1g with Prokit and GR2's is S-C-A-R-Y at high speeds!

[mhuffman]

I have a FWD 1g turbo with eibach prokit (new) and KYB GR2's. Ive had the setup for a few months. ive noticed at high speeds if the road isnt very flat the car gets floaty and unstable, and i have to back off for fear of flying into the woods at 90mph. On smooth roads it handles great, but when the road is a little uneven the car starts to get squirmy. Has anyone else experienced this problem?

PS, im running excellent Kuhmo Ecsta SPT 225/50-16 tires inflated to high 30's consistently at all four corners.

 

[Ludachris]

You're running a stiffer-than-stock spring with a shock that is basically a stock replacement. When I was running that combo I would say that it wasn't very good in terms of handling and consistency. It's a combo that makes your car "feel" sportier on the street. It's not great for high performance driving though. The GR2 is not designed to handle a stiffer spring rate like you're running. If you're wanting your car to really handle well consider Konis at the very least, a Ground Control kit if you're serious, and full JIC or Hotbits coilovers if you have money to burn. The Konis will at least be able to handle the stiffer spring rate you're running and will be more consistent and stable at higher speeds.

You might also want to have your alignment checked. That could be adding to the problem.

 

[jtmcinder]

You might also want to have your alignment checked. That could be adding to the problem.

+1

Floating at high speed is almost always one of two things: too little damping (which I doubt, since ProKits are soft) or toe-out (usually in the rear).

- Jtoby

 

[mhuffman]

How close do the KYG AGX compare to the KONI's?

 

[Ludachris]

They're a bit better than the GR2s but not in the same class as Konis. You'll still run into some of the same problems with the AGX as you would with the GR2. The Koni is the only shock that is made to handle a higher spring rate with consistency and stability without wearing out prematurely. Both the AGX and the GR2 were designed for stock spring rates.

Again, the KYB is good for a sporty feel but if you want the car to actually handle better you should really consider forking out the extra $100-200 for the Konis. I wish I would have done it right in the beginning - I would have saved myself some money in the long run.

 

[pneumo]

I also ave a FWD 1G with Prokit springs and GR2's. I noticed the same thing that you describe. If I'm going over 80 on rolling dips and rises the car isn't stable. It's underdamped. I don't mind it too much since the car is used for commuting and the ride quality is nice at legal speeds. Unless your rear axle is bent you should have the factory set toe which is between zero and 2mm toe in. Do not attempt to adjust the rear toe- rigid beams are hard to bend!

 

[TurboAnything]

I have AGXs with sprint springs which are a higher rate and have had little to no float problems as of late. But i do see limitations with the AGXs as i cruise at high speed 120+.

 

[mhuffman]

I have AGXs with sprint springs which are a higher rate and have had little to no float problems as of late. But i do see limitations with the AGXs as i cruise at high speed 120+.

What level of dampening do you have them set at?

 

[Ludachris]

I have AGXs with sprint springs which are a higher rate and have had little to no float problems as of late. But i do see limitations with the AGXs as i cruise at high speed 120+.

Where you notice the limitations most is at the track. For daily drivers that won't see much high performance driving they're probably fine. But they have been known to wear out pretty quick with lowering springs since they weren't designed for lowered suspensions. Expect them to start degrading after a few years of daily driving - if you get more out of them than that consider yourself lucky, mine were gone after 1 year.

 

[projctWraith]

I have been very pleased with the Koni adjustables with my Pro Kit springs so far. I find I leave them set pretty high most of the time as the Pro Kits seem to demand a lot of dampening.

 

[ceedawg]

What is the opinion on the Tokico adj. Are they just as good as the Koni adj? Have the tokico adj on my car but just want to compare.

 

[Ludachris]

Being a 1G guy I don't have first hand experience with the Tokicos. But I believe they're known to be somewhere closer to the AGXs, not in the same class as the Konis. The Tokicos are for those on a budget that just want a more sporty feel, not necessarily the best performance.

In my opinion the Konis are hands down the best performing non-coilover shock available for our cars off the shelf for both 1G and 2G. If you seriously want better handling you'd buy Koni. If you just want a stiffer/sporty feel on the street you buy a less expensive shock (or a set of cheap coilovers).

 

[ceedawg]

Being a 1G guy I don't have first hand experience with the Tokicos. But I believe they're known to be somewhere closer to the AGXs, not in the same class as the Konis. The Tokicos are for those on a budget that just want a more sporty feel, not necessarily the best performance.

Hmmm interesting! I do notice that the Tokico adj(illuminas) cost alot more than the AGX shocks and cost almost as much as the Koni adj.

I was kinda thinking these (illuminas)would be closer to the Koni adj,also based on price I guess. Just a thought.

 

[jtmcinder]

As has been mentioned many times, Asian SA shocks, almost as a rule, adjust both compression and rebound at the same time, while Konis only adjust rebound. That's why Konis are an order of magnitude better.

- Jtoby

 

[RamenPride]

Koni Sports > Tokico Illuminas >>>>>>>>>KYB AGX

 

[mhuffman]

I'm gonna bite the bullet and dish out for some konis when i get the money. Thanks for the feedback everyone!

 

[Slippi84]

How much ball park are the koni's ball park? I'm lookin for a cost effecrive yet descent suspension setup and came across the KSport coilover setup on ebay for like 8-900 shipped and they were like 36 way adjustable. I'm not gonna be going to crazy with suspension adjustments I mainly wanted something that would give the car a lowered stance better center of gravity and either have stiffer setting or be adjustable for more of a drag setup as I'm more of a straight line guy then a auto-x guy.


You guys think it's better to go with a cheaper full coilover or a descent non coilover like the koni's?

 

[jtmcinder]

$900 KSports get you 36 settings: $25 each.

$1200 Koni/GC/RRE set-ups get you infinite settings: $0 each.



- Jtoby

ps. search and proof-read, please

 

[Slippi84]

$900 KSports get you 36 settings: $25 each.

$1200 Koni/GC/RRE set-ups get you infinite settings: $0 each.



- Jtoby

ps. search and proof-read, please

DId search and have already posted in previous threads but thanks for your answer

 

[Talesin]

Just my two cents, as I'm running with B+G springs and KYB AGXes set at 2/4, as well as a ST rear swaybar.. though GSX instead of GS-T. The ride quality does suffer noticeably for DD use, but cornering is consistant and reliable, and will settle into and hold a turning angle smoothly, with no hitches or jerks (as I've noticed on MANY cars with Tein suspension setups).
The back end started to get a little bit squirrelly when I raised the rears to 8 (just to see the difference), but 4-6 seems to hold steady for technical track driving. I don't have the rear arm Heim joint replacements so I can't properly speak for how they perform in a tight AX environment.

 

[RipperXX]

Damn it! I went with the Prokit/AGX combo and I am looking for the best handling I can get for my money. I and heard the Koni's were better but no one really told me they were THAT much better than the AGX... sob.


*sigh* well I guess if and when they blow or I just get a bit of spare cash to burn I will get Koni's..... assuming there still making them for our cars! Seriously im worried lately a lot of parts are suddenly starting to get discontinued.



Not to hi-jack the thread though, but since I have Prokit springs and AGX shocks with a RM rear sway bar. (not near my car yet) And your all saying the AGX weren't ment to really handle the higher spring rate. Does that mean I should run the settings on the shocks on the stiff side? Or would that just make them ware out faster?

 

[mhuffman]

Not to jack my own post, but has anyone ever used the Addco RSB? Only RM RSB?

 

[RipperXX]

I have never even heard of Addco. The RM is 17/16th of an inch thick if I am not mistaken. As far as I know there is only one out there that is thicker. I can't recall the name for sure. But I think it was Suspention technique that offered a 1" thick bar.