Change Bora Suspension

[qsilverza]

Hey,

I have some suspension that I want to put in my Bora, how hard is it and what tools do you need ?

Given I would be doing it on jacks and have never changed suspension before but I am pretty keen to do it.

Just wondering how likely I am to stuff something up ?

Anyone got any links to a good guide ?

[Manaz]

I'm about to do a similar thing myself - check out the thread I started in the suspension forum.

Exactly what are you replacing, and are you replacing with stock parts or something different? I've got K-Sport coilovers to put in, I'm tossing up whether to install the ECS Stage 2 front suspension refresh kit or to go with KMAC's front & rear package...

[qsilverza]

Will do.

Replacing with R32 Stock Suspension not doing the bushes or anything yet, will do next time along with control arms and dog mount at a workshop as I dont think i could do the pressing in

I'm about to do a similar thing myself - check out the thread I started in the suspension forum.

Exactly what are you replacing, and are you replacing with stock parts or something different? I've got K-Sport coilovers to put in, I'm tossing up whether to install the ECS Stage 2 front suspension refresh kit or to go with KMAC's front & rear package...

[goodfella]

Look forward to hearing how much better the R32 susp feels/performs

[Manaz]

I'm definitely interested in hearing how the stock R32 suspension goes in the Bora.

I'd really look at doing at least the strut tops - from what I've read they fail regularly due to what people think is a poor design. It would be worth having a look at the other bushes at the same time regardless - there's no point putting shiny new suspension into broken bushes!

[qsilverza]

Valver has already done it on his. I think he was happy for the price paid, I mean it's not going to be anywhere near as good as coilover's but I am hoping it will improve it enough to keep me happy for a while

Besides all the good stuff is going into my race car yipppe

[Treza360]

Which stock suspension are you installing?
Euro spec stock suspension or Aussie/US spec stock suspension?
Cheers,
Trent

[qsilverza]

Aussie spec if I could get a hold of euro spec I would but it is exxy would have bought coilovers than

Which stock suspension are you installing?
Euro spec stock suspension or Aussie/US spec stock suspension?
Cheers,
Trent

[goodfella]

does Euro spec mean Bilsteins vs Monroes?

[qsilverza]

does Euro spec mean Bilsteins vs Monroes?

Bilsteins....

[Treza360]

does Euro spec mean Bilsteins vs Monroes?

Yeah springs are different too (lower and maybe stiffer) and also match the shocks as opposed to the Aussie spec suspension. The Euro cars also had/have thicker swaybars as well.
Will be interested to hear how you find the setup once it's in the Bora and if you find it any better than the original setup.
Cheers,
Trent

[h100vw]

Was just looking at ETKA for the sake of it. There's 3 springs listed for the R32, different due to the weight over the front axle. 3 kinds of shock too, which probably match the springs, no mention of any additional lowering????

Gavin

[qsilverza]

OOO I hope I got the second best one HAHA

Was just looking at ETKA for the sake of it. There's 3 springs listed for the R32, different due to the weight over the front axle. 3 kinds of shock too, which probably match the springs, no mention of any additional lowering????

Gavin

[sukebe]

I have Euro Spec R32 suspension (Bilstein/HR) in my Bora. Mated with Neuspeed front and rear swaybars it handles like its on rails and is very well balanced. With the RSB set on "hard" I am able to induce oversteer fairly easily which can be fun (I also have the Haldex upgrade). I think it is the perfect street setup, but my wife thinks its too firm. I am going to change back to the stock sway bars as the Neuspeed ones do cause a lot of lateral jolting over low speed choppy roads (like all the tram-lined roads in Melbourne). Ideally I would like the Euro spec sway bars too, but they are very hard to source (UK only, really) and are too expensive. Unfortunately I can't find any sways that are only slightly stiffer than stock, as opposed to the Neuspeed which seem to be race-spec.

I did the install myself. Generally quite straight forward to change, but the rear springs were a bugger to get in and out.

[qsilverza]

Did the suspension

Well,

I changed the suspension last night = 3 AM Sorry GoodFella, didn't take any pictures so, I can't really do a guide but it wasn't too bad.

Luckily, I had the use of a rattle gun and a hoist which made my life a whole lot easier.

You would definately need a jack to push the suspension back up for ease of use.

Be really careful with the hub bolts, I neaRRRly Stripped one and that would have beeeeen a real Kill-joy. The threads are very fine, it only took a little bit of force to cause me about an hour of threading it back care-fully with a new bolt to fix it.

The suspension feels firmer and is better planted a bit more over-steer, I need to replace my control arm bushes and some others before I can really judge.

Overall, so far I would say it is worth it, will give an update when I have had a decent chance to test them.