Lower seat rails / suspension questions

Bodyboarder81

Bodyboarder81

Paid Member
Hi all , new on here so take it easy :smile:

Picking my little 200 up this Saturday and already know I’d like to fit lower seat mounts to the Recaro CS seats .

Where’s the best place to get them from ?

Are their differences that I should be aware of ones available ?

Also looking at a slight lower ride height and spacers . Had my heart set on a set of Bilstein b14’s but hearing good things about the H&R springs . The car has the cup pack on it , if this has a bearing on things . Also 20mm spacers are what I’ve seen used mainly ?

Bit of background.... the car will be used for 2-4 track days a year and general use ( probably 4K a year )

What would you suggest ?

Any help much appreciated

Thank you :smile:
 
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Beany said:
Welcome aboard :french:

@sevenfourate got some of these lowering seat bases which I believe he rates.
Josh Wheelers Recaro seat frame lowering advert:https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Renault-...seat-Lowering-Brackets-Mount-Kit/223371505344

If your doing afew Trackdays and such small mileage I’d recommend speaking to @R27WTF Matt Scott for some Gaz Golds!
Adjustable dampers and can specific spring rates which is a no brainer
Click to expand...


Thanks for the link and info , much appreciated.

I’ve heard so many mixed reviews on Gaz suspension over the years , it’s just put me off , wrongly or rightly !
 
Bodyboarder81 said:
Thanks for the link and info , much appreciated.

I’ve heard so many mixed reviews on Gaz suspension over the years , it’s just put me off , wrongly or rightly !
Click to expand...

Fair enough, they did get a bad rep awhile ago but myself & fellow track enthusiast @Big Ben both have them on ours and they’re great.
 
Beany said:
Fair enough, they did get a bad rep awhile ago but myself & fellow track enthusiast @Big Ben both have them on ours and they’re great.
Click to expand...

Yes I’m sure they are ok ... but never had any issue with Bilstein’s over the years and bearing in mind this is mainly a road car , I’m hoping they or the H&R springs will be adequate for my needs .

What in the way of front camber can you achieve ? Think I’ve read they are none adjustable, but can you get camber bolts or is it only adjustable top mounts you can use ?

Thanks
 
Bodyboarder81 said:
Yes I’m sure they are ok ... but never had any issue with Bilstein’s over the years and bearing in mind this is mainly a road car , I’m hoping they or the H&R springs will be adequate for my needs .

What in the way of front camber can you achieve ? Think I’ve read they are none adjustable, but can you get camber bolts or is it only adjustable top mounts you can use ?

Thanks
Click to expand...

For the newer top mount designed 200s there isn’t an easy solution to fit adjustable top mounts. Ben has a 197 and they come with adjustable top mounts and his is set up with -2 degrees camber and I understand you can go further!

I’ve heard H&R springs are good for lows but they’re crashy on the road
 
Oh ok .... don’t want crashy at all !!

I did test drive the Clio 197 from k-Tec with Bilstein’s and top mounts ( black car with white wheels ) very impressed with the ride quality to be honest . Looks like the more expensive option then.... as always !!
 
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Id recommend Josh Wheeler's lowering seat mounts also. Theres a few options, depends on how much you want to spend. There are 3 other options on the market:

1. Flacsi, he sell's a modification kit which will lower the frame but this is fixed drop and although probably secure, doesnt look that secure.
2. Rentune made their own bespoke frame with a fixed 50mm drop. Great quality, cost a few hundred.
3. Another chap on the Facebook Clio197/200 facebook group had made something similar to Rentunes above but even better. A bit more again at £250 I think.

Josh's has 3 drops (secured by bolts so does mean taking the seat out to adjust) of -30mm, -40mm and -50mm.

As for springs, I found H&R quite crashy and linear. Eibach's seem better IMO but if you are going to do it right, Bilsteins seem to get brilliant reviews.
 
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Welcome!

I'd recommend the B14'S over H&R springs, I went from the springs to bilstein coilovers and the ride is much better on the road. It's firmer but dampens a lot better, you'd get thrown about a lot on springs haha!

I ran adjustable top mounts with my coilovers for a very short time and I much prefer the OEM ones for road use. Bare in mind I don't drive it much at all, but they just made me so conscious of bumps/potholes etc. The final straw with them was when I hit a bump in the road and smashed a rose joint through.



Sent from my ONEPLUS A5010 using Tapatalk
 
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Ok thanks guys , some great replies and info .

So josh’s mounts And Bilstein b14’s it is then !

Best place to buy the Bilstein’s ?
 
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.... also I’ve heard lots about engine mounts ... I’m not after anything that causes vibrations to be honest . I’m thinking of buying a new torque arm and dog bone from Renault to freshen them up. Good idea ? Or get the Powerflex ones ?

Thanks
 
Hi there,

I would strongly discourage you from lowering springs, and specifically the H&R. Same as you, I assumed the H&R would be a low cost improvement to the car, whilst adding the benefit of the extra visual appeal. However, the H&Rs are rubbish, at least with Cup dampers. Having since compared the specs to the stock cup springs, the front springs are actually softer than OE Cup springs, and the reduction in damper travel, means that you end up bouncing all over the place at speed, as the damper struggles to contain all the momentum within the reduced stroke.

The Cup setup is well proven, and universally praised, and one of the things that makes the car so good. Unless you're adding decent coilovers, then I wouldn't bother with just springs. They really do ruin the ride, but more importantly the composure of the car over bumps.
 
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CaptainCaveman said:
Hi there,

I would strongly discourage you from lowering springs, and specifically the H&R. Same as you, I assumed the H&R would be a low cost improvement to the car, whilst adding the benefit of the extra visual appeal. However, the H&Rs are rubbish, at least with Cup dampers. Having since compared the specs to the stock cup springs, the front springs are actually softer than OE Cup springs, and the reduction in damper travel, means that you end up bouncing all over the place at speed, as the damper struggles to contain all the momentum within the reduced stroke.

The Cup setup is well proven, and universally praised, and one of the things that makes the car so good. Unless you're adding decent coilovers, then I wouldn't bother with just springs. They really do ruin the ride, but more importantly the composure of the car over bumps.
Click to expand...


Yes , made my mind up and it’s the Bilstein’s I’ll be going for . Along with new genuine Renault dog bone / torque arm.
Some ad08r tyres , spacers , lowered seat mounts , private plate , etc etc ... have a shopping list as long as my arm already and not even bought it yet
 
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H&R's are very linear in their spring rate, Eibach are more progressive. Bilstein coilies are the best way.

Josh does have his mount on eBay.
 
Doogle said:
H&R's are very linear in their spring rate, Eibach are more progressive. Bilstein coilies are the best way.

Josh does have his mount on eBay.
Click to expand...

Yes been in contact with him ... unfortunately he doesn’t have any side panels that hide it all and make it look factory at the moment . Also was hoping to get a passengers side as well . Don’t think he does them . Just wondering how it would look ... with one seat being 30-50mm lower than the other ? It’s little things like this that plays on my mind !!
 
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Bodyboarder81 said:
Yes been in contact with him ... unfortunately he doesn’t have any side panels that hide it all and make it look factory at the moment.
Click to expand...

Really ? ! Hmmmmmm.........

It's not 'amazing' with. Its 'ok' if i'm honest. I wasn't unhappy. But it wasn't stand-out good as in looks / gap / matching the passenger side etc.

Without would look truly shocking - and like you i wouldn't even consider that option. At any price. Or even FOC !
 
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