Thinking of modding my suspension
03-06-2011, 08:36 AM
#1
5th Gear Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2010
Location: Ohio
Posts: 2,228
Thinking of modding my suspension
Let me start by saying that I honestly don't know anything about suspension, so don't get really technical with me, because it will all go over my head.
Anyways, lemme give you all the disorganized pieces of my thought process...
I have a 2006 V6 with the pony package.
I want something to improve overall ride quality. I am mainly focused on making the car feel smoother going over small bumps, cracks, and during hard cornering. I don't race or anything like that, so the really expensive, heavy duty performance parts aren't needed. I can't lower the car because it barely can get up the driveway as it is. I have maybe an inch of clearance, so if it had to be lowered, it would have to be something minuscule like half an inch. I am not looking to spend a whole lot of money either, although I really don't have a limit or budget that I would be sticking to. In fact, I am not even sure that I am going to touch the suspension, I am just playing with the thought right now.
So what would you guys recommend?
Anyways, lemme give you all the disorganized pieces of my thought process...
I have a 2006 V6 with the pony package.
I want something to improve overall ride quality. I am mainly focused on making the car feel smoother going over small bumps, cracks, and during hard cornering. I don't race or anything like that, so the really expensive, heavy duty performance parts aren't needed. I can't lower the car because it barely can get up the driveway as it is. I have maybe an inch of clearance, so if it had to be lowered, it would have to be something minuscule like half an inch. I am not looking to spend a whole lot of money either, although I really don't have a limit or budget that I would be sticking to. In fact, I am not even sure that I am going to touch the suspension, I am just playing with the thought right now.
So what would you guys recommend?
03-07-2011, 09:36 AM
#3
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 456
I'd start with a set of Koni Yellows or STR.T's (depending on whether or not you want adjustability) and see how you like it after that. I'm not aware of any lowering springs that only lower 1/2".
03-07-2011, 03:03 PM
#5
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
Posts: 456
Adjustability in the case of dampers (shocks) means that you can change the damping rate. The Koni Yellows are one-way adjustable, which means that they have one adjustment range (rebound damping). Another one-way adjustable damper is the Tokico D-Spec, which has one adjustment that changes both compression and rebound.
Compression damping is how much the damper tries to resist being compressed (the wheel bumping up towards the body); rebound damping is resistance to lengthening (the wheel drooping away from the body). So on the Koni's, when you turn the screw you are changing the resistance of the shock to letting the wheel droop. I'll let some of the more knowledgeable folks here explain what benefit the different amounts of rebound damping can do for you.
High end race type shocks are commonly 4-way adjustable. They have independent adjustments for compression and rebound in both low speed and high speed movement (ie. low speed being something like braking and high speed being something like hitting a bump or pothole).
Compression damping is how much the damper tries to resist being compressed (the wheel bumping up towards the body); rebound damping is resistance to lengthening (the wheel drooping away from the body). So on the Koni's, when you turn the screw you are changing the resistance of the shock to letting the wheel droop. I'll let some of the more knowledgeable folks here explain what benefit the different amounts of rebound damping can do for you.
High end race type shocks are commonly 4-way adjustable. They have independent adjustments for compression and rebound in both low speed and high speed movement (ie. low speed being something like braking and high speed being something like hitting a bump or pothole).
03-07-2011, 07:48 PM
#7
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: WA
Posts: 27
It looks like the H&R OE Sport Springs only drop the car .75" front and rear max. If you don't want to worry about tweaking your structs/shocks take a look at the Koni Str.ts.
http://www.hrsprings.com/products/springs/
http://www.hrsprings.com/products/springs/
03-07-2011, 07:59 PM
#8
3rd Gear Member
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: Cali
Posts: 702
It looks like the H&R OE Sport Springs only drop the car .75" front and rear max. If you don't want to worry about tweaking your structs/shocks take a look at the Koni Str.ts.
http://www.hrsprings.com/products/springs/
http://www.hrsprings.com/products/springs/
Those Koni STR.T's would be more than good for you and the springs will be a lil stiffer, and a lil lower.
Your in a win, win spot here