GSX suspension question

[96TSi_Chris]

Ok i have a FWD talon right now, but im trying to sell to buy a GSX. Ive found a few and plan to buy as soon as i find one that is up to par on what i want.

Anyway, i am running the Koni yellows w/ eibach springs (pro kit) right now on my FWD and the ride is horrible, even on a softer setting. I know the ride isnt going to be great w/ a aftermarket set-up especially since i drag race, but its embarrassing when you have a girl in the car and your ride is bouncing at every little bump. So my question is, on a GSX, whats the ideal set-up for a decent ride and a nice drag racing style suspension. As far as shock/spring combo or coilovers. Also im looking for something that has decent adjustment too. Money is somewhat of a factor, but its not huge.

Anything you can add would be great. Thanks in advance.


-Chris

 

[dsm81]

I am not sure what a drag racing style suspension is, but for a good ride (and handling) you need to have good damping. I have a coil over setup with koni yellows and I find the ride just perfect for the street. I also only run only 50lbs softer springs in the rear than in the front for better rotation. The beauty of running coil overs with springs like the linear rate eibach ERSs is that you can choose what spring rates you want to suit your needs. Also, my car has a noticeably harsher ride if I run the shocks at full soft simply because then the springs are under damped and the car bounces due to lack of rebound control. At what setting do you run your yellows? If they're on soft, try stiffening them up at least a half turn all around.

 

[Defiant]

Originally posted by 96TSi_Chris
its embarrassing when you have a girl in the car and your ride is bouncing at every little bump.

More for her than you, if she's built.

 

[HyperGSX]

Originally posted by Defiant
More for her than you, if she's built.

That would be a good thing though

 

[cOiL]

ive got neuspeed koni's with a 2.25" drop with h&r race springs and the ride is amazing. i usually ride with 3/4 stiffness up front and full in rear and ive only gotten compliments how it rides from car buffs.. in fact, it feels nearly as good as full h&r coilovers.

maybe your shocks are somehow blown or you have defective springs. koni's shouldnt do that.

 

[96TSi_Chris]

Originally posted by cOiL
ive got neuspeed koni's with a 2.25" drop with h&r race springs and the ride is amazing. i usually ride with 3/4 stiffness up front and full in rear and ive only gotten compliments how it rides from car buffs.. in fact, it feels nearly as good as full h&r coilovers.

maybe your shocks are somehow blown or you have defective springs. koni's shouldnt do that.

The shocks are fine, the springs were 10k old when i put them on my car, so its possible, but they arent helping out for any bids on new konis in the future. This set up has also helped 0 at the track.

 

[cOiL]

Originally posted by 96TSi_Chris
The shocks are fine, the springs were 10k old when i put them on my car, so its possible, but they arent helping out for any bids on new konis in the future. This set up has also helped 0 at the track.

thats way odd..

springs dont tend to wear out, so id count that out, unless they are just defective. maybe the spring rates are just way wrong or they were installed backwards? did you get an alignment after you lowered it? dumpin a car can sometimes really screw up the alignment and in turn, have poor results at the track. how many times have you gone with your new suspension? it took me a wihle to get used to my setup before i learned how to take advantage of it.

 

[Spyke169]

I have a 97 GSX and I was wondering if anyone had Tokico Illumina shocks and stock springs, and how they are together. I want to get shocks before I get springs. Would I be better off with KYB AGX shocks than the Tokico Illumina? I reallly want them to be adjustable, I was also looking at Koni shocks, but I read you have to take them off in the back to adjust them rather than just jacking the car up. If I go with the Tokico and stock springs for now how much will it lower my car? I don't want it lowered too much, but I am looking for an inch or so. I hope somone can help me

 

[96TSi_Chris]

I forgot this was my thread

Thats why i said i doubted it was the springs. They are eibach and they have a lifetime warranty or some ridiculous warrantee to where they are never suppose to go out. Plus id know if they were defective. Everything was installed fine, i tripled checked that. I was hoping the set-up would help w/ wheelhop which i didnt at all. I guess motor mounts should have been next on the wishlist, but im done spending money on the car, as it is for sale. Im not really worried about it anymore, i just want some good imput on a nice set up for an awd 2g.

 

[Sponge Bob]

Originally posted by 96TSi_Chris
i am running the Koni yellows w/ eibach springs (pro kit) right now on my FWD and the ride is horrible, even on a softer setting. I know the ride isnt going to be great w/ a aftermarket set-up especially since i drag race, but its embarrassing when you have a girl in the car and your ride is bouncing at every little bump.

How low is your car? The shocks could be bottoming out if it is to low. The Konis afford you the most travel out of all the aftermarket shocks but if the ride height is to low then they will run out of travel and give you a bouncy ride over every little bump. Then again what you call stiff and what I call stiff could be very different.

Bob

 

[cait sith]

I bet it's the springs, mostly because all DSM "lowering springs" absolutely suck balls.

A decent set of Ground Controls with decent spring rates should fix it.

 

[96TSi_Chris]

After it settled, it was about a 1.8" drop

 

[Sponge Bob]

Originally posted by 96TSi_Chris
After it settled, it was about a 1.8" drop

Without driving the car it’s hard to say but I'll bet you a case of beer the shock is bottoming out. Someone above states that it’s your springs; well that is most likely the problem. I to like Ground Control adjustable spring perch kits. You can adjust ride height and pick your spring rates. At roughly twice the cost of lowering springs the GC kits are a good deal. For spring rates I like 500# in front and 350 in back. It’s a good setup, it wont be a super smooth ride but it won't be bouncy at all. You should also look at different front upper shock mounts, GC makes some that will give you some extra travel but RRE has the same part but with a spherical bearing in place of the GC hard bushings that can bind and be noisy. You will need to raise the ride height too, it won’t look low anymore but it will ride and best of all handle much better!

Bob

 

[CowPimp]

I find my Tokico Blues and Eibach Prokit combination to be plenty comfortable. I have taken several road trips with my car and no one riding with me has complained. Obviously, it's not going to ride perfectly smooth because they are performance shocks, but the ride is definitely reasonable for a daily driver.