Suspension refresh dilema - shocks!

[krispe]

OK so I am planning on refreshing my Clio 197 suspension. I originally planned on new std (non cup) shocks and Eibach springs. I have received the Eibachs but the standard front shocks I ordered from RPD are out of stock and they do not now when they will get more stock in! (Kamracing is also out of stock).

How much firmer are Cup shocks than standard? (Car is my daily so I don't really want it stiffer/bouncy)
Would I be mad to fit new standard rears but with new cup fronts? (Personally I think this should work quite well as I don't want the rear any bouncier than it is already.)
Send back the Eibachs and just go B14's? (However think this maybe overkill on a daily and maybe too firm. ).

 

[RSRowe]

The difference between cup and none cup is like night and day imo.
That being said, I really don't think cup shocks are bad on the road

 

[krispe]

Are standard 200 dampers firmer than standard 197? Are the rear dampers the same between both cars? Could I fit rs200 standard rear dampers to my RS197 (assuming they are still not as firm as 197 cup dampers)?

 

[krispe]

Just found out std 200 dampers are softer than std 197. Back to thinking of std 197 rear damper and cup 197 fronts.... Will it ride better though on B14's? I don't mind it being a bit firmer, (my Cayman is pretty firm), as long as its controlled on not bouncy/crashy.

 

[krispe]

Just ordered std rears and cup fronts from Kamracing... I think this will work OK....

 

[bedoef]

Good luck. Let us know how it turns out!

 

[Brad8988]

I recently changed from old cup shocks and springs to new cup shocks and H&R Springs.

I was worried it was going to be too hard but it's actually better than the original worn out standard cup suspension.

 

[krispe]

Quick update. New shocks (Cup fronts, Standard rear) and Eibach springs fitted a few weeks ago. Handling feels pretty good (cornering etc) and liked the new lower ride height, but on the bumpy back roads I drive to work on, the car just felt a bit too bouncy. Maybe cup rear dampers would have helped better to control the rear Eibach springs?


Anyway I have since decided I preferred the car standard (same thing as when I fitted a Scorpion exhaust for a month as it droned too much for my liking so then had to source a new standard exhaust to replace it ). For my purposes anyway which is to use the car primarily as a 'cheap fun daily’, it is just more enjoyable to drive as it left the factory, so I have now fitted a set of new standard springs! I am still running the front cup dampers as everywhere is out of stock of new standard ones, however they seem to suit the standard springs really well, not bouncy or crashy even better controlled than before? I may now later look to add cup rear dampers as well to the standard rear spring??


It means I now have for sale a set of Eibach Pro-kit E10-75-008-07-22, used for 2 weeks. I'll post an ad properly in the for sale section now.

 

[krispe]

Advert here
https://clio197.net/threads/eibach-rs197-pro-kit-lowering-springs.62911/

 

[littleg78]

Really interesting reading about your experience - I went for Eibach pro springs on my FF 200 cup and it does get a bit bouncy at times! I'm not a suspension expert (I just wanted it lowered slightly) so no idea if it's normal or can be improved. That said it's great most of time, and looks exactly like I wanted... but there's a bumpy section of the A12 around Colchester that triggers it every time!

 

[krispe]

Yep on my way to work there is quite a sever dip on one of the roads and with the Eibachs I would literally bounce in the air off the drivers seat! I think it was mainly from the rear and again it could just be 'too much spring' for the standard damper to control. My other car, (Cayman GTS) is stiffer but with excellent damping so does not bounce in the same way. It has fixed rate springs but active dampers and in 'Sport mode' only the dampers firm up (the spring rate remains the same) to further improve handling. I therefore think a similar approach would suit me better with the Clio, as in running slightly firmer 'Cup' dampers but with standard springs, rather than 'firmer springs' with standard or cup dampers. Only real downside is that I did actually prefer the 'lowered' look of the Eibachs compared to standard ride height.