koni adjustable + H&R springs? *kinda long*

['96_Talon_TSi]

I'm pretty set on getting koni shocks this summer for my suspension portion of the project. Although, im a little unsure what spring to go with. I know most guys on here like the spring rates of the GC coils, but they seem a little too stiff for what im looking for.
I've heard good things about the H&R springs, but now im curious as to what specific spring i should get. Here is a basic layout of what i want from the suspension. Nice handling (willbe coupled with 24m swaybars and strut tower bars), a more firm ride, but not bumpy and annoying. The car is still a DD. It's mostly a streetcar, and will probably only see the track a few times this summer.

So here are the springs im deciding between...H&R sport, H&R race.

The H&R sport springs seem like a good drop (about 1.5") but how about the spring rates? H&R says they rate between 20-30 percent stiffer than stock. Since stock is 260/170, 30% stiffer would give me 338/221. This seems a lot softer than what most of you bigtime suspension guys (cinder,ACM, MNGSX) are using. Would these rates be too soft for a 1.5" drop on koni yellows? Keep in mind this car is mostly a DD/streetcar that will see the track only a few times over the course of the summer. I dont wanna be smashing bumpstops, or overloading my shocks.

The other set of H&R springs i've been looking at are the Race springs. these say they drop about 1.7"-2.0", but are also 50-100% stiffer than stock. So if i use middle ground (75% stiffer), i get spring rates about 455/297. These rates seem a little closer to what the GC coils are, and what it seems like the guys mentioned above are running. I'm sure these rates are fine for the koni shocks, but how are they for a 2.0" drop (just right? too soft?)? If i did go with these springs, would a revalve be a good idea?


I know there are a lot of questions in there, but i wanna make the best choice for what i want.

Thanks guys.

 

[jim97gst]

Are you set on the H&R springs? For ~$200 more, you don't have to make any compromises. If you get GC coilovers, you can have height adjustability and choose whatever spring rate you want. Plus you can swap out the springs later quite easily if you decide you want a different rate.

 

[jtmcinder]

I'm going to use this thread to float an idea for comment. Please note in advance that these are just ideas, so be sure to attack what I say as being nonsense and not me for saying it. If you don't like hypotheticals, the back button beckons.

I agree with most people that ride quality is mostly a function of the shocks, but I'm going to suggest that this generalization be limited to the front end of a 2G DSM. In the rear - especially when we use springs to move some weight transfer back there - ride quality is actually more of a function of the springs, because there really aren't any simple ways to keep the HSC down low enough while still having enough rebound to let the car handle.

If you buy the above, then, when you are designing the suspension for a car that is mostly a daily driver - just one that you wished handled a bit better and maybe was lower - you should probably start by asking yourself how far you are willing to go in the rear. And be honest with yourself. And keep in mind that the rear end is rather light, at least when compared to the front.

After you have decided on the rear rates, choose front rates to get the balance that you want and then get shocks that can control them properly.

Approached in this manner, I can start to see why places like GC have a default setup of 450/300. They just don't want to go any higher than 300 in the rear, but they want to get the nose under control as much as possible. So, while 450/300 might look like too front-biased (to an autoXer, for example), especially when you think of it in terms of only putting 300s on the rear of a car with 450 fronts, it actually makes sense if you start with the assumption that 300 is the highest that you can go in the rear. It also helps to explain why TEIN defaults to 550/350. They are willing to go a bit farther in the rear, maybe because of their testing conditions, so they also went up some in the front.

Remember: 50# more spring in the front is not the same as 50# more spring in the rear ... 2G motion ratios are around .75 and .92, so rear springs are effectively about 60% stiffer.

- Jtoby <- in Nomex