Replacement 156 Suspension Kits

Ok, I'm convinced the 156 V6 Lusso suspension isn't for me anymore, it feels
like one of those "hard to port captain!" US vehicles. So, since it's bonus
month...

I see Autodelta do a Sport-Comfort kit for £499, or a coil over setup for
£652. Feel free to suggest others... So, for those who have went down this
route with the V6, how much of a difference in the handling am I going to
experience? Particularly interested in any improvement through bends...

Rgds

Stuart

How old is your 156V6? How many miles?
Sounds more like worn shocks / front wishbone bushings to me.
Or realy bad tyres, or incorrect tyre pressure.
Nevertheless, the AutoDelta kit is o.k., but the ride is also dependent on
the tyres/tyres size!

--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Rosso Radicofani GT 2.0JTS (2005)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)

"Mr Flipflops" > schreef in bericht
...
> Ok, I'm convinced the 156 V6 Lusso suspension isn't for me anymore, it
> feels like one of those "hard to port captain!" US vehicles. So, since
> it's bonus month...
>
> I see Autodelta do a Sport-Comfort kit for £499, or a coil over setup for
> £652. Feel free to suggest others... So, for those who have went down
> this route with the V6, how much of a difference in the handling am I
> going to experience? Particularly interested in any improvement through
> bends...
>
> Rgds
>
> Stuart
>

"alfistagj" > wrote in message
...
> How old is your 156V6? How many miles?
> Sounds more like worn shocks / front wishbone bushings to me.
> Or realy bad tyres, or incorrect tyre pressure.
> Nevertheless, the AutoDelta kit is o.k., but the ride is also dependent on
> the tyres/tyres size!
>

It's nearly 5 years old. No, I don't think there's anything wrong with the
current setup, it's just that it's not to my taste in terms of handling.
I'd have preferred the sport pack model. Tyres are the 205.55.16,
Contintental Sport Contact 2.

Rgds

Stuart

5 Years (75000 miles) is normally about the max for shocks. It may very well
that that's what you don't like.
The Conti's don't help eather. Good in wet, but lousy in "feeling".
If your tyres are about to be renewed, do that first.
It's useless spending (a lot of) money on the AutoDelta kit and keeping
those Conti's under your car!!
Don't buy those Conti's again, go for i.e. Michelin Pilot Sport/Pirelli
P7000 or Zero Rosso/Goodyear Eagle F1/Dunlop Sp9000 of SportMaxx (in that
order) and put about 0.2 bar (3psi) more pressure in than the owners manual
says (i.e. go for the "high speed / heavy load setting for standard use)
Could save you a lot of money as the basic set up with Michelin/Pirelli is
usually experienced as very well; only problem is the bottoming out at those
nice speed reducing road bumps.
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Rosso Radicofani GT 2.0JTS (2005)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)


"Mr Flipflops" > schreef in bericht
...
> "alfistagj" > wrote in message
> ...
>> How old is your 156V6? How many miles?
>> Sounds more like worn shocks / front wishbone bushings to me.
>> Or realy bad tyres, or incorrect tyre pressure.
>> Nevertheless, the AutoDelta kit is o.k., but the ride is also dependent
>> on the tyres/tyres size!
>>
>
> It's nearly 5 years old. No, I don't think there's anything wrong with
> the current setup, it's just that it's not to my taste in terms of
> handling. I'd have preferred the sport pack model. Tyres are the
> 205.55.16, Contintental Sport Contact 2.
>
> Rgds
>
> Stuart
>

"alfistagj" wrote:

> The Conti's don't help eather. Good in wet, but lousy in "feeling".
> If your tyres are about to be renewed, do that first.
> It's useless spending (a lot of) money on the AutoDelta kit and keeping
> those Conti's under your car!!

Though I believe the OP is referring to the softness of the Lusso suspension
compared to the Veloce or Sport Pack option and sees the Auto Delta route as
the only real after market option to change it. Rather than complaining of a
lack of grip.

AFAIK there is no difference in set up!
Just a spring with ½ winding less resulting in a 30mm lower ride
Put in a "spring bump" between the 2nd and 3rd winding does the same job (25
euro's worth of plastic)

Good tyre is what does miracles (when the shocks are o.k.)
--
Ciao from Holland
AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
Now:
Rosso Radicofani GT 2.0JTS (2005)
Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)
And former owner of:
156SW / 2 155's / 75 / Giulietta / 2 33's /
3 Sud's / Alfetta GT / Montreal / 2000GTV /
1300GTJ / 2 Giulia Super's

"Tony Rickard" > schreef in bericht
. uk...
> "alfistagj" wrote:
>
>> The Conti's don't help eather. Good in wet, but lousy in "feeling".
>> If your tyres are about to be renewed, do that first.
>> It's useless spending (a lot of) money on the AutoDelta kit and keeping
>> those Conti's under your car!!
>
> Though I believe the OP is referring to the softness of the Lusso
> suspension
> compared to the Veloce or Sport Pack option and sees the Auto Delta route
> as
> the only real after market option to change it. Rather than complaining of
> a
> lack of grip.
>
>

"alfistagj" > wrote in message
...
> AFAIK there is no difference in set up!
> Just a spring with ½ winding less resulting in a 30mm lower ride
> Put in a "spring bump" between the 2nd and 3rd winding does the same job
> (25 euro's worth of plastic)
>
> Good tyre is what does miracles (when the shocks are o.k.)
> --
> Ciao from Holland
> AlfistaGJ (Gert-Jan)
> Now:
> Rosso Radicofani GT 2.0JTS (2005)
> Golden Montreal 1428700 (1973/4)
> And former owner of:
> 156SW / 2 155's / 75 / Giulietta / 2 33's /
> 3 Sud's / Alfetta GT / Montreal / 2000GTV /
> 1300GTJ / 2 Giulia Super's
>
> "Tony Rickard" > schreef in bericht
> . uk...
>> "alfistagj" wrote:
>>
>>> The Conti's don't help eather. Good in wet, but lousy in "feeling".
>>> If your tyres are about to be renewed, do that first.
>>> It's useless spending (a lot of) money on the AutoDelta kit and keeping
>>> those Conti's under your car!!
>>
>> Though I believe the OP is referring to the softness of the Lusso
>> suspension
>> compared to the Veloce or Sport Pack option and sees the Auto Delta route
>> as
>> the only real after market option to change it. Rather than complaining
>> of a
>> lack of grip.

Yes, it is pretty much the softness I'm going on about, I'd prefer a firmer
ride, lower with less body roll. I'll see how much change I have from
getting the bike fixed up and maybe try the sport-comfort kit.

Rgds

Stuart

"Mr Flipflops" > wrote in message newsVmke.14469>
> Yes, it is pretty much the softness I'm going on about, I'd prefer a
firmer
> ride, lower with less body roll. I'll see how much change I have from
> getting the bike fixed up and maybe try the sport-comfort kit.
>
> Rgds
>
> Stuart
>
There's a suspension kit available for the 156 developed by Rhoddy
Harvey-Bailey in conjunction with Bilstein and Eibach. It's supposed to be
really good, according to a review in the UK AROC mag. See
http://www.ebspares.co.uk/news35.htm

Springs are similar to the Veloce (or older Sport Pack) spec, but the
dampers are much better-tuned than standard ones. They give better comfort,
roadholding and turn-in, apparently. You can get the dampers on their own if
you already have the shorter springs of the Veloce model.

Mark

On Tue, 24 May 2005 22:05:03 +0000 (UTC), "MarkK"
> wrote:

<snip>
>You can get the dampers on their own

490UKP + P&P + VAT

Anyone able to advise a suspension novice what's involved in DIY
replacement on a 156? Special tools? Fancy realignment after fitting?

--
Z
Scotland
Alfa Romeo 156 2.4JTD Veloce Leather
'Oil' be seeing you..
(Email without 'Alfa' in subject are auto-deleted..sorry!)

"MarkK" > wrote in message
...
> "Mr Flipflops" > wrote in message newsVmke.14469>
>> Yes, it is pretty much the softness I'm going on about, I'd prefer a
> firmer
>> ride, lower with less body roll. I'll see how much change I have from
>> getting the bike fixed up and maybe try the sport-comfort kit.
>>
>> Rgds
>>
>> Stuart
>>
> There's a suspension kit available for the 156 developed by Rhoddy
> Harvey-Bailey in conjunction with Bilstein and Eibach. It's supposed to
> be
> really good, according to a review in the UK AROC mag. See
> http://www.ebspares.co.uk/news35.htm
>
> Springs are similar to the Veloce (or older Sport Pack) spec, but the
> dampers are much better-tuned than standard ones. They give better
> comfort,
> roadholding and turn-in, apparently. You can get the dampers on their own
> if
> you already have the shorter springs of the Veloce model.
>
> Mark

Thanks Mark, you might just have spent my bonus!

Rgds

Stuart