shocks/struts, experts

[Mongo]

Okay, suspension gurus, abuse me if you must, but I need some solid answers.

Two ‘95’s: one with 60k, all original, wallows like a Town Car, hideous original Goodyears (hard as a rock, worthless in every respect.) The other has 82k, good Yokohama dB’s, but crappy original rear shocks/springs, even crappier Sears struts up front (not my doing).

I know many of you are youngsters looking for the handling edge and ignoring ride quality, so don’t be offended by the following:

Intrax: NO!
Eibach: maybe?
Koni: high quality
Factory shocks: Sachs/Boge?
Tokico: ride quality compared with stock?
Factory springs: Defective? Moog replacements available?
Aluminum subframe bushings: NO!
Urethane bushings anywhere: NO!

The factory stuff is shot: the missus likes this, and I point out it’s dangerous. I also point out it won’t be good for Bridgestone Pole Position tires or other quality replacement. I want a BMW 5-Series ride, same with which this car was designed to compete. Any suggestions? I’ve done an archive search, and the best I get is from Fred: “Grandma won’t like the Koni/Eibach.” I’ve had Koni/Motorsport on a brilliant ’91 Mustang: the smallest bump felt like a bomb was going off in the car. Threw away the 600’s, replaced with the factory 425’s, kept the Konis, and all was well.

Thanks in advance; I’m sending $30 via PayPal to the site for your responses. I’ve lurked for a long time, and owe you quite a bit. I encourage you to follow my lead.

 

[gdsqdcr]

Well, I chose the Koni/Eibach route. The ride is very comfortable on the freeway, but responds extremely well when cornering. I generally run mine on a twist or so above the softest setting, and the ride is a little firmer than stock.

When full hard, you cant push down the corners of the car, unless you have a couple of hundred pounds on it. It responds quite well in the corners on this route.

Yeah, Koni's are expensive, but you get what you pay for. I like them and have run them on my last couple of SHO's. Probably logged 100K miles on Koni's now and I would still go back to them.

My only issue with them, is I tend to blow out the front right strut every time. =)

Just my opinion.

Anthony

 

[SHO92]

gdsqdcr:
I generally run mine on a twist or so above the softest setting, and the ride is a little firmer than stock.

Anthony

I have heard that you should not turn the koni **** all the way to the stops. The full soft position is at the one stop, but full hard is only one complete 360 turn. Yes the **** will turn further, but I've heard that this can damage the seals and is not necessary. I haven't gone onto konis site to see what they say, but this is what I have heard from Ben B. who is a Chrysler mechanic, and the Neon ACR comes with konis from the factory.

<small>[ January 03, 2003, 08:38 PM: Message edited by: SHO92 ]</small>

 

[SHOTIME]

Eibach's and tokico's.

Its a supple ride with a fairly improved sportiness when pushed.

The eibachs are proggressive where as the intrax are linear. so with the eibachs you start off softer and the harder you push the car the sportier it gets.

The koni's at full soft are harder than the tokico's. but offer the adjustability if you wanna play at times.

Think of the GEN III poly bushings to replace the SFB's instead of solids

 

[luigisho]

I haven't done the upgrade on my car yet but I rode recently in a '95MTX with the Eibach/Koni setup and it was very impressive. Since they are adjustable the softer side is close to stock--very comfortable. It was alot smoother than I thought it would be for sure.

 

[SHO92]

SHOTIME:
Eibach's and tokico's.

Its a supple ride with a fairly improved sportiness when pushed.

I don't think that the ride with this combo is soft at all. ManySHOs had these on his 94 ATX and the ride was extremely stiff, he had poly bushings too.

The eibachs are proggressive where as the intrax are linear. so with the eibachs you start off softer and the harder you push the car the sportier it gets.

Everything I have heard says that the intrax are progressive, the SS has or had it listed incorrectly on their site. Intrax does not make a linear spring for the SHO.

The koni's at full soft are harder than the tokico's. but offer the adjustability if you wanna play at times.

Think of the GEN III poly bushings to replace the SFB's instead of solids

I have koni/eibach and stock bushings. I am very happy with this combo and run the konis about halfway. Full hard and the ride will knock you fillings out on some bumps and potholes. Full soft the ride is very soft and you can feel a little extra body roll. For everyday driving with both hiway and spirited backroads, I think that halfway front and rear is the best choice. The ride is stiff, but not harsh in anyway.

 

[cRaZySHO.]

I say the Tokico/Eibach set up has the best of both worlds. Very forgiving on the bumps. Still a plush ride, and does get down and dirty when you need to.

And for what it's worth, I now have the Intrax/Bondurant setup, and this is much harsher. I used to have the Eibach/Tokico.

 

[Toolman]

Why no poly bushings? I put poly bushings on an other wise stock 94 and the ride is very nice. My 95 had the full get-up (Koni/Eibach/poly/solid SFB's/upgraded sways) and the handling was excellent but was in no way to harsh. Now the IPT coils with 600lb fronts was on the harsh side, but that is another matter. In all the setup's I have been in, I love the Koni/Eibach setup and until something better comes along (Shawn, did I hear you will be making some more coilovers? ), that is what will be on my SHO that sees the highway.

 

[Mongo]

Folks,

Let's keep it going! My understanding is poly bushings require constant greasing to avoid a very annoying squeak on the road. They perform as advertised, but they DON'T advertise the associated noise. If I'm wrong, bust me.

 

[Toolman]

I had mine in for 25+k miles and years of use in many types of weather and never greased them except at install. No squeaks here (or on the 94). That may be an exception rather than the rule, but I think the squeaky bushing syndrome is over-exaggerated.

 

[SHOZ123]

I don't know what kind I have, they are black and I got them from Cincy SHO. I noticed this fall when driving without a back seat that I could hear some squeaking but with the seat in I cannot hear them. I have heard on other SHOs loud squeaking, even through the seats.

 

[NWGRN94MTX]

Your looking for more of a touring suspension then a balls out handling set up that most of us do here. I would look for somthing a little tamer.
I'm by no means a suspention expert.
I would look at either the Moog springs or at the most, Eibach's.
If there are any of the Bondurant Monroes left I would look at them.
I have driven SHO's with Koni's KYB's Monroe's and Gabrial's, The only people that where happy were the Koni and Tokico people, but then again, there where looking for balls out handling also.
Allot is in the tires you choose also.
Sub frame connectors make a big difference for not much money.
I see your in St Louis, maybe you should attend a SHO club meeting in Chigago or somewhere and check out other SHO owners set ups.
Another place you might what to float this question, might be over at SHOtimes, they have different members over there that may be able to help you also.

<small>[ January 04, 2003, 02:45 AM: Message edited by: NWGRN94MTX ]</small>

 

[cyanmauve]

I bought my 91+ five speed two years ago from the typical family man. read: walmart tires, worn out struts, stock springs, busings, etc. since then i have added polyurethane everything, konis, eibachs, subframe connnectors, a rear control arm brace, strut tower brace and high density engine subframe mounts. obciously, i am into max handling. however, i know what the "missus" will put up with and here is my suggestion- go ahead and do teh koni/eibach with polyurethane bushings. it just isn't that harsh. what is really going to make the difference is your tire choice, specifically the sidewall height. I have had 225/50-16zr Firestone SZ50s, and am currently running on 225/55-16zr Yokohama AVE ES 100s. Just 5mm make a huge difference. If you were to add the koni/eibach and polyurethane bushings with a 215/60-16zr tire (high performace, or ultra high performace) both you and your wife would be pleased. The car would absorb bumps well, pleasing her, and thought it would have some play do to the sidewall height, you would be pleased with the increased responsiveness

 

[cyanmauve]

please excuse my poor spelling. I didn't take time to proof it before submitting it

 

[Mongo]

Thanks for your excellent replies. I think before I drop the cash, I will attend a SHO Club meeting in Chicago, and very politely request a short ride on city streets from folks with Eibach setups. I'm not afraid to spend good money for good products, but I do wish do avoid doing the job twice! Those tire comments are right on the mark: the Yokohama dBs are 215/60-16, an above-average tire in quality, and good for absorbing jolts.

My situation is somewhat unusual in that I'm not pleasing myself, but a "customer" (the missus), and I don't want to hear about a "rough-riding" car (She occasionally drove that aforementioned stiffly-suspended Mustang, and made some pointed comments.) Your time and opinions are much appreciated. See you folks in Madison.

 

[fricker66]

You might not need to go to Chicago for a SHO meeting, check out this topic.

Hope to see you there with your SHOs.

 

[centaurus3200]

i just put in tokicos and eibachs along with the other suspension and chassis mods. I LOVE THE RIDE!

actually, the stock struts did NOT have enough dampening. the tokicos are just flat out better units. the eibachs are pretty smooth on the rebound too. it definately doesn't float like a town car anymore. when you hit a corner, the car doesn't feel like it's going to tip over either.

basically the set up reminds me more of my girlfriend's audi A4 than a balls out cornering machine. but, with less roll than her audi. but similiar refined dampening.

the only thing you will have to do is start hunting down rattles. mostly the back seat. i think your car has the spacers to keep the head rests from flopping around (that's so annoying!). i gotta get me them spacers.

i would have to say that the struts and springs are my SECOND best suspension mod. my first favorite is the aluminum sub frame bushings, if you want german attitude, this is your mod! when you tweak the steering wheel, there is no more "lag time" before the car starts to turn, it's just INSTANT!

as far as the road noise, maybe a little more. actually not that big a deal as i could barely tell the difference.

oh yeah, sub frame connectors are pretty sweet too. less creaks. if you have a steep driveway, make sure you hit it straight on though b/c the car WILL NOT flex enough to hit it at an angle. i was backing down once and my car was teatering on the right front to the back left wheels. lol! but, can be a btich in the rain.

the best part of all this stuff on my car is that when i mash the go pedal, the front end doesn't fly up in the air like its gonna take flight!

see ya,
Robby

 

[Mongo]

Thanks, folks. BTW, your responses DID enrich this site by $30. It's a pittance compared to what you've given me. BTW, the sub connector comments couldn't be more true. "Big Red" has a pair from Doug Lewis, and they make a HUGE difference, so other designs may help even more. If you don't have 'em, get 'em.

<small>[ January 14, 2003, 08:51 PM: Message edited by: Mongo ]</small>

 

[scott c]

Can you guy's post some pricing for set-ups such as yours? I am in the same situation as "Mongo" abut dont have much $$$$

 

[philallemang]

I would have to agree. I would like to see some prices. I have been debating on what to get for a spring/strut setup and i dont have lot of money.

I thought about going with NAPA's sensa-trac struts but dont know what type of spring to use. I dont want to use a spring that will **** my struts in a few month and want to pick one that wont. Sensa-trac's come with lifetime warrenty, so it dont matter but i dont want to do it all the time. i want at least stock height or little lower because of a few gravel roads. iam thinking of going with the eibach spring cause they are close to stock height.