suspension?

[nickoneill_123]

Hey people i'm after some tips on what sort of suspension to get? I have new stock front shockers but i fear they will give way due to the harsh rally conditions. So if you guys could help me out with websites or what you recommend that would be top effort.

[Latho]

What's your budget mate?

[nickoneill_123]

bout 1k maybe tad over

[Latho]

OK.... That won't buy rally suspension, or even half of it, but will be able to pick up a set of KYB shocks and std height, higher rate Kings springs. Slightly stiffer to stop it bottoming out and make sure you install strut bumpstops, and I'd remove the sway bars to at least claw back some of the effective wheel rate that you've just raised. I've never done suspension on a budget cause you just end up breaking it, so I don't really know what else is available, but see what other have to say. Proper rally suspension starts at around the $2.5k-$3k and goes up from there.

Latho

[Crazy Dave]

You can do something good still for that much money. I am pretty sure the Vic winning car this year used Koni suspension in the front and something else in the rear. Koni and Bilstein do some great gear that have been some of the most succesful rally suspension in this country. The trick is in trying to get as much volume as you can so that you have more oil and will not get as hot when it is working really hard. Get some stiffer springs than standard in the front so you don't bottom out as you won't have the ability to raise it for a rough course. It comes down to personal driving style on how to set up a car. Use the search command as suspension has been talked about a lot. Paul Batten took John Ernst car to a top 10 in a Vic state round using average suspension and not a $3000- plus set up. I believe the front struts out of some Mitsubishis (definitely certain model lancers) fit but you may not get a bigger unit from that anyway. KYB do a set for the rear which will probably be fine there. My personal opinion is to leave the sway bar in but you can tell yourself by disconnecting it for a run.

[Mooa42]

Leslie S G & Sons Pty Ltd
Cnr Mologa Rd & Orthla Ave
Heidelberg West, VIC 3081

Contact either Stuart or Malcolm Leslie they will be able to make your standard struts rebuildable, (make sure you get DOHC struts because they have bigger tubes than SOHC). They have just rebuilt mine after the first season and they have just built some for Simesays; and, from all reports, his as happy as a pig in poo!

Apparently the internals in the standard shocks are largely copies from Koni's. When they rebuild them they use 22mm shafts out of the Mitsubishi and make them rebuildable for about $900 for the full set. Simesays and I have replaced the front springs with Pedders items but left the rears standard, so you should be able to get a good setup for $1200 to $1300.

The Leslies used to be all the go in the 80's before gas shocks arrived on the scene, so they know rally cars and they know shocks. The shocks will not have the travel of the more expensive shocks and their performance tapers off in longer stages, (over 30ks) but if you can't get to the top of the Excel pack with these shocks it will have more to do with the size of your lower anatomy and skill than it will have to do with shocks. (Check Paul Battens times in stages 5 to 7 in the Akademos as I believe he replaced the front shocks with standard s/hand ones at service. Just an example of how much difference shocks make:)

Tony

[Mooa42]

Stuart or Malcom Leslie
(03) 9459 2859

[nickoneill_123]

thanx for the help.