Suspension setup

[99BoostedRS]

Hey guys, I'm looking to upgrade my suspension system on my 96 eclipse n/t for daily driving/road racing (track not street). I want the car lowered but not TOO much like about 1.5 1.75 inchs.

TEIN basic coilover set
Dc sports front and rear strut bars
Tanabe sustec swaybars front(maybe)/rear(definitely)
MAYBE front and rear underbrace bars

I'm gonna get rims(with 40 mm offset to prepare for bigger brakes later on)/performance tires first.

The reason i said maybe for the front sway bay is because i heard that a stiffer front sway bar could cause understeer?

I just wanted to ask you guys if this setup would be good for my purposes or is it too much or too little?

Thanks in advance.

 

[97gst_spyder]

Yes, a front swaybar by itself will cause more under steer. Now with both installed it would be a neutral under/over steer.

 

[importracr317]

Full coilovers, sway bars and strut bracing is a pretty good package for a DD/occasional track car.

Couple things though, just my opinion -

* Tein basic's do not have dampening adjustment - just pointing that out
* While I like Tanabe products, I would suggest looking elsewhere. I'm only speaking from AWD experience here, but isn't the difference between the stock sways and Tanabe sways negligible? Like, only a 5-10% increase in rigidity?
* Underbracing may be a waste of money if you've got strut and sway bars, but hey, every little bit helps right?

 

[99BoostedRS]

* Tein basic's do not have dampening adjustment - just pointing that out

Do you think it would be better to save up alittle more money and get the Tein super street coil over set?

 

[97gst_spyder]

I run K-Sports on my B15 sentra, adjustable ride height and dampening. I love them. I have the Tokico Advanced Handling kit on the GST, adjustable dampening, but fixed ride height. Did drive much on them but I like them.

 

[Flash]

Do you think it would be better to save up alittle more money and get the Tein super street coil over set?

I ran the Tein Basics for quite a bit during a time I daily drove my car and I enjoyed them. It's up to you whether you want to spend the extra money. It doesn't sound like you are at the track every weekend, so I think the Tein's will be a right fit for you. Something to consider also is if the suspension can be rebuilt. I know the more you spend generally they gain the ability to be rebuilt.

Also, hold off on the rear sway bar until you have gone to the track and gained some experience. People generally tend to think that they improve handling if you slap one on; definitely not always the case.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

People generally tend to think that they improve handling if you slap one on; definitely not always the case.

How does less body roll not improve handling?

 

[97gst_spyder]

If the rear is too stiff, then your spinning out at every sharp turn, or in the rain.
If the front is too stiff, then your sliding into the curbs, other cars, walls with every sharp turn, or in the rain.

-Obviously this above statement is for novice drivers, or someone that doesnt know there car.

You add both together then you have less body roll and start knife edging the speed/g's/grip.

For instance:

Full Stock, you can take a 90* turn at 25mph, but the fastest you can go before losing complete control is 45mph.

Installed F/R swaybars, you can take the same 90* turn at 40mph with full control, but at 55mph you lose complete control.

installed coilovers, you can take the 90* turn at 55mph with no issues at all, but at 60mph you lose full control.

Basically you will be faster in corners, etc. But the stiffer everything gets the less margin for error there is and less gain from full control and losing it.

These numbers are from my B15 sentra. From going full stock, to Nismo F/R sway parts, then adding K-sports.

 

[PieEyedPiper]

A rear sway bar is generally accepted as the "proper" first suspension mod other than something like tires etc. More potential gains than springs/shocks I suppose.

But on the other hand I don't know anyone who did it in that order including myself, it's just less fun/visually appealing.

 

[RoasT BeeF]

Upgrading the rear swaybar on my 1g was a HUGE improvement. Almost comparable to the coilovers. The stock AWD 1g rear swaybar is a joke.

 

[jdodds]

I think you should start with the most pain in the ass mod first. Get all your suspension bushings replaced with the prothane or the energy suspension kit. Makes a world of difference my friend.

 

[lilbro717]

a good set up is, a nice set of coilovers(JIC, Tein SS or better, KW V3"my favorite"), rear sway bar, Energy Suspension Bushing Kit, DC Front Strut Bar, GT Spec Trunk cage, Front Lower Tie Bar(non adjustable), and you can throw in the Megan Racing Trailing Arm.

 

[importracr317]

Do you think it would be better to save up alittle more money and get the Tein super street coil over set?

The Basics are a solid entry level coilovers - IIR, the spring rates are a bit more tolerable than the SS making it a bit more street friendly, but if you plan on tracking it, you may want a bit stiffer coilover. You would get that with the SS, and you would have the ability to adjust the dampening. My $0.02

BTW, IMO, the SS even on the softest setting is still a lot stiffer coilover than the Tein Basics.

Energy Suspension Bushing Kit

+1 - will make a big difference if added to coilovers, braces and sways.