2.0 NC PRHT - Pre winter project - Suspension or Brakes ?

Technical Area Steering & Suspension
2

Hi,

I would like to do one biggish (to me !) project on my car before the weather changes in Autumn.

My car was fully serviced and MOT’d in April 3000 miles ago. 

I have 2 projects in mind either;

  •   Suspension, involving new Shock's and Lowering springs, possibly new Poly bushes, however my existing bushes were said to be in acceptable nick during the service. followed by (another) 4 corner wheel alignment check/adjust. The car looks and feels too high looking at the wheel arch gaps on 16" wheels - standard size tyres.
  •   Brakes, I inspected the brakes myself again recently, cleaned and lubricated where applicable, there is still good wear margin left in pads and disks. I would go for new Disks, Pads, Slide pins,  Caliper clean , Paint and re-seal plus Stainless Flexi Hoses.
Based on experience many years ago; I changed the Shocks on an old Mk2 Cavalier 1.6 Auto ( groan...) the improvement in either actual, or perceived braking performance was really surprising. I didn't realise just how much the suspension dampers affected the brakes & i didn't do anything to the brakes, just changed the dampers ( Monroe - Gasmatic's from memory...) 

 

As this is a bit of a spare toy car I can only really afford to do one or the other this year. So I am erring towards suspension… good idea ?

 

 

 

3

Having done both this last few months, I would suggest that if the brakes are currently good and the change would be more long term / cosmetic, go suspension. The driving benefits of the suspension and alignment are substantial.

However, if there are any question marks over current brake system condition or performance, definitely brakes first.

If you want a quick braking improvement, try a fluid change. If the discs and pads are ok and fluid not done for a while, fluid change can give a nice improvement in feel and performance for a couple of hours work

4

Have you stripped down the plasic around the rear sills and cleaned the area to check for rust.

5

+1 for the fluid change. If you just want a quick result do a brake bleed and get rid of all the fluid in the calipers and flexi hoses.

6

Second that fluid change on brakes and money into suspension/alignmen.

7

OK so over one year later and with other things happenning ( Redundancy - averted by relocation with the same company), covid-19, moving home, lock down, new job not working out so having to work away from my new home so the Brake/Suspension winter project was put on hold last winter, then again when the PRHT Roof drive broke down this year.

However I did have a partial brake failure issue last year ( both pistons seized out due corrosion) so brakes it is.

I have now amassed the following in various boxes in the garage over the last few months, a few bits at a time.

6 litre Ultrasonic parts cleaning machine ( always wanted one of these after borrowing one to clean motorbike Carbs)
Caliper paint kit.
New Pistons, seals, and hardware fittings for front and rear calipers, inc slider bolts, shim packs, Hose securing clips, etc, etc
New Stainless flexi hoses, again made by MTech complete with Banjo bolts and copper washers ( £67 ! )
New front and rear disks and pads, I opted for MTech drilled and grooved disks ( with Black anti corrosion coating ) along with Mintex Pads. I am hoping that the disks will work well and if not any better than standard at least look a bit tarty.

I don’t think I have missed anything, so have the parts ready, just need to find some time and no excuses not to give it a go this year…

I will try to take some pics along the way, maybe it might help somebody else, especially if i make a mistake that others can learn from !

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