SuperRedMR2 wrote:is around
£700 to spend on suspension overhauling sound like too much?
Alex, it depends on what you mean by suspension overhauling.
My figures
(and I've tried to avoid caluculating this until now!!!) come up as approximately:
Koni kit
(shocks
& springs)
£400
TRD Bushes:
£140
TRD Topmounts:
£150
New TwosRUs droplinks:
£120
----£810
(
)
Lower Balljoints all round:
(est)
£70
New Steering Outer Track Rod Ends:
£40
Possibly new rear tie bars:
£125
----£1045
So far, I've bought up to the first sub-total.
I definitely need new front lower balljoints, and outer track rod ends.
I've not included the cost of other various rubber seals and bolts that I've had to buy as I can't remember them off the top of my head.
I've also not included costs for sandblasting and painting
- and obviously as I'm doing it myself I've not included labour either.
I probably could've saved a fair bit of money here and there, but the way I figure, I'm only doing this once and plan to keep this car, so it's money well spent.
(But that is the first time I've done any total since starting the job, and I am now really wishing I hadn't!!!
) I could've gone the Fiesta droplink route, but I kinda fell in love with those droplinks when I saw them
- though having bought them, I'm now wondering if they were a good purchase
(the ball-joint bit on the ends is exposed, so how long before they rust?
).
.
.
Probably also could've saved by getting different topmounts, but I decided to go TRD to complement the TRD bushes I'd already purchased.
.
.
I could've made it easier doing it bit by bit, but the way I figured, as I've got everything already apart, I may as well do it all now.
I never originally planned to replace this much or spend this much
(one of the reasons it's taken so long, really!) but it is a case of the deeper I get, the more I find could do with being replacing.
For example, the rear droplinks were reusable, the fronts were gone
(well, drivers side.
.
.
and then I had to destroy the passenger side one to get it out the strut).
Same with the original topmounts
- but t'other way around.
The fronts were fine, but the rears were so soft I could squeeze them with my fingers.
I've also taken this opportunity
(as the brake calipers are off!) to refurb all four calipers and get some braided hoses.
.
.
Just for reference, my car has 103k miles on it at the moment.
I thought the handling was okay, then I drove a Mk1
(my sisters one.
.
.
) which had better handling.
However, having seen the state of my suspension bits, an overhaul was
long overdue and I reckon that once done, it'll put my sisters car to shame again.
.
.
(It better do so!)
However, if you're not planning on keeping the car for a significant amount of time, that's a serious amount of moolah to spend, so you may be better just to do things cheaper.
.
.
Anyone with a better option 
Sounds like you're getting all the right stuff done.