MO30 and other "enhancements"

[Pickled Piper]

It's been a spring of much expenditure on my C4. It started with new discs and pads all round fitted by yours truly on the driveway ( Maurice do I get some spanners?). Credit card already starting to wilt I logged onto the Carnewal website and ordered the M030 suspension upgrade (springs and anti roll bars) with Bilstein HD dampers. I added the Motorsound airbox and a strut brace for more enjoyment..

The parcel of goodies duly arrived. Inspired by a recent "how to" posting on Rennlist I fully intended to fit the suspension myself. However, once having got the parts and despite continuing offers of help from my five and two year old I decided I just couldn't spare the time and booked the car into my local Independant. Prior to passing the car over I found time to clip on the Motorsound airbox and also to bolt on the strut brace. The airbox is an aural delight and complements the RSRs already on the car beautifully. The strut brace looks great and to my surprise I found that the "turn in" was perceptibally improved.

I got the car back with new suspension on Saturday morning. I also had the front wishbones changed "while they were at it".

The first thing I noticed on driving of the forecourt was the deterioration in secondary ride. The best way to describe it is as if someone has upped the tyre pressures by one or two psi. The effect is not unpleasant but definitely noticeable. On the positive side the primary ride is greatly improved and the car is much more poised in every way especially on encountering undulations mid bend.

The car now corners with the minimal of body roll and responds more quickly and precisely to steering inputs. It is possible to place the car far more delicately when cornering. Needless to say I took the long way home via some twisty roads that I know well. Within a few minutes I found I was cornering at notably higher speeds than with the old suspension.

As an added bonus a number of squeaks and rattles that had plagued the car since I bought it have now completely disappeared.

I haven't managed to put many miles on the new suspension but the levels of delight resulting from the improved precision and feedback are grin inducing. When coupled with the noises from the RSRs and Motorsound airbox it's difficult not to emit a "yee ha" or "woo hoo".

Definitely the most fun you can have with your clothes on.

Taj

 

[Sundeep]

great work.....even spotted the PP's silver 993 in this months PP next to MP's (max power ?)

exactly the set up I have...but you missed the short shifter !!

I know what you mean about the ride, I thought better but I thought there would be more......

but after a year I'm now fitting (soon) the M030 Anti roll bars....

 

[oliverjamesthomas]

Sundeep

Keep me posted on how the M030 roll bars are. It's the next job on my list, but I don't want to turn the car into an understeering monster! I've got a nice set-up at the minute that works really well on both road and track, apart from ARB drop-links that keep snapping[] but fancy uprating to reduce the roll just a little.

Regards

 

[38F3E1]

I have found the complete M030 setup, as fitted to mine and PPs, including the anti-roll bars is very well balanced. Car turns in really nicely. I do run 17s on my car though not 18s.

Ian.

 

[oliverjamesthomas]

I'm on 17" also, so that's good to know. The springs / dampers are all sorted and the addition of a strut brace made a huge difference. Robin at 9M did a fantastic set-up which transformed the handling, (well, I suppose it does help for the front wheels to be pointing in the same direction.....[8|]). I'm wanting to focus the car for track a little more, hence the ARB interest. Changing them will also give me the excuse to alter the rear mounts at the same time - they keep fracturing at the rose joint, which is a complete pain in the backside!

H&R do a five way adjustable kit, the problem being that the front is 26mm and the rear is 21mm, IIRC. I'm thinking they would create an understeering beast from hell, which is what brings me to the M030 option. Shame really, because the H&R price of a little over £200 for the pair represented good value.

Regards

 

[oliverjamesthomas]

Sorry Maurice, we posted at the same time!!!!

The drop link problem seems to be partly related to the car's use. I'm finding the rose jounts are siezing up, the result being a fracture as soon as they receive a force. Good point on the rear mount rotating though, that could well be worth further investigation.

What sort of difference have you found the RS rear bar to make? That's the other option I've considered over full M030.

Regards

 

[oliverjamesthomas]

Hi Maurice

So I'll be adding RS brakes to the list then, (along with RS motor mounts, short shift, etc, etc). This list just keeps getting bigger! Actually, the brake upgrade is something I've been considering since a trackday at Croft a few weeks ago. Spent the first sessions learning the lines and then smoked the brakes in the afternoon! Good laugh though...[]

Thanks for the info on the ARB. Sounds like it could be the way to go.

Regards

 

[Pickled Piper]

ORIGINAL: Sundeep
exactly the set up I have...but you missed the short shifter !!

Hi Sundeep,

a short shifter was actually one of the first mods I had on my list. However, I've been told that it is a nightmare to fit to a C4 (due to the prop shaft in the trans tunnel) and requires some metal bashing. If anyone knows any different I would love to know.

Taj

 

[kennyboy]

Congratulations on the successful upgrade Taj - sounds like you are doomed to be skint for the rest of your life like I am - but the rewards are high! []

Just had a strut brace fitted to my c4s and have also noticed better turn in plus the front windscreen has stopped squeaking! or perhaps that's the weather or the side of bed I got out of etc...

Also had RS LWF and clutch kit fitted - and it's transformed the car, amazing. feels like a racer now and no stalling issues - highly recommended especially to relatively heavy 4 wheel drive carrera's.

So what can I sell to get the money for M030? hmmm...

 

[jmspear]

Maurice interested in your comments on the RS a/r bar settings, I have PSS9's plus front strut brace, and am running 18" with cup sport tyres (except for the skinny SO2's when it rains [])

I am running the a/r bars on the mid settings and usually run the PSS9's at about 2 what do you run at and what do you recommend? (for track work and this thursday at silverstone particularly)

Cheers, see you on Thursday I hope?

John

 

[Sundeep]

ORIGINAL: MoC2S

ORIGINAL: oliverjamesthomas
>>
but I don't want to turn the car into an understeering monster!
>>
apart from ARB drop-links that keep snapping[]

Regards

The M030 bars will give less understeer than standard .. I was very happy with them for 3+ years, only just added the RS rear bar recently ...

Drop links should not (!) be snapping ... usual reason would be interference with suspension arms, either through the rear mount rotating or incorrect setup on full bump or droop ...

cheers, Maurice

indeed.....

but with the targa I am in desperate need to dial out some of the body roll (for my next ring trip in august).......... a soft cab chassis afterall

but the M030 anti-roll bars is as far as I will go with a Targa on my M030 set up

 

[Pickled Piper]

Hmmm,

Light weight flywheel and short shifter. Divorce and bankruptcy becon.

Taj

 

[RichardLW]

Wait until you have it rebuilt as a 3.8 and fit the supercharger until you think about the divorce...................

 

[jmspear]

Thnaks for the advice Maurice, I am set to RS ride height.

Dont know what you are talking about - secret? SO2's?

Thinking of joining the tractor register, might feel more at home there!

Hope to see you later on

Cheers

John