Adjustable suspension for daily driver...

[krazy]

Hey guys and gals,

I've read just about every thread on suspension, from coilovers to springs and back again. But they all seem to be geared toward race to spirited driver. I live in Indiana and our winters here can be somewhat heavy with snow. Therefore, leading to my question, I'm a daily driver FWD 99 Spyder GST looking for a 1.8 - 2.0 drop that can be raised fully in the winter time. What setup would be best for the most comfortable ride quality possible with it being dropped that much. Now, I realize I can't have best of both worlds, but I would like the ride as smooth as possible. For coilovers, what spring rates/coilovers would work good with koni sports?

If springs are your recommendation, then what would you recommend?

Here are the options I'm currently looking at:

Ground Control with Koni Sports (Don't know what spring rates for 2 inch drop)
H&R Sports with Koni Sports - 1.7 drop
H&R Race Springs with Koni Sports - 2.0 drop

Those with Springs, do you have problems with speedbumps, driving in winter, having your car worked on lifts, etc? That is why I'm somewhat leary of springs.

 

[Rx3]

You're making this more complicated than it needs to be. Lets go over your criteria:

- daily driver FWD 99 Spyder GST looking for a 1.8 - 2.0 drop that can be raised fully in the winter time.

-most comfortable ride quality possible with it being dropped that much.

Now, I realize I can't have best of both worlds, but I would like the ride as smooth as possible.

Then you also realize that if the ride is to be as "smooth" as possible, you will need to limit how far you drop the car. The range you stated of 1.8-2.0 will not make this possible, at least not with the budget you seem to be prepared to spend. So what do you want exactly? Smooth ride or aggressive drop? You have to decide. One or the other. There is nothing smooth about a 1.8-2.0 drop.

Since you live in a place with heavy winters, and bad roads, you will need all the suspension travel you can. The best choice for a "jack of all trades" type suspension setup would be progressive springs. These springs can better handle a wider range of conditions. When you start going to set spring rates, you will not have the same adaptability. Think about who uses set spring rates: race car teams. If they want to adjust suspension, they will swap out springs of varying spring rates until they find what works for that particular track. This is not something you want to be doing to a "daily driver" that will be through the range of situations you are talking about.

Next, the fact that you want to adjust the height limits your choices to coilovers only. So toss out:

H&R Sports with Koni Sports - 1.7 drop
H&R Race Springs with Koni Sports - 2.0 drop

Those with Springs, do you have problems with speedbumps, driving in winter, having your car worked on lifts, etc? That is why I'm somewhat leary of springs.

Define problems.

Speedbumps/potholes - if you are sprung too stiffly, there are many "problems", and this is all subjective to the individual. Harsh ride, the behavior of the car changes (more skittish, etc. etc.), the list goes on and on.

Springs will not create problems with working on the car. They are just springs. Any "problems" would be more with the height of the car from the ground. The more you lower it, the more difficult it may be to get it on a jack, or a lift (dependent on lift). If you have no problem coming up with creative ways to fit a jack under your car, or you are ready to deal with shops that can't work on your car because it's too low to be placed on a lift (real annoying if you have to get a car inspection). How much are you ready to deal with?

Things to think about, before you even get into what kind of suspension to get.


Next you need to realize that winters will take a toll on the suspension, especially if they use salt on roads in Indiana (do they?). Coilovers will cost more (in general) and will have more parts that can fail exposed to adverse weather than a non coilver setup. How much money are yu willing to spend to keep things operational? Replacing a shock may be less expensive than a shock and a coilover sleeve/adjustment piece.


If you want my personal opinion (I live in Buffalo, N.Y. I am familiar with lots of snow and bad roads ):

Eibach Prokit, and your choice of adjustable shock. Koni, Tokico, whatever. Eibachs are progressive, and with the appropriate shock, will be stiff enough to have fun and improved handling without compromising overall ride comfort. Your GF can still drink coffee without it hitting your roof at the slightest bump in the road. 1.25 inch drop is low enough to give the car a good stance, but not too low to prevent you from scraping ice and snow out of your wheel wells, or getting around town without becoming a moving snow plow.

 

[krazy]

thanks for the reply. I have had eibach springs on my previous car and disliked them (both because of the drop and feel). My statement about as smooth as possible is in regards to having that much drop, what spring/coilover would give the best ride (i expect harsh) but the setup giving the best feel with that much drop. I think you misinterpreted my statement. My budget can go as high as 1100 or so...

Do those with H&R Sports have problems (too low) with speedbumps/towing/or getting on ramps at shops?

 

[Rx3]

thanks for the reply. I have had eibach springs on my previous car and disliked them (both because of the drop and feel). My statement about as smooth as possible is in regards to having that much drop, what spring/coilover would give the best ride (i expect harsh) but the setup giving the best feel with that much drop. I think you misinterpreted my statement. My budget can go as high as 1100 or so...

Ok, now that you've clarified a bit, and you are ready to deal with how harsh the ride would be, then I can better give you my opinion/advice (more opinion than anything )


I have no experience with H&Rs at least not on a DSM. Someone else will have to speak on that.

So for the money you say you are ready to spend, I would suggest giving D2 coilovers a try, with a spring setup of 6Kg in the frront, and 4kg or so in the rear.

You can convert that into lb/in with this formula:

Kg(55.68 ) = lbs/in



I'm too lazy to do math on a Friday night.


Whatever range you end up picking, I wouldn't go past 8 Kg/ 6 Kg front to rear if you plan on driving in the winter/shitty roads.


If you can find some competant customer service from ground controls or someone else that deals with them, maybe you can get Konis and GCs, but the price difference between those and D2s are negligeable IMHO.

Do those with H&R Sports have problems (too low) with speedbumps/towing/or getting on ramps at shops?

In my opinion, any drop past 1.25 can possibly lead to "problems". Again it depends on the establishment as to what kind of problems. Sometimes you can 2x4 a lowered car onto the lift/alignment rack, and sometimes your can't. Sometimes shops just won't want to bother. Sometimes you have to come up with real creative ways. Just know that if you lower the car that much, you will run into this sooner or later. Either you are prepared to live with the consequences or not. There is no easy solution other than not going with such a drastic drop.

 

[krazy]

so your saying that ~340lbs in front and even less in the rear would be ok?

Wouldn't that lead to rubbing with a 1.7-2 inch drop? Figured the spring needed to be stiffer than that? If not, awesome! Just asking.

Can D2's be bought with preset spring rates or just defaults? Also, what's the price on them (any websites)? I haven't really heard of these, mainly just the Teins and GC/Koni combo.

 

[Budget90GST]

I'm running k-sport which is identical to D2's. I bought them with the default 9/6 kg/mm and felt it was too rough for daily driving. When I called to get lower rate springs they told me that the lowest front can go is 8 kg/mm and the rear was already as low as the manufacturer allows. So if you want to run lower rate make sure to mention it prior to the purchase so they maybe re valve the dampers. I ended up replacing the rear with a 5 kg/mm and leaving the front alone and the ride is stiff and rough on bad roads. The handling is great but just be ready for a rough ride. Far departure from stock in every aspect.