stiffer springs?
Retired Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,235
From: SF Bay Area
RE: stiffer springs?
ORIGINAL: steelcomp
I can see ride quality suffering (which is more personal preference) on a DD, but not handling. I'm running 370#/200# on my DD and don't mind the ride at all. I drive 140mi a day. I was running 430# fronts, and honestly wish I still was. Adjusting shocks can't make up fro what springs aren't doing. Not saying the OP needs stiffer springs...clearly not enough info, but as a general statement, I disagree that stiffer springs will hurt handling, weather DD or track car. Lowering this car too far, especially in the rear, can cause it's share of problems.
ORIGINAL: Jazzer The Cat
I would not recommend a stiffer spring nor a lower oneas your handling will suffer on every day driving. Seems to me the D-specs have some adjustability and would start with that.
Same question as Sleeper.....
Jazzer
I would not recommend a stiffer spring nor a lower oneas your handling will suffer on every day driving. Seems to me the D-specs have some adjustability and would start with that.
Same question as Sleeper.....
Jazzer
I am running Koni's with springs that areequivalentto Saleen in terms of stiffness of ride and comfort level. I would challenge ANYONE reading this post to take a ride in my car and notbe EXTREMELY impressed to how well it handles, including you
.There are, of course,many additional reasons forgreat handlingbeyond springs and dampers, but quite comfortable for DD. I amsure the springs in my ride are no stiffer than the OP's, but damping is a key component. My statement... 'your handling will suffer on every day driving'maynot always accurate, but stiffer is not necessarily bettereither.There are many ways to help a car to handle better, but beefing up the springs beyond that which has already been done, is NOT the first place to start, IMO.
Jazzer The Cat
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 452
From: Tri Cities, TN
RE: stiffer springs?
ORIGINAL: Jazzer The Cat
The OP has Eibach Pro Kit springs and are already approx. 1.5' drop. I think we can all agree that going lower is a bad idea as geometry begins to get messed up (some other reasons as well). One could just get a stiffer spring and not lower, butI think the existingD-specs are the first place to start. Astiffer ride does not necessarily a better handling car make.
I am running Koni's with springs that areequivalentto Saleen in terms of stiffness of ride and comfort level. I would challenge ANYONE reading this post to take a ride in my car and notbe EXTREMELY impressed to how well it handles, including you.There are, of course,many additional reasons forgreat handlingbeyond springs and dampers, but quite comfortable for DD. I amsure the springs in my ride are no stiffer than the OP's, but damping is a key component.
My statement... 'your handling will suffer on every day driving'maynot always accurate, but stiffer is not necessarily bettereither.There are many ways to help a car to handle better, but beefing up the springs beyond that which has already been done, is NOT the first place to start, IMO.
Jazzer The Cat
ORIGINAL: steelcomp
I can see ride quality suffering (which is more personal preference) on a DD, but not handling. I'm running 370#/200# on my DD and don't mind the ride at all. I drive 140mi a day. I was running 430# fronts, and honestly wish I still was. Adjusting shocks can't make up fro what springs aren't doing. Not saying the OP needs stiffer springs...clearly not enough info, but as a general statement, I disagree that stiffer springs will hurt handling, weather DD or track car. Lowering this car too far, especially in the rear, can cause it's share of problems.
ORIGINAL: Jazzer The Cat
I would not recommend a stiffer spring nor a lower oneas your handling will suffer on every day driving. Seems to me the D-specs have some adjustability and would start with that.
Same question as Sleeper.....
Jazzer
I would not recommend a stiffer spring nor a lower oneas your handling will suffer on every day driving. Seems to me the D-specs have some adjustability and would start with that.
Same question as Sleeper.....
Jazzer
I am running Koni's with springs that areequivalentto Saleen in terms of stiffness of ride and comfort level. I would challenge ANYONE reading this post to take a ride in my car and notbe EXTREMELY impressed to how well it handles, including you
.There are, of course,many additional reasons forgreat handlingbeyond springs and dampers, but quite comfortable for DD. I amsure the springs in my ride are no stiffer than the OP's, but damping is a key component. My statement... 'your handling will suffer on every day driving'maynot always accurate, but stiffer is not necessarily bettereither.There are many ways to help a car to handle better, but beefing up the springs beyond that which has already been done, is NOT the first place to start, IMO.
Jazzer The Cat
You made a flat statement that handling would suffer with a stiffer spring, (for a DD) and that's just not true at all. That's all I was saying. The spring rate needs to address the application, just like everything else.
A Carerra GT2's handling is impressive. Have you ever pulled 2g's at 160mph? Just curious.
Retired Moderator
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 9,235
From: SF Bay Area
RE: stiffer springs?
ORIGINAL: steelcomp
First, you can't compare your car and it's spring rates to an S197. Second, do you know what your spring ratres are? How about the rates for the Saleen? Do you know what the Pro Kit's rates are for an S197? Third, define 'handling'. What you might think is good handling, someone else may not, given different driving circumstances.
You made a flat statement that handling would suffer with a stiffer spring, (for a DD) and that's just not true at all. That's all I was saying. The spring rate needs to address the application, just like everything else.
A Carerra GT2's handling is impressive. Have you ever pulled 2g's at 160mph? Just curious.
ORIGINAL: Jazzer The Cat
The OP has Eibach Pro Kit springs and are already approx. 1.5' drop. I think we can all agree that going lower is a bad idea as geometry begins to get messed up (some other reasons as well). One could just get a stiffer spring and not lower, butI think the existingD-specs are the first place to start. Astiffer ride does not necessarily a better handling car make.
I am running Koni's with springs that areequivalentto Saleen in terms of stiffness of ride and comfort level. I would challenge ANYONE reading this post to take a ride in my car and notbe EXTREMELY impressed to how well it handles, including you.There are, of course,many additional reasons forgreat handlingbeyond springs and dampers, but quite comfortable for DD. I amsure the springs in my ride are no stiffer than the OP's, but damping is a key component.
My statement... 'your handling will suffer on every day driving'maynot always accurate, but stiffer is not necessarily bettereither.There are many ways to help a car to handle better, but beefing up the springs beyond that which has already been done, is NOT the first place to start, IMO.
Jazzer The Cat
ORIGINAL: steelcomp
I can see ride quality suffering (which is more personal preference) on a DD, but not handling. I'm running 370#/200# on my DD and don't mind the ride at all. I drive 140mi a day. I was running 430# fronts, and honestly wish I still was. Adjusting shocks can't make up fro what springs aren't doing. Not saying the OP needs stiffer springs...clearly not enough info, but as a general statement, I disagree that stiffer springs will hurt handling, weather DD or track car. Lowering this car too far, especially in the rear, can cause it's share of problems.
ORIGINAL: Jazzer The Cat
I would not recommend a stiffer spring nor a lower oneas your handling will suffer on every day driving. Seems to me the D-specs have some adjustability and would start with that.
Same question as Sleeper.....
Jazzer
I would not recommend a stiffer spring nor a lower oneas your handling will suffer on every day driving. Seems to me the D-specs have some adjustability and would start with that.
Same question as Sleeper.....
Jazzer
I am running Koni's with springs that areequivalentto Saleen in terms of stiffness of ride and comfort level. I would challenge ANYONE reading this post to take a ride in my car and notbe EXTREMELY impressed to how well it handles, including you
.There are, of course,many additional reasons forgreat handlingbeyond springs and dampers, but quite comfortable for DD. I amsure the springs in my ride are no stiffer than the OP's, but damping is a key component. My statement... 'your handling will suffer on every day driving'maynot always accurate, but stiffer is not necessarily bettereither.There are many ways to help a car to handle better, but beefing up the springs beyond that which has already been done, is NOT the first place to start, IMO.
Jazzer The Cat
You made a flat statement that handling would suffer with a stiffer spring, (for a DD) and that's just not true at all. That's all I was saying. The spring rate needs to address the application, just like everything else.
A Carerra GT2's handling is impressive. Have you ever pulled 2g's at 160mph? Just curious.
This is what is left... 'Seems to me the D-specs have some adjustability and would start with that'. You are speaking as though I said 'never' go stiffer spring when I just recommended some other options first.
No, I have not taken a 160 MPH 2g turn in a GT2, nor would I want to do so.Itisprobably safe to say99.572% of the people reading thisforumhave not either [8D]
The Jaz
PS. Now can someone get back to helping the OP out with the questions at hand?
2nd Gear Member
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 452
From: Tri Cities, TN
RE: stiffer springs?
In response to your suggestion to the OP, cranking up the damping will usually decrease ride quality more than a spring upgrade with the proper damping. Problem is, most of the adjustable dampers for this car are single adjustable and valved for the typical performance spring available for the S197. Move out of the "box" with spring rates and you have to move out of the designed damping range for the single adjustables. It's usually necessary to increase the rebound with higher rate spring, but with a single adjustable, that also means increasing the bump. Increasing the bump with a higher rate spring will typically be counter productive, and increase ride harshness.
I think this car responds well to a higher spring rate than what's typically available, especially in a linear reate spring. Problem is, you need to move to a damper that's also suited for that spring.
JMO.
I think this car responds well to a higher spring rate than what's typically available, especially in a linear reate spring. Problem is, you need to move to a damper that's also suited for that spring.
JMO.
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