Bilstein suspension upgrade

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Kingy88
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Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:48 am
Car(s): Ford capri Mk 3 2.0 laser
Location: Pontefract

Bilstein suspension upgrade

Post by Kingy88 »

Well after my last posts I've now got my carb's all running fine and engine sorted now it's on to suspension and brake upgrades I've already fitted 2.8 vented discs with spacers for calipers some difference not a lot looking at adding some 4 pot calipers with breed hoses with the hopes that will help. But I've also been offered some bilstein front adjustable and rear no adjustable's of a 2.8i thinking of fitting these to my 2.0 laser but what I'm asking as anyone done the same found any issues and noticed any difference or will I be wasting time and money. My daily drive is on a very bumpy country road lol. Any help thanks
Not_Anumber
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Re: Bilstein suspension upgrade

Post by Not_Anumber »

The standard 2.8 is fine over bumpy roads, not a harsh ride at all so i wouldnt let that put you off.
Mc Tool
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Re: Bilstein suspension upgrade

Post by Mc Tool »

I been looking at the brake / suspension on my Mk3 . All the advice I have gathered suggest ( strongly ) that the biggest influence is the size of the disc , like 4 pots on a 247mm disc is better than standard but standard 2 pots on a bigger disc would be better still. I been looking at Burtons and the 4 pot /247 mm disc is good for the stock 13" wheels , but seeing as how I have 15's Im going for the Hitech 285mm and 4 pots kit.
suspension .(If your interested ).. 2" lower 145 lb springs , Gaz inserts , roller rubber tops and poly bush adjustable TCA's and std sized ally hubs .
Sorry , don't mean to hi jack your thread .......... just my thoughts :D
Sometimes I talk to myself ... and we both have a good laugh
Kingy88
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:48 am
Car(s): Ford capri Mk 3 2.0 laser
Location: Pontefract

Re: Bilstein suspension upgrade

Post by Kingy88 »

That was my thoughts with the brakes already have 245 discs just need to upgrade to some 4pots with some braded hoses and recon that's the best I can get really. I've looked at some gaz rear adjustable's which are reasonable in price but the front's are just too expensive really. The Bilsteins I've been offered are really good price don't no what springs are on them yet but the capri as already been lowered before I got it so could swop springs the ride seems good at the front it's more the back that feels every little hole
Mc Tool
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Re: Bilstein suspension upgrade

Post by Mc Tool »

yep that's leaf springs for ya ( every little hole ) . Single leafs are a def improvement over multi leaf springs but still not a patch on a 4 bar rear end . Have you considered using Austin Princess calipers , with a spacer kit they will bolt straight on to crapi struts and vented 2.8 discs . They may well be cheaper over there than new ally 4 pots ... and that is their disadvantage ... they are steel and weigh a bit, but on a budget road car they may well be just what your looking for .
Sometimes I talk to myself ... and we both have a good laugh
Kingy88
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:48 am
Car(s): Ford capri Mk 3 2.0 laser
Location: Pontefract

Re: Bilstein suspension upgrade

Post by Kingy88 »

Not looked at them tbh heard about them fitting. looked at some wilwood calipers. I've had single leafs on drive is moderately better lol. Think the only thing I can do now is shocks and poly bushes other than simply big rear end upgrades. Read a few post about fitting issues with generic no branded poly bushe's as apposed to superflex etc. Anybody any experience with that .
Mc Tool
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Re: Bilstein suspension upgrade

Post by Mc Tool »

My poly bushes are a mix of Super pro and Nolethane . I even got the poly spring/diff mount things and it still swings its arse about like some twerker .............thinkin about it tho ( just now ) its probly done 30k miles on the shocks ( front and rear ) so past it best . Im holding out till I can do the whole thing in one hit , along with a paint job and a re-power .
In NZ you can pretty much do what you like to your car as long as a specially certified mechanical engineer will sign it off as safe. He wont sign off any welding on suspension or steering components unless it comes with a cert from a properly qualified welder..............so knocking up my own 4 bar rear end is out, but if the basic design is sound ( you don't have to show its effect on handling , just that it aint going to break ) I can make it and tack weld it all together and then take it to an obliging welder . Most of the properly qualified peeps are also right into cars / rods/ racing ( hence their interest in the job ) and are pretty good at giving out good advice , one even drove 30 miles out into the country to help with the steering coloum in my Escort / Rover v8 project :D
Sometimes I talk to myself ... and we both have a good laugh
Kingy88
Posts: 14
Joined: Tue Aug 15, 2017 11:48 am
Car(s): Ford capri Mk 3 2.0 laser
Location: Pontefract

Re: Bilstein suspension upgrade

Post by Kingy88 »

Don't think I have the no how to do the Rear end lol. Just new springs is the best hope for me really lol. Have you notice much differenvelope in vibration with the poly bushes that's the main thing I was looking at them for.
Mc Tool
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Re: Bilstein suspension upgrade

Post by Mc Tool »

They definately give the car a more positive feel on the road . If you want a daily driver/ cruiser then Id probly go for the rubber bushes as the poly bushes ........ harsh is the wrong word but they def aint creamy smooth. Having said that your choice of tires also has an effect on smoothness. and I personally wouldn't bother with low pro tires ( say 205-60-13's ) without also going for the poly bushes ( to get the whole benefit / effect ). Most of any harsh feeling will disappear at open road speeds and you get a car that's much more responsive in the steering/ handling , trade off is that it will feel a bit like driving a roller skate at town speeds :D
As for the 4 bar , I wasn't going to get to technical . Basically I was going to make a bracket that would attach to the axle via the standard U bolt set up , to take the bushed rear end of the link, and attach the front end of the link to the standard spring mount. Top link would use the roll bar mounts on the axle and chassis ..... probly modified/ strengthened a bit. and then I would use an after market panard rod kit for an Escort.
With that in mind does anyone know what the standard spring rate is for the rear multi leaf springs so I can sort out some coil over rear shocks ?
Sometimes I talk to myself ... and we both have a good laugh
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