Alfa 156 springs & dampers

Hello everyone,

I know there are quite a few threads out there about suspension tuning, but whilst the information available is quite consistent, I still can't make up my mind.

So here it goes :

I have bought my Alfa 156 Ti JTS already equiped with Ragazzon exhaust and Novitec springs. No complaints about the exhaust, but the car sits about 4cm lower on the Novitecs and has the standard dampers. You can imagine how that handles

Right, so now got a bit of cash to invest in a suspension upgrade and I've been considering the Bilstein B8s, since these go well with lowered springs and have a good feedback on forums.

I've found them on the alfisti.net shop, at almost 700 EUR, which makes it ~ £540 (postage included). balancemotorsport.co.uk has the Bilstein B8 set at £582 ... there's a difference, but at least they're sending them from the UK. If anything goes wrong, might be easier to have them exchanged.

The question is :

- Should I keep the Novitec springs(4cm lowering!!) or should I get Eibach ones (3cm lower) ?
- Is there a better alternative to the Bilstein B8 dampers & Novitec springs ?

Thanks,
Bogdan

curious: who's going to fit them - yourself? if not, then perhaps buy from the place that's going to fit them, and you'll probably get a good package deal price.

photo of your car? do you think it's truly dumped 40mm? if it's not quite that, then there should be no probs with KONI dampers like Sport or FSD, as an option.

personally, i'd start just with new dampers, and KONI Sport at that (cos i like the option to adjust the rebound). if it still sits lower than you want, change the springs, but i suspect you won't need to.

Just had KONI FSDs fitted to my better halfs 156 Sportwagon 1.8 & can't recomend them highly enough - if Alfas left the factory driving like this there would be a lot fewer BMWs on the road. 40mm drop might be a bit too much for the FSDs though?

Originally Posted by Truant

Just had KONI FSDs fitted to my better halfs 156 Sportwagon 1.8 & can't recomend them highly enough - if Alfas left the factory driving like this there would be a lot fewer BMWs on the road. 40mm drop might be a bit too much for the FSDs though?

Are your FSDs fitted with the standard springs?

Yes - springs are standard but she now corners flat & much harder, doesn't dive under braking & has a really nice, civilised ride that takes the drama out of cross-country blasts. I was originally going for EB Spares RH-B Bilstein / Eibach combo but found that they don't stock them any more, I guess because the FSDs are cheaper and have a similar effect? Reading about the FSD principles convinced me enough to risk a punt on them, glad I did, it's transformed the 156.

Well I guess with standard ride-height springs and great shocks your ride quality will be awesome. My 156 V6 is lowered on adjustable coilovers, very smooth at speed and hugs the road well but there isn't much give in the suspension when it comes to bumps. The chassis doesn't take the hit like its under-damped (as they are as standard) but its just not quite as forgiving as I'd like.

I'm in for a radiator replacement tomorrow, so while its up on the ramps I might take a look. I wouldn't mind raising it 10mm, -40mm is too much, -30mm should be a lot better.

I have Sport Pack springs and Bilstein dampers on my V6 and although I'm happy with the ride quality the car doesnt sit level - too low at the front and too high at the back. If I buy another kit it would be the complete Eibach kit of -30mm springs and dampers.

IMO the Novitec -40mm springs are too low for a V6 as the engine sits very low already.

Originally Posted by shiny_car

curious: who's going to fit them - yourself? if not, then perhaps buy from the place that's going to fit them, and you'll probably get a good package deal price.

I wish I could fit them myself, but due to lack of a garage with proper tools, I'll pay a visit to Jamie's Alfa Workshop as I've been there for the belts change and they look like they know what they're doing. They only provide H&R springs and Koni dampers, though.

Originally Posted by shiny_car

photo of your car? do you think it's truly dumped 40mm? if it's not quite that, then there should be no probs with KONI dampers like Sport or FSD, as an option.

personally, i'd start just with new dampers, and KONI Sport at that (cos i like the option to adjust the rebound). if it still sits lower than you want, change the springs, but i suspect you won't need to.

Don't have any photos yet, but plan to take some during the weekend. The car sits very low. Going over speed bumps is a real "adventure".


I know I should google it first, but I've thought the Bilstein B8 were better than Koni Sport with lowered springs. And the Koni FSD work well with standard height springs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

Originally Posted by butch_

I know I should google it first, but I've thought the Bilstein B8 were better than Koni Sport with lowered springs. And the Koni FSD work well with standard height springs. Correct me if I'm wrong.

you are correct. if indeed the car is actually 40mm+ lower than stock, the B8's may be the best option. reason i asked, is cos some springs don't actually lower the car as much as advertised! a picture too may tell the story - kinda. at least it should give the impression of whether the car's just 'low' or 'really low'.

having said that, my 156 ended up pretty low with Eibach Pro Kit springs, especially at the back (i estimate it would have been around 40mm) when i had a big, heavy stereo. yet i don't think my KONI Sports suffered as a result. that is, having them 'work' in a 'compressed' state didn't affect their performance or longevity over the 3+ years i had them. meaning, KONI's may still be perfectly ok if the car is 40mm lowered. perhaps you could speak with the KONI supplier for an opinion on this; they may advise against it, or say there are warranty issues.

i suppose if you do change the springs - and raise the car as a result - KONI's and B6's become a definite option.

How do you know for sure whether the car has the sports springs or not? Mine is registered Jan 03 and it is a Veloce model JTS. Do all Veloce models have the sports set up? Shocks are too mushy i find alright, have gotten the aluminium sump & engine guard and next up are new shocks but I would reckon the springs seem ok. Was thinking about the FSD Koni's, just trying to source them in Ireland before I order them from abroad.

Managed to source the Koni's, would cost €850 for parts and delivery, ouch. Reckon I might be better off with the Bilstein B6's off Alfisti instead...

I have on my Alfa Bilstein B8 and Eibach pro kit -30mm.I can recomend highly!The car is stick on the road and the hendling is perfect,but I lost a lot of comfort! I bought them on alfisti.net and I pay for springs and dampers about 900 EUR.

Originally Posted by Irish_156

Managed to source the Koni's, would cost €850 for parts and delivery, ouch. Reckon I might be better off with the Bilstein B6's off Alfisti instead...

Ouch indeed - seems a bit steep, have you tried http://www.ebspares.co.uk ? price inc. VAT is around 655 EUR, (best check this -it's late..) shipping extra but I'd hope usefully less than you were quoted. FSDs are designed to work with standard & sports pack springs, although if you are blessed with smoother roads than I suffer then some of the lower riding combo's in this & other threads do sound enticing. Best of luck whichever way you go..

I can recommend the Eibach pro-system kit, lowers by 30mm, £460 delivered (in quick time ) from Alfisti, excellent people!

Cost me £235 to have it fitted at Gonnella Bros in Catford

sorry to hijack this thread! peteh, how do find the ride and handling of your eibach's compared to previously?( especially in potholey-speedbumpy s. london ) How long have you had them on? what was the original suspension spec on the v6?

Hi all,

I am about to sell the suspension off my 156 GTA if that is of any interest to anyone. I have changed to to an aftermarket set up so the original is going cheap.

Send me a PM if interested.

Originally Posted by dooster

sorry to hijack this thread! peteh, how do find the ride and handling of your eibach's compared to previously?( especially in potholey-speedbumpy s. london ) How long have you had them on? what was the original suspension spec on the v6?

Dooster, ride is pretty good, not crashy but firm - my 156's a Lusso and done 147k, I don't think the suspension had been changed, so it was pretty tired!

Handling is much better, with good body control - BUT, speedbumps are a pain - used to be able to straddle the narrow ones and not bottom-out, but since the car's been lowered have to take them very gingerly!

The Eibach's have only been on the car for about a month, so maybe they'll settle in more with age/mileage.

HTH

Pete.

Lusso - is that the non lowered version?

I have Sport Pack springs on my V6 and the front is much lower than the rear

I'm planning to go for the Eibach -30mm Prosystem on my other V6 - Alfisti have reduced price at the moment too

any chance of a link? im getting all sorts for alfisti - must be looking in wrong place.

cheers

Originally Posted by Pascs

Lusso - is that the non lowered version?

I have Sport Pack springs on my V6 and the front is much lower than the rear

Pascs - yes, the Lusso is the non-lowered version.

Mine looks like it sits pretty even, front and rear.

Before and after;

Thanks that looks really good - I think my Sport Pack is about the same at the front but about an inch higher at the back.

Will just go and measure it now

link to Alfisti site

Eibach ProSystem Komplett-Fahrwerk für Alfa 156 Eibach ProSystem Fahrwerk

cheers for the link.

i find that site a bit diff to navigate.

is this kit all you need for lowering? anyone know what the 'without blinker rack' means? (in b