Help building up 2g Spyder Suspension

[RREDix]

Hey guys,
I've had my car for a few months now and I'm starting on the suspension. So far I have the tanabe under braces, Energy Suspension Master Bushing kit and Motor mount inserts(not in yet). I'm gettign ready to get the ground control coilovers, but need help deciding on shocks/struts. The big issue is on ebay I can get the tociko Illumina for gst for 345 or awd 380, or I could go with the kyb agx for around 275. Should I go with the illuminas for fwd 345, or the awd 380, or kyb for 275. All comments and help appreciated.


P.S Could also use some help chosing swaybar options. thx

 

[DSMSpyder99]

RM sway bars (Slowboyracing.com)
GST illuminas 5way adjustable (a spyder GST weights only 83lbs more than a hardtop GST)

 

[Powers_Vang]

I have Tein dampers..try those, works great. if you wanna it done right the first time get those...& camber kits will be needed.

 

[Omega]

Eh, I have the TEIN and I am not that impressed. I swapped out the rears for some GC with some crap KYB shocks. The car rides a LOT more smooth and isn't as twitchy. Personally I'd go with the GC and KONI combo.

 

[turbohcar]

Why would you get the AWD set of coilovers? I could be mistaken but I believe the FWD has a different rear knee assembly versus the AWD. That would make the mounting brackets different as well. Thus, the difference in price. Just a thought.

 

[Omega]

2G, the entire rear is all the same except for the hub and frame.

 

[RREDix]

Thanks for the input everybody. I didnt' want to go with Koni because they are more expensive then the illuminas.I bought the fwd illumina's and they should be here wednesday and then I waiting for the springs so I can do everything at the same timeso I dont have to pull the car apart 10 different times. Now i just need that FMIC and sway bars.

 

[Powers_Vang]

Wow, the dampers(complete coil over) ride crappy on your car... or the tein springs?

Eh, I have the TEIN and I am not that impressed. I swapped out the rears for some GC with some crap KYB shocks. The car rides a LOT more smooth and isn't as twitchy. Personally I'd go with the GC and KONI combo.

 

[Omega]

Not quite sure since I swapped out both at the same time. The car was SUPER stiff. If I softened the shocks the car was all over the road in turns. At one point for no reason the ass end tried to over take me. Not something I am used to in a FWD car.

Strangly enough I think i went from 306 to 350# springs in the rear... and it rides better? I am leaning towards the rear spings being overly stiff (not the right ones).. dunno, perhaps 'cinder will read this and comment on it.

 

[DG-FNR]

The problem with the Tein stuff (and the JIC stuff too) is that the shocks are single-adjustable symmetric (meaning that they adjust compression and rebound at the same time) and they have INSANE levels of compression in them.

Set the rebound correctly, and you have 2-4 times as much compression as is correct. Dial down the compression (assuming you can even get there) and the rebound is way underdamped. There's no "happy spot" in the shocks.

I'm at a complete loss to explain this. It's a characteristic of all the Japanese shocks I've run on the dyno, and across multiple models too. (EVO, WRX)

The only thing I can come up with is that drifting is big in Japan, and these shocks are set up to purposely upset the car and get it sliding. Or maybe a bone-jarring, slidy ride is somehow percieved as "performance" in Japan. But they sure 'nuff ain't set up for real racing - and the fact that they are adjustables does you no good at all, as the adjustment range isn't in a useable spot.

By far the best off-the-shelf DSM shocks are the Konis. That's why we use them as the core of the ATI suspension package.

DG