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View Full Version : a few questions before I buy suspension.


SittinOnDubsWGW
12-01-2003, 11:29 AM
alrighty guys, I am going to order some suspension things here within a couple of weeks and had a couple of questions to make sure that what I was thinking was on track or not.

Ok I am planning on buying a shock/spring setup, because I have come to the realization that I do not track the car very often, and do not think the 1200+ for coilovers would be justified on a car that is mainly a street car that sees the dragstrip about 3 times a month and hoping to hit up autocross next season a couple of times. So therefore I feel like shock/spring setup should work out fine for me.
That and I REALLY want to get rid of that horrible 4 finger wheel gap. I have a 93 fastback.

I plan on going with RSR springs, but am debating between the 2

Down- Lowers 1.6/1.2 Spring Rate of 3/3. Drops it a little lower, a little softer spring rate, so would probably help with traction off of the line, and would have a nice street ride.

Race- Lowers 1.4/1.2 Spring Rate of 5/4.5. notas low as Down, but still a decent drop, stiffer spring rate would help even more in the handling department, so it would probably be a better autocross spring, would be a little stiffer on the streets, but i figure 5/4.5 probably still isnt bad on the street.

Does anybody have pics with the above setups???

I plan on running KYB AGX's. So far from what I have read on here they should be able to handle either spring fine, but still not sure if i would HAVE to run them full stiff all the time w/ the RACE springs.

I was wondering if I could run camber plates and whatnot, or is that only for coil-over setups?

also I currently am running a set of Gram Lights at 17x7.5 +30 (i know, i know WEAK size blah blah blah) with 225/45 Falken Azenis on there, I shouldnt have any clearance issues should I?


any opinions or suggestions towards suspension or anything above let me know.

Thanks a lot,
Kyle

Sil Beer S13
12-01-2003, 01:25 PM
It all depends on what kind of a ride you want. Like stock or a little firmer? No your rims should not have a problem with clearance or any other issues. Camber plates would not really be that necessary camber does not change much with a spring shock combo. My personal choice would be the race springs even if you dont attend tracks that often. But good luck with your choice.:D

SittinOnDubsWGW
12-02-2003, 03:58 PM
Thanks for the info Penguin.

AutoRnD
12-02-2003, 08:38 PM
hey wassup...
you can run camber plates with your shock spring setup...
sometimes the ride quality on a set of coilovers will be better than a shock spring setup...
maybe you can look into your budget and see how much money you can spend.. and then go from there...

SittinOnDubsWGW
12-02-2003, 10:47 PM
well, I was thinking about doing strut/spring combo... and still think that is probably the more logical way to go. and put the money saved by not getting coilovers towards going turbo.

hmmm, everyone is always saying "you gotta get coilovers". maybe i'll just wait.

AutoRnD
12-03-2003, 01:39 PM
you don't neccesarily have to buy coilovers... but... if you are concerned with ride quality, coilovers are almost always better than spring shock combo's due to the manufacturer tuning the damper per their spring rates...
also if you are looking for a good drop.. you can also raise and lower depending on how you like the car... it gives you a bit more customization when compared to spring shocks.. also.. in terms of camber adjustment for the front, you can either use an eccentric bolt or a camber plate... for either shock style or coilover style

nutipah
12-03-2003, 10:23 PM
I say wait and save for the coilovers. I got Spring/Shock combo and I'm kicking myself for not getting coilovers. With the Coilovers you can adjust ride height which is what I regret not having. The springs I have don't seem to have an even drop all round. The front have a bigger wheel gap and just don'tlook right. After I get everything else done, I'm gonna get coilovers.

andrave
12-03-2003, 11:45 PM
I have spring/shock combo (tein/agx) and I'm happy with it, I'm glad I didn't waste the extra money on coilovers. You wouldn't want anything much stiffer for a street car anyway, and my handling is phenomenal.

OptionZero
12-04-2003, 02:01 AM
I'm your man.
I have the RS-R downs on my s14 kouki matched with KYB AGX's, i think they are damn good. I am college student, not much time to take car track. Currently, i am ill-prepared to race seriously, but i do enjoy driving my car around freeways and curvey roads. For a casual driver, the Downs are excellent. because i also commute in this car on the damn san francisco roads, i suffer from poor road conditions, even with thet soft Downs, i am feeling all the bumps and cracks in the street. i do not know how you coil over folks handle daily driving, and i have to drive a chick around at times too.
For someone like me, the RS-R's are great. the drop is subtle, parents and cops dont notice it. 240 guys do. Its the height the car shoudla came with from the factory. my car is also mostly stock on the exterior. Why slam the car when you dont ahve the wheels/work to back it up? Its literally a pain in the ass when you drive on the street. This combo will tide me over till i have time/ability to complete my car.

If you have intetions of racing that may be realized soon, i do think that a RS-R race + KYB AGX + good sways/strut bars will suffice, for the cost of a top tier coil over set up. And you dont want to go half assed on the coil overs anywyas, if ur gonna go coil overs, go for some good ones.
attachted is one pic, email [email protected] for more.

SittinOnDubsWGW
12-04-2003, 01:26 PM
^^^
car looks good man.

I have decided that I am going to get the Koni Yellow's along with the RSR race springs.

I think they shall suit me fine, and the extra money that I save will go towards going turbo, and other minor suspension things, such a swaybars, STB's bushings, etc..

thanks for all of your guys' input.

dvdevo
12-05-2003, 12:56 AM
well i got the kyb agx sportline set up. bought it used off someone in this forum, oni i think. but yeah the drop is nice. i wish it would be lower. I think the tokio's or however u spell em give a lower drop? not sure.. anyways here's the difference

dvdevo
12-05-2003, 12:58 AM
and another

SittinOnDubsWGW
12-05-2003, 09:15 AM
^^^^
looks like a decent drop, and it looks like you are running a smaler rim, (I'm running 17's) so it looks like this will get rid of quite a bit of fender gap for me. :D