2G Extremely Harsh Ride

[Sublime83]

I have a 1995 Eclipse GS-T. The suspension feels extremely harsh. I literally feel that this car is going to fall apart over some parts of the road. Train tracks I have to crawl over. I have Progress Lowering springs.. I really know nothing about these springs as they were on the car when I bought it. I had KYB GR-2's but just replaced those with KONI yellows hoping that the car would feel better but there is no noticeable differenece.

I just recently had the car saftied and I looked over many of the suspension components myself and can't find any problems with balljoints or tie rods.. nothing like that. I also just recently installed the ES master bushing set.

I have no idea what else to look for. I took the rear sway bar right off the car cause I thought maybe that would be contributing(either the links or bushings)... no change. The strut mounts appear ok, they are torqued down proper.

This has been driving me crazy for the past while and I just can't seem to figure out whats up. Any suggestions!? Could these springs just be total shit? Dead end here.

Thanks in advance,
Chris.

 

[hhuricane]

Well, you've added stiffer springs, shocks and bushings to the car. It's going to be harsher, no way around it. If ride quality is what you're after go back to the stock set up. You're heading in the wrong direction now.

 

[LiquidX]

As hurricane said, you put on a much stiffer suspension setup than what is on for stock. If you want a stock like ride with an upgraded suspension you will be spending at least 2k on coilovers. Give the bushings a bit to "break in" and soften up a little bit.

Put the sway bar back on as well and be sure the get an alignment done.

So you are on Progress springs and Koni shocks?

 

[talontsi18]

Make sure the springs were never cut or tampered with, as it will make the spring very unpredictable. On a lot of our cars there are bolts that become frozen in the bushing sleeves because of rust, making it so the suspenion cannot travel and move like its sapposed too. This will require taking most of the suspenion apart and replacing parts and applying lube. Adjust your konis so that they are on a soft setting. Your springs may be the problem and it might be a good idea to replace them with some H&R springs, that are known to be pretty good on the street. I have some Ebiach Prokit spring with some GR2's and its great on the street, but all my bushings have been replaced and nothing is frozen up.

 

[Sublime83]

Yes that is correct. Progress springs and KONI yellows. Like I said the springs were on the car when I bought it. I just found out what brand they were when I took everything apart to put the KONI's in. How good are the H&R's? Is the GC Coilover setup a worth the money?

I also just got an alignment today, and the car still pulls to the right. Any ideas?

Picture.jpg (502 KB)

Thanks,
Chris.

 

[talontsi18]

Read this thread I think it will help you make your decision.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/handling-tech/353767-help-me-build-street-suspension-setup.html

 

[Sublime83]

How does that alignment sheet look? Any ideas why it would still pull to the right?

Cheers,
Chris.

 

[LiquidX]

I'm suprised that they let it leave the shop with a bad alignment and didn't tell you. I wouldn't go back there. If you don't have proper camber kits after putting on lowering springs, you will either have low amount of adjustment room or no adjustment possible which could be your problem. They should have told you after it was checked.

 

[Sublime83]

What do you mean bad alignment? That is the after sheet.. They fixed the front and rear toe as well as rear camber and noted that the front camber is not adjustable, but I knew that going in. Is there anything wrong with that printout other then the front camber?

I read that the koni have adjustable perches that can lower the car ~1".. Would this be a viable option using KONI's and the stock springs with the koni's perches lowerd?

Cheers.

 

[greengoblin]

Are you sure your not totally bottoming out or having your front upper arms coming in contact with the body of your car?

On suspension look here:
Autocross to Win (DGs Autocross Secrets) - ATW Home Page

 

[PieEyedPiper]

How does that alignment sheet look? Any ideas why it would still pull to the right?

Cheers,
Chris.

The only way to improve it would be with camber kits and a clear purpose for the car.
It looks good. You could remove a little camber in the rear but otherwise that's a dandy alignment for the equipment being used. It's on the aggressive side but not terribly impractical, at all.

Are you sure your not totally bottoming out or having your front upper arms coming in contact with the body of your car?

I think that's a good question to ask. How low is the car, and what really are the spring rates of those springs? The parts themselves just might not compliment each other. i.e. spring rates vs shortened shock travel vs upper fender well

 

[Sublime83]

I was looking at getting some camber correction kit for the front now that I've seen the numbers. The rear just has the homemade washer camber fix. I guess I could throw in a few more washers.

I was thinking maybe I could just throw my factory springs back in and put the koni's on the lowest perch setting. Would that work ok? I have been looking for spring rates for those progress springs with no luck. Doesn't seem like many people even have them..

edit: I just noticed that my perches are actually on the lowest ring.. Is the lower perch lowering the car and the higher perch raising it? Not sure how these perches work.

 

[romeen]

Yes that is correct. Progress springs and KONI yellows. Like I said the springs were on the car when I bought it. I just found out what brand they were when I took everything apart to put the KONI's in. How good are the H&R's? Is the GC Coilover setup a worth the money?

I also just got an alignment today, and the car still pulls to the right. Any ideas?

Picture.jpg (502 KB)

Thanks,
Chris.

I have the H&R OE Sports. H&R doesn't make the spring rates available but I can tell you that they are pretty stiff. With the Tokico Illuminas the ride is kind of harsh but handling is excellent. However, several members have reported that the H&R's work great with the Koni yellows. IIRC, asian312 use to run that combo and really like them.

Make sure that your bump stops have been trimmed.

 

[Sublime83]

How much of a difference do the poly bushings have over oem?

 

[hhuricane]

Huge, they are a lot stiffer than stock. The car handles better but the ride suffers for it. It is the trade off you make when you go urethane.

 

[Sublime83]

Well unfortunately those were in the car when I bought it as well. Is there a replacement oem set of bushings?

Does anyone know if the 420a eclipse and the avenger/sebring share alot of the same suspension parts as the eclipse gst?

 

[meliketoball]

replace all your bushings with polyurethane ones. replace your inner/outer toe rods if you didn't.

what size wheel and series tire do you have? the skinnier the tire, in side wall length, is going to feel like crap esp. with a big wheel.

if all fails, go with a coilover set up with adjustable dampening if you have the $$$.

 

[CODE4]

Does anyone know if the 420a eclipse and the avenger/sebring share alot of the same suspension parts as the eclipse gst?

Yes. Your GST is the same suspension as the N/T Eclipse and Avenger.

 

[Sublime83]

i put my factory springs back in and it still feels like shit. Im ripping the entire suspension out of an avenger i found and swapping everything. about to give up on this car.