Did I go alittle crazy with the suspension??...

[WesternMassSHO]

Just wondering if you guys (and gals) think this is a bit overboard for a street SHO? Mind you, no track... just street...

IPT Adjustable Coilovers (Koni / Eibach)
24mm Front ASB w/ TPR
26mm Rear ASB w/ Energy Poly's
Front STB
Rear STB
Rear Adjustable Control Arms
Aluminum Subframe Bushings
Rear H-Brace
Steel Front Endlinks
Aluminum/Poly Rear Endlinks

... all of this is held to the ground with some Kumho KH11 Grand Touring tires on 17's

Most of the above is due to get put on the car (if it isn't already) on the 30th of this month. Should I be advised of anything; other than the fact that it's going to feel like it's on rails and I'm literally going to feel the road in the cabin of the car? I know my g/f isn't going to be too pleased... or... hrm...


Comments? Concerns? Any input on any of the above items is much appreciated!


Thanks,

 

[3.8Lwagon]

the coil overs might be a little bit too much. eibachs or intrax would be a nicer ride

 

[PROPHET]

The coil-overs was overboard.

 

[40BelowSummer]

If youre going all out get a 28mm rear bar and youre set. Oh, and SFC's

 

[egroce11]

Forget the coil overs, go with koni's and eibach, with full length sub frame connectors and aluminum SFB's. My black has the above and the ride is harsh but handling is great. I think Cindy and mike can let you know how it handles.

Ernie

 

[masho95]

Throw in <b>solid</b> motor mounts and then you'll know the true meaning of feeling vibrations in the cabin.
I've yet to get full length subframe connectors, but I'd definitely add that to your list.

 

[WesternMassSHO]

Forget the coil overs, go with koni's and eibach, with full length sub frame connectors and aluminum SFB's. My black has the above and the ride is harsh but handling is great. I think Cindy and mike can let you know how it handles.

Ernie

Thing is, is that the coilovers ARE Koni's and Eibach's... fully adjustable (soft/firm) as well.


Oooooo... SFC's...

 

[AutoSHO]

What spring rates are you running on the coilovers?

They *will* provide a very rough ride on the street.

 

[WesternMassSHO]

What spring rates are you running on the coilovers?

They *will* provide a very rough ride on the street.

Either 300/500 or 400/600; I forget offhand... heh

 

[Shoaz]

Either 300/500 or 400/600; I forget offhand... heh

I'm assuming that's rear/front?

Either way, I agree, there's really zero point in having that sort of a setup on the street, IMHO. Unless you want to shake everything apart in the car and make it really uncomfortable to drive.

 

[WesternMassSHO]

Hrrrrmmmmm... I did indeed want to go "all-out" so to speak. Not only in handling, but in lowering the car maybe 1-2" as well. Will the Koni's, even on the softest setting, when paired with the Eibach's really be too harsh for a street car because of the insanely high spring rates (yes, ~400lb rear/~600lb front)?

Anyone have personal use with these things? I wasn't quite expecting them to be as harsh as you guys are making them sound. I realise it will be uncomfortable, especially if the roads are not the smoothest, but that's expected with any high springrate spring. Perhaps I could swap these Eibach's out for some Intrax, or some smoother, more streetable Eibach's? The Koni's shouldn't be a problem... at least I don't think they should be...

 

[Shoaz]

Hrrrrmmmmm... I did indeed want to go "all-out" so to speak. Not only in handling, but in lowering the car maybe 1-2" as well. Will the Koni's, even on the softest setting, when paired with the Eibach's really be too harsh for a street car because of the insanely high spring rates (yes, ~400lb rear/~600lb front)?

The spring rate determines the ride harshness, the shocks need to provide adequate damping to keep the suspension stable with whatever spring rate is used. FWIW, Koni's off-the-shelf are valved for spring rates in the ~200-300 lbs/in range (a bit more and a bit less) IIRC. They'll barely keep up with springs in the rates you're describing even when set for maximum rebound resistance. You can get the Koni's revalved for higher spring rates for, IIRC, about $160/ea.

Anyone have personal use with these things? I wasn't quite expecting them to be as harsh as you guys are making them sound. I realise it will be uncomfortable, especially if the roads are not the smoothest, but that's expected with any high springrate spring.

I have coilovers with 500/350 lbs/in front/rear and Konis. It's a track car and as much as I like this SHO (I bought it new, had it forever) I bought something else to drive regularly because it's just too harsh for me for regular street use. You have to STOP for speedbumps, a pothole is going to remove pieces you want to keep. It is driveable on the street, but barely. I wouldn't even begin a road trip with this thing.

Perhaps I could swap these Eibach's out for some Intrax, or some smoother, more streetable Eibach's? The Koni's shouldn't be a problem... at least I don't think they should be...

Uhhhh...do you really have coilovers? ...or just struts with Konis? You cannot mount Eibachs or Intrax springs on coilovers. FWIW, the Konis are valved just right for aftermarket springs like the Eibachs and Intrax that are commonly bought for SHOs. These springs have about half the spring rate that you've described and will be fine for street use.

 

[Mr Anonymous]

I agree with the others that you're really looking at a very uncomfortable ride for a daily driver. Plus it's going to turn the car into a rattle-box and you're gonna start breaking things on a regular basis. As tight as things will be, a good pothole is going to do things like bend tie rods and break knuckles when nothing else has any give.

FWIW, Fred Hurder, with all the absurd power he was making with his blower car only stopped driving it on the street once the hi-perf suspension was installed. Made it an unbelieveable track car, but trying to drive it on the streets on a regular basis became nearly impossible.

Have you driven on New England roads lately??? They are not exactly smooth as glass. There are many places in the deep south that probably would be tolerable with that suspension setup on a daily driver, but New England will never have roads like any of those places. You probably could have got a good amount of the lowering and performance you were looking for without the coilovers and some of the other mods, and at a lot lower price for a car that was intended to be primarily a street-driven car.

 

[3.8Lwagon]

are you going to put 13" brakes on the car? if not i wouls stay with 16" rims. they alow for a better launch and the side wall flex helps with irregular road surfaces in the turns.
also 16s should ride better.

rember the suspension needs to be soft enough to keep the tires on the ground. they don't have any traction while you are bouncing up in the air

 

[Toolman]

Bah you wimps. The turbo SHO with coilovers, 600lb/F 350lb/R got driven 5000+ miles to the Cali convention and back, with TRCA (solid, no rubber bushings), alum SFB's, SFC's, nearly solid mm's, and every other piece of suspension hardware you can put on it. This with 3 big guys in it and our luggage, my tools, etc. Loved every mile. Even let the other guys drive the car quite a bit so I could sleep. HECK, I drove this thing on the Convention drive through San Francisco!

Perhaps I am a little ********, but unless you are smashing into driveways and over speed bumps, the ride will be fine. I just take railroad crossings easy too. I would not change back for anything, I love these coilovers.

 

[Toolman]

And the turbo rides on 19's (35 series tires)! I also drove from OK to the East coast for the 02 Convention when I had the coilovers on my 95, again with all my luggage, jack, tools, and a full set of race tires/wheels.

So put the coilovers on, hit some curves, and have a freakin blast! Just make sure you use the restroom beforehand. You do not want a full bladder.

 

[Dan H]

I agree with Toolman, I drive my coilover car every day with 600/400 springs and 26/28 swaybars! but I only live about 2 miles from work... I did drive Seattle to LA nonstop.

If the car is for the street, get some longer Hypercoils in around the 400/300 range, and swap the 24mm front bar for a 22mm. Definitely get the Konis revalved for higher spring rates before installing. Don't lower the car too much or you will be stopping for speed bumps and going into parking lots diagonally as previously mentioned.

 

[WesternMassSHO]

3.8Lwagon, yes, I am putting 13" brakes/PBR calipers/SS Lines on the car as well... thus the 17x7's.

Toolman and Dan H, I must say that you seize to amaze me. Just the news I was looking for. Before you it sounded to me like these coilovers were absolutely non-streetable what-so-ever... I was getting alittle dissappointed in my investment in such an awesome, rare, set of coilovers. I'm going to be throwing them on the car anyways, as I'm sure Fred will want to see how they ride I dont plan on lowering the car much at all, like I said 1", 2" at the most. The Koni's in the IPT coilover set are already valved for the proper springrate the Eibach's have; so I should be all set there.


Good news or bad, please do keep throwing the comments my way... I'm very much interested in anything you guys and gals have to offer!

 

[Toolman]

I need to get my Koni's revalved. Can I just send them into Koni and tell them my spring rates?

 

[Shoaz]

I need to get my Koni's revalved. Can I just send them into Koni and tell them my spring rates?

Yup. I think calling them first helps.