Give me some input on a decent sub $1000 suspension setup
#21
Boost Pope
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I think I paid around $800 for my current shock absorbers. They're Bilstein HDs that I sent to FCM for custom re-valving. Worth every penny.
#24
All of the used Flex that I have seen have been between $750 and $950. You have some time until spring so start watching ebay and the FS section here. I bought mine here for $800 shipped, along with a set of FM front and rear sways with Racing Beat endlinks for $100 shipped. Gotta jump on them quick, though.
As far as how they ship stock, 5Kg/mm rear, 7Kg/mm front but you never can be sure unless you check because people can order whatever springs they want from several distributors.
I also ran my car without the rear sway and used the FM front, street or autox. For autox, full hard front, 4 clicks down on the rear. It helped balance out the car and let it rotate with throttle.
If you are doing a stripped track car with 275's you will likely be need to be much higher sprung than mine. Anothe guy that autox'ed a competitive turbo Miata was somewhere around 12k/9k springs. Mine was a DD car.
As far as how they ship stock, 5Kg/mm rear, 7Kg/mm front but you never can be sure unless you check because people can order whatever springs they want from several distributors.
I also ran my car without the rear sway and used the FM front, street or autox. For autox, full hard front, 4 clicks down on the rear. It helped balance out the car and let it rotate with throttle.
If you are doing a stripped track car with 275's you will likely be need to be much higher sprung than mine. Anothe guy that autox'ed a competitive turbo Miata was somewhere around 12k/9k springs. Mine was a DD car.
I won't be running 275's. Most likely 225's on all fours. AutoX will be just a fun thing for me. The suspension setup is definatley going to be geared more towards track use. That's the main thing I'm building the car for. AutoX locally sucks anyways and I just go out to it to have some fun. I use someone elses car for Ntl Tour events.
So If I were to get Koni Race, and the ground control set up... how are the springs that you get with it? Anyone know the lb rating? Would it be an idea to get some more QA1 springs since they are cheap?
#25
Personally, I agree with you. A couple of years ago I ordered a set for myself just out of curiosity. The build quality was ok, however regardless of what vehicle model they have listed in the title, they're all universal fit, and include various spacers, rubber donuts, etc., which you're supposed to stack together to make it fit. That part seemed really cheezy to me.
I think I paid around $800 for my current shock absorbers. They're Bilstein HDs that I sent to FCM for custom re-valving. Worth every penny.
I think I paid around $800 for my current shock absorbers. They're Bilstein HDs that I sent to FCM for custom re-valving. Worth every penny.
Last edited by jacob300zx; 01-19-2010 at 01:23 PM.
#27
I won't be running 275's. Most likely 225's on all fours. AutoX will be just a fun thing for me. The suspension setup is definatley going to be geared more towards track use. That's the main thing I'm building the car for. AutoX locally sucks anyways and I just go out to it to have some fun. I use someone elses car for Ntl Tour events.
So If I were to get Koni Race, and the ground control set up... how are the springs that you get with it? Anyone know the lb rating? Would it be an idea to get some more QA1 springs since they are cheap?
So If I were to get Koni Race, and the ground control set up... how are the springs that you get with it? Anyone know the lb rating? Would it be an idea to get some more QA1 springs since they are cheap?
#28
I would go with koni race fronts and koni sport rears and ground controls with 650 front and 375 rears. Then a front sway bar and remove the rear. ISC mounts would be good, or just DIY some NB tophats.
I run a similar setup, but with softer springs since my car weighs less.
I run a similar setup, but with softer springs since my car weighs less.
Does anyone think that the droop travel difference between the Race and Sports could create a suspension travel problem when the suspension is unloaded?
What do you figure that setup would cost?
#31
I had GC/Bilstein and couldn't get them off the car quick enough to replace with flex. The bilsteins have WAY TOO MUCH REBOUND and will beat the everliving **** out of you on the street. On the track they were okay but the car was pretty twitchy and hard to drive...but I learned a lot from driving on them for so long.
yes, I'm a dick.
yes, I'm a dick.
#36
Former Vendor
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IMO, 700/450 RACEs are the best budget coilover on the market. $1400 brand new, tough to find used. Proven fast on the track. This is why it's tough to meet a $1000 budget, even though that's the number everyone picks - by the time you've added sways, endlinks, and a coilover sleeve/spring combo to that $1k budget, you're left with like $400 for shocks.
RACE + 700/450GC + sways + endlinks + ES bushings + alignment = ~$2k. When you're ready to step up, sell the shocks/springs for ~$1100 and order whatever flavor of XIDA your wallet will endure.
#37
Why do you go with the tubular over the solid? the general consensus so far from my research is to go with the solid. What are you thoughts?
Where did you purchase your RACE's? I've had a hard time tracking them down. If I wanted to go with a cheaper shock to start out with, anything else you could recommend?
So stock tophats all around?
Where did you purchase your RACE's? I've had a hard time tracking them down. If I wanted to go with a cheaper shock to start out with, anything else you could recommend?
So stock tophats all around?
#38
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Tubular is the same rate but lighter, IIRC. You can get the RACEs from Goodwin or send me a PM and I should be able to get them for you as well. There's really not a cheaper shock that will control those rates. I've never had an issue with a lack of bump travel, only a lack of droop, so I'd stick with the NA hats, yeah.
#39
Tubular is the same rate but lighter, IIRC. You can get the RACEs from Goodwin or send me a PM and I should be able to get them for you as well. There's really not a cheaper shock that will control those rates. I've never had an issue with a lack of bump travel, only a lack of droop, so I'd stick with the NA hats, yeah.
#40
norcaldrift -> Zankoku is making is own line of COILOVERS!
Better than Teins atleast...
He did say something about hillclimb... and its an issue I had on stock suspension before going to KW's on another car. Just something to consider. (car was frequently driven on dirt... hard)
Better than Teins atleast...
He did say something about hillclimb... and its an issue I had on stock suspension before going to KW's on another car. Just something to consider. (car was frequently driven on dirt... hard)