Daily Driven Suspension Setups

[Validare]

Hey guys, I've got an S13 with an RB20, and with the way the build is going I'll be pushing 325 to the wheels.
Now, I've looked through the forums and couldn't find a thread that answers all my questions.
So I have pretty gnarly scoliosis and not the best budget, so I want a ride that won't break my back or my budget.

Springs and struts or entry level coilovers?
For springs and struts, I have in mind Eibach Sportlines and KYB GR2's.

Front and rear sway bars suggestions?
Traction, control, and toe arms?
Bushings?
Any other suggestions?
I'm really looking for a smooth daily driver that'll take all the cornering abuse I can throw at it.
Thanks for the help!

[derass]

The smoothest riding coilovers I have ever experienced were a Cusco set and an HKS set.

Things like solid bushings and bearings will make ride quality worse. There's only one multi-link brand that uses rubber bushings, and IIRC they're pretty crappy compared to everything else that's on on the market.

"Smoothest daily driver that will take cornering abuse" is a bit of a contradiction. You generally have to give up one to get the other.

[e1_griego]

GR2s are just oem replacement shocks.

Some koni yellows and lowering springs or coilover sleeves are probably going to the best for ride quality at a cheap price point. KW V3 coilovers are going to be the cheapest, good-riding one-piece coilover.

Good shocks have good ride quality even with high spring rates, but they're not cheap.

I'd spend all the money you can on shocks before you worry about anything else. You can get away with ebay arms (isis, etc) if you need to get the car back into alignment. If you're not going super low the stock eccentrics can get the alignment you need.

[Validare]

I want a pretty flush fitment. Maybe an inch or so gap between the tire and fender. I'm thinking of running Varrstoen ES2 18x9.5 +12 offset in front and 18x10.5 +22 offset in rear

[SoundEfx]

I have some BC racing coilovers on one of my cars and it's the smoothest ride I've been on. Never regretted buying it.

But no matter what coilovers you choose, please select a good quality one one with the right spring rate for you. Some people like a smooth, soft 6 or 7K spring rate. Others like 8 to 9K.

Also, you can't really go wrong with some 'swift' springs.

[ThePaddy]

The spring rate is what matters.
Nismo is 4kg 5kg as a guideline

Most coilovers are in the silly range
6kg 7kg
8kg 7kg


I removed coilovers at 8kg for nismo shocks and springs

I will add arbs to remove body roll and have comfort.

[tougefactory]

Hey Validare,

Derass statement is pretty spot on. All the parts you've listed is pointless if the car is just a daily driver. A set of nice coilovers with custom spring rates will probably do the job and it won't break your bank.

The arms will just eat your pockets and be pointless if your not doing any serious tracking. As far as bushings go, don't get solid bushings if your looking for a comfortable ride. I would just try to get my hands on OEM replacements. You'll feel/hear everything the car does on solids, literally.

I would just get a nice set of coilovers w/ custom spring rates with upgraded springs (Swift Springs) and just call it a day.

We carry something that you might be interested in. STANCE Suspension offers all the above, custom spring rates, custom valving, Swift springs upgrade. Everything done here in the US in house. Plus it doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Hit us up if you need anything or have any other questions!

TF-WORKS,
847-290-1531

[spooled240]

I have Feal 441's with 8/5 swift spring and they are pretty comfortable. I'd still recommend the arms to correct the alignment and also..get normal sized tires. If you get really low profile tires and/or stretch them that will worsen the ride quality.

[R3b]

I got some FA500s stock spring rate which I think is 6/8kg. Havent driven much yet but feel loads stiffer than these racelands I that were originally on the car when I bought it. A little stiff but could also be my tire/alighment setup changed as well. I think when I drove them quick is was on the hardest dampening which was pretty dailyable.

My .02 is to get in touch with locals in your area and just ask them to drive there car quick. Toss them a beer or food and youll get a better feel than some joe smoe telling you A is better than B on the internet.

[Validare]

I was thinking of running
18x9.5 with a 12 or 15 positive offset and 265/65/18 tires in front and
18x10.5 with 15 or 22 positive offset and 315/30/18 tires in rear.
Thoughts?
And I live in an area where the only thing people care about is tobacco and golf. My only friend with a 240 is an S14 and it's LS3 swapped.

[Vanzftw]

I've Fortune Auto 500s with swift springs 6/8k on my s14, feels like riding on a cloud.

[supersayianjim]

I have urethane sub frame bushings for daily driving and they are just fine.

[spooled240]

I was thinking of running
18x9.5 with a 12 or 15 positive offset and 265/65/18 tires in front and
18x10.5 with 15 or 22 positive offset and 315/30/18 tires in rear.
Thoughts?
And I live in an area where the only thing people care about is tobacco and golf. My only friend with a 240 is an S14 and it's LS3 swapped.
Thats a pretty tall sidewall up front lol but youll need wider fendrrs for sure. I like to keep the sidewall in the 40 range for anything below a 255 and 35 above 255.

Sent from my SM-G935T using Tapatalk

[Bushido]

I was thinking of running
18x9.5 with a 12 or 15 positive offset and 265/65/18 tires in front and
18x10.5 with 15 or 22 positive offset and 315/30/18 tires in rear.
Thoughts?
And I live in an area where the only thing people care about is tobacco and golf. My only friend with a 240 is an S14 and it's LS3 swapped.


You're going to run into clearance issues with the front wheels. I'm assuming you mean 35 sidewall... As for inner clearance, the offset of front wheels is too high for width, you will be within a few millimeters of clearance with the coilover even with stretched tires, forget about a 265 width... to fit that you will need less offset. As far as outer clearance there is no way you are going to fit these wheel sizes on stock fenders without a ton of negative camber and a huge pull. If you want to go low and still be able to turn the front wheels you should probably tub the front wheel wells too.

[CHiNo4ReaL]

Indeed ^
I got a 9.5J ET15 with a 245/35/18 tire.
I had to use a 3mm spacer to clear my HSD coilover, otherwise it would rub.

[koukimonst3r]

I've had my Stance GR+ for 7 yrs with 8kg/6kg spring rate. Tanabe front 30mm rear 22mm sway bars, SPL tension rods, ruca, toe rods and traction. My S13 is tubbed with 30mm extended FLCA, 18x10j +12 with 265/35 and 18x11 + 8 with 285/30 on 50mm front and 70mm rear overs.


You definitely need overs if you're thinking of running 18x9.5j 18x10.5j, try 18x9j +12 with 245/40 and 18x10j +12 with 265/35.

[R3b]

You're going to run into clearance issues with the front wheels. I'm assuming you mean 35 sidewall... As for inner clearance, the offset of front wheels is too high for width, you will be within a few millimeters of clearance with the coilover even with stretched tires, forget about a 265 width... to fit that you will need less offset. As far as outer clearance there is no way you are going to fit these wheel sizes on stock fenders without a ton of negative camber and a huge pull. If you want to go low and still be able to turn the front wheels you should probably tub the front wheel wells too.

Ive got 18x9.5 +12 all around on my hatch. Clears everything but its a tight ass fit and im running a slight stretch of 225/40. I had to roll the fronts and pull the rears a bit with about -2 degrees of camber.

[jedi03]

riding on powered by max for 2 years...a lot of solid bushings but oem rubber on control arms...I like it, but for cheaper just do poly bushings all around with some good eibach and tokiko blues...that was a smooth ride!