Best "Stage 1" Suspension Mods on FL 2003 car.

[Thetroublemaker]

Hi guys -

I am on a relatively limited mods budget here - lets say about £500 on parts, and would like to get the best bang for buck on my 2003 FL car.

I am looking at possibly the following, but would welcome the input of you guys into the best way to spend the money.

I am thinking:

Tein S Springs £120.
Mattperformance £150 ish.
Upper Strut Front Brace £100 ish
4 Wheel Geometry £70 ish.

There will be a set of new tyres and i have the choice of sensible all rounder Falken ZE914's in OE sizes or the summer focused Yoko AD08R's in 195/50 15 and stock rear size flavours.
 
Is there anything you guys would do different / additional etc? I.E better tyres and the above, or the cheaper tyres and a bigger ARB somewhere, or bushes etc? The car has done 53k only women owners so not a hard life so far.

Cheers!

[James and his MR2]

I personally think you're spot on there. They are the changes I went for on my car minus the springs

[AndyM]

I concur, I think you've got the stage 1 list about right there.  s:) s:)

For me on a 2003 FL (what I have) I'd say the order should be:
- Teins
- Geo
- Front strut brace
- Matt brace

I just found the front strut brace had a more profound improvement on the handling over the Matt Brace due to the improve stock bracing on the FL (but still well worth getting!).

As you have a bit of change left over I'd also consider some braided brake lines (about £80). They really improve the pedal feel for the anchors and give you a bit more confidence to enjoy the car. I personally would also bang in some of Nathan's gear shift bearings (about £20) and consider some cage mounts to really tighten the shift up. You would end up with a really sorted, good handling car!  s:) s:)

Oh, and I'd go for the AD08's too.  s:) s:)

[Thetroublemaker]

Thankyou very much guys. I will indeed be looking at working through the list. To be honest as the Matt braces are currently out of production it would make sense for this to be the last mod to do.

I will go off and look into the gear shift options now as well  s:) s:)

[1979scotte]

How many miles?
News shocks are always a worthwhile investment.

[Ardent]

If you are replacing springs, false economy not to do shocks.

[AndyM]

I'm not sure I agree with that. If they are showing signs of wear then certainly swap them out, but if they are okay it's a very expensive 'nice to have', especially as it's not that hard to just put replacement shocks on later if you need too.

Obviously just my 2p worth but I put Teins on my 03 plate original shocks at about 75k, have done 18k ish since and it still feels great and the shocks are holding up fine.

[ChrisGB]

There trouble with dampers is that they degrade gradually, so you don't really notice how bad they have got until you replace them. Most production car dampers are good for 20,000 - 30,000 miles at their best, beyond which they degrade. People tend to leave them until they leak, but for optimum ride / handling, they are best regarded as a consumable.

[Ardent]

AndyM

I totally agree with Chris.
However, I also agree with you, IF, you are doing the spannering yourself. As it only costs you time.
If you are paying to have the work done. Then ultimately you will be paying twice.

Think this is a two sides of the same coin situation.
I believe you do your own spannering.
I don't.

Troublmaker. Will you be doing your own spannering?

[AndyM]

Good arguments Chris and Ardent. Point conceded.  s:) s:)

I do sometimes take for granted spannering the car but you make a very good point. It's like not changing the clutch when you get a gearbox bearing done I suppose.

[1979scotte]

Said it before so i may as well say it again.
Its a sports car. Its all about handling. Shocks are a massive part of that.
If it was a mondeo i wouldnt care but it isnt.

[Ardent]

Troublemaker

For clarity. Is that £500 + tyres or including tyres?
If included and if going yoko. That will go a long way to sorting the budget out.
If that is the case , I would pay for a good quality geo setup as that would sort the rest of your budget out.
A properly sorted geo can transform these cars.

I know that's a bag full of "ifs"

What are your thoughts?

[keljon]

camber bolts front and rear so you can dial in some more negative camber

[Thetroublemaker]

Hi Guys -

To clarify i am happy to lay in somewhere along the line of £500 plus tyres,  the fronts are horrid budget ones that are really badly cracked so i have bought a temporary pair of Yokohama Parada Spec 2's (195/50 15) for them to go on this week - however these are just for the next month or 2 while i save up to get the AD08's.

The geometry will go to somewhere that has a hawker machine, theres a few local to me - my preferred one is Black Boots in Chesham as they have something of a fantastic reputation - or indeed another company if there is a more MR2 focused one with a hawker.

I may well do the spannering myself - or i have a friend who owns a garage.
So i think we are getting there

[Ardent]

Wheels in motion at blackboots.
just been there myself. 90 miles from me. Well recommended.
it is the operator not just the machine.
i went to hunter equipped outfit near me.
Could not do what wim did.

[Thetroublemaker]

Yeah, Tony has forgotten more than most people will ever know about geometry and handling!