how far to go ???????

Question

Well guys, the suspension on the Cavalier is fubar. A few worn bushes here and there and some soft struts and saggy springs.

Questions is how far do i go with it?

Do i just replace the worn bushes with OEM and some cheap nasty 200 quid suspension kit really make that much of a difference.

I was contemplating a full suspension overhaul (thanks to cheap trade prices) and going for a full set of bottom arms pendulums track rod ends bushes and so on and so forth.

Guess my query is stock parts cost peanuts will i really notice a big difference replacing suspension components throughout the car with like for like new parts??? and of course a cheap as chips Gmax suspension kit of shocks and springs

I dont use the cavvy for any serious driving other than the occasional B road blat now and then, but as you old timers know i do like to drive it like its stolen on occasion, Can anyone justify going to the hassle and expense of uprated TRE's and polybushes throughout? I mean its not the sportiest thing in the world being a rather heavy Cav saloon and its only putting down 162 horses so not setting the world on fire

Thoughts guys??????

and Steve i ain't burning it or driving it off a cliff.

P.S. Note 1ncreased use of puntuation and shift keys as appropriate, just to keep you happy Steve :)

Rob · Accepted Answer

No need and Yes.Running a set of 308mm Vectra brakes for now and on 17's. Wouldn't goany bigger than that for the wheels as its a practical 4 door saloon performingfamily tasks, Unfortunately Rob now has little uns so the days of Novas arelong gone as daily drivers.    These days the fleet is dramatically changed, A pair of Cavaliers 16v SRi saloonand a 1800 hatch  Wifes Punto  and the god awful Scenic thats taking up the spacewhere a project RWD Cavvy GSi should be sitting.

DanTXD · Answer

So stripping it out is out of the question then :) ?

Sleeker GT Phwoar · Answer

Do the stock bushes and stuff first (I only bought Poly's because imported poly's are cheaper than OEM Toyotas). See how it feels. Then decide whether you need a cheapy suspension kit or OEM grade shocks etc.

After fitting any new bushes, it will feel 200% tighter and smoother. The biggest difference is how long they last. If it is doing family runabout duties, the biggest downside is, polys can feel harsh.

AstraVanMan · Answer

Up until here your spelling and punctuation was, amazingly, quite good :-)

Notice the corrected version above - note the lack of capital "A" as it's not a new sentence (though it could have been had you put a full stop there), the two Cavvys grouped together to avoid confusion, no capital letter for wife as she's not a proper noun. Otherwise, you're improving. B-. :-)

(Original, uncorrected version, below).

Peter

Alistair J Murray · Answer

[...]If it's the car you had at the rolling road bigger front brakes wouldfill those wheels nicely...A

Rob · Answer

It is indeed Alistair, RSC do a lovely set of 330mm 6 pots, But due to the iminent arrival of child no 2 the 308's will suffice until at least christmas.

Since the R/R day though Alistair I;ve managed to get the cams changed but still haven't managed to get the Unichip sorted up yet. Hoping the addition of a nice Lexmaul 4branch will help things out a fair bit towards that magic

180 bhp target i've set. Oh well only another 18bhp to find, shouldnt be too hard with an enlarged throttle body 4 branch and unichip.

SteveH · Answer

*applause*Couldn't have put it better myself ;-)

Rob · Answer

ppfftjust decided that big 4 door saloons are shite after i took the wifeys punto sporting to work today :)kicking the crap out a small 3 door hatch with only a 100 horses is unbelievable fun :) especially if its only half the length of the cavvy and can actually corner thanks to some proper suspension :)

Theo · Answer

maybe because your too stupid to realise the benefits of a long wheelbase, or maybe because the saloons you keep buying are shite ones.

how far to go ???????

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