorite run, part of whick was part of the last club run.
Not once did I cringe when going through the rough parts, not like I use too!!!!
So once I lift it up a bit I think I'll be a happy little vegimite

Terry

ASE05 · Postby **ASE05** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 4:35 pm

Terry, your wheels changed colour after changing the shocks :shock:

.......

Adam_NAclubman · Postby **Adam_NAclubman** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 7:47 pm

Which photo isnt the 4wd-spec one?

Wheels look much better now

tbro · Postby **tbro** » Wed Nov 12, 2008 8:33 pm

Adam,
The gold rims are old race rims repainted due to rather rough treatment.

The silver rims are my road rims.

Terry

Veloce · Postby **Veloce** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 7:27 am

Terry
This looks like a good setup. I have a set of Bilsteins from a Clubbie needing to be rebuilt. Where did you source the springs and what spec were they?
Who did the mods to the Bilsteins (perch) and what were the final specs (changes) to the revalving?
I am on the Northside too any chance of feeling what the final ride is like?
Cheers
Rob

tbro · Postby **tbro** » Thu Nov 13, 2008 9:53 pm

Veloce wrote:Terry
This looks like a good setup. I have a set of Bilsteins from a Clubbie needing to be rebuilt. Where did you source the springs and what spec were they?
Who did the mods to the Bilsteins (perch) and what were the final specs (changes) to the revalving?
I am on the Northside too any chance of feeling what the final ride is like?
Cheers
Rob

Hi Rob,
Firstly please check your PMs.
Springs are Espilier from MX5plus, I think Richard still has some.
All the Bilstein mods are from fatcatmotorsports.com. I ordered 85mm spring seats to suit std dia springs, but the kit also included the spring seats to suit 65mm race springs.Sheik the owner is extremely helpful.
I fitted all the parts etc after spending I don't know how many hours finding out as much as I could about Bilsteins and the kits available.
The biggest problem with Bilstein in Aust is noone wants to modify or even give advise about what you can do to the product.In the States it a completely different story and there are many companys modifying Bilsteins.

Terry

Noodle · Postby **Noodle** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:12 pm

tbro wrote:Rebuild the Bilsteins, re-valving to a softer valving at lower speeds and increasing rebound.

What was your reasoning for these changes?

Would you happen to have your final shock dyno graphs?

Also what were the spring rates of the springs you're running?

Cheers

Blue94t · Postby **Blue94t** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 7:44 pm

Hi Rob,

The biggest problem with Bilstein in Aust is noone wants to modify or even give advise about what you can do to the product.In the States it a completely different story and there are many companys modifying Bilsteins.

Terry[/quote]

Terry,
A bit far from home for you but I have heard good things about http://www.quadrantsuspensions.com.au/
Never used them myself but I have a few mates who have and speak very highly of them.
Jake

tbro · Postby **tbro** » Wed Nov 19, 2008 8:41 pm

Noodle wrote:
tbro wrote:Rebuild the Bilsteins, re-valving to a softer valving at lower speeds and increasing rebound.

What was your reasoning for these changes?

Would you happen to have your final shock dyno graphs?

Also what were the spring rates of the springs you're running?

Cheers

The reason for changing suspension was pretty straight forward, my Truck when empty rides smoother than the clubman :lol:

And I'm not joking.
I also wanted to be able to raise or lower the car to siut my mood.

My left front shock keep seizing up so I had both front redone and left it up the the company doing the job to set to what they thought was best, as they had done these shocks when the car was new. As for the graph I didn't even ask for a copy as I wouldn't know how to read one and to be perfectly honest I wasn't really interested! :shock:

The springs I'm running are 212lbs front and 178lbs rear. same as the Racing Beat springs.

Terry

Noodle · Postby **Noodle** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 12:12 am

tbro wrote:
Noodle wrote:
tbro wrote:Rebuild the Bilsteins, re-valving to a softer valving at lower speeds and increasing rebound.

What was your reasoning for these changes?

Would you happen to have your final shock dyno graphs?

Also what were the spring rates of the springs you're running?

Cheers

The reason for changing suspension was pretty straight forward, my Truck when empty rides smoother than the clubman
And I'm not joking.

Hm... I would have thought lower speed compression effects the car mostly in roll whereas the high speed compression affects the ride quality more. How have you found the resulting ride quality?

tbro · Postby **tbro** » Thu Nov 20, 2008 8:56 pm

Noodle

To put it mildly BLOODY FANTASTIC!!

Not sure just what exactly made the biggest difference, I think everything has gelled together and given results far better than I expected but had hoped for!

Terry

tbro · Postby **tbro** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 12:47 pm

Hi all,

Just back home after a 300k run to settle in the suspension.

Left Narangba headed up the Bruce to the Ginger factory and back inland to Kenilworth via the skylink?? road,talk about a mismash of a road.
From there to Kenilworth and up to Melany for coffee :lol:

, back down the back road to Bellthorpe, back over to Mt Mee, Daybrough and back home.

Didn't push too hard as alignment needs to be reset to specs for Thursday trackday.

OK first impressions: I've now have a Bilstein shod Clubman that is a bloody comfortable tourer, Not once did I cringe when coming up to dips or rough surfaces in the road ( and Sunshine Coast members will know how rough some of these roads can be) I don't think the rear bumpstops came close to half compression. I still feel road irregularities due to 50 series tyres at 32f and30r psi, but nothing I wouldn't expect. No bump steer was noticed at any time with the suspension set at 12.5" front and 12.75"rear. No funny noises or anything to surprise me, overall once alignment set I think Im going to use this thing a lot more.

Parts used
Fatcatmotorsports bump stops 36f/46r
FCM adjustable perches and lock nuts
FMC mod NB shockmounts and bushes.
Freight to Brisbane
Espilier springs
Alignment

Total all up (purchased when A$ was high) $778.00

Now I did stuff one shock, no ones fault but my own spun shaft and f&%ked seal, which cost me $50 plus test, but this really shouldn't count
as it was totally my fault, live and learn.

So do I think money well spent, if anyone at the track day wants to do a spin around the car park on Thursday your more than welcome,
But for Me!! best money I think I've spent on any car for a long time........

Terry

Fatty · Postby **Fatty** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:00 pm

terry,

i've ben trying to buy some nb shockmounts from fatcat but they won't reply to my emails

how did you find them to deal with?

tbro · Postby **tbro** » Sun Nov 23, 2008 1:50 pm

Fatty wrote:terry,

i've ben trying to buy some nb shockmounts from fatcat but they won't reply to my emails

how did you find them to deal with?

Fatty,

I found it's easier to ring at 6.00am on Tuesday mornings and talk direct to Sheik.
When I first emailed FMC had a reply basically straight away (within 12hrs) but his site does say that when they are busy emails take second place.
I had to wait for 9 weeks ( luckly I'm never in a hurry) to get parts as I ordered non stock items re: 85mm coilovers, but they still keep me informed as to what was happening. So yeh! I found them pretty good to deal with unlike some others, who you want to spend big dollars with and they wouldn't even talk to me on the phone. :evil:

needless to say they didn't get to share any of my money. :lol:

If you do get the shock mounts also get the bumpstops they are the ants pants!!!

Terry