im about to pick up some rb springs and tokico struts. any other recommendations besides rb?? or are these good enough? is the one inch drop really noticable or barely noticable? also, is it a must that i get the sway bar for the rear or can i just settle with the front? advice is needed quick. thanks

 

No first hand experience with this, but from what I've read the springs will not drop the car too much because the stock springs are probably already sagging past that point. Some people even say that the car sits higher after replacing the springs. Front sway bar will make a big difference, but the rear bar will not be very noticeable. Once everything else is set up suspension wise, then get the rear bar (mainly for the adjustable option).

 

After putting the RB springs on... My car looks the same except that it drive a lot better

 

thanks guys for the feedback. my car is sagging big time on the left side and i need to even it out first before i do my conversion or else the measurements will be off.

 

Racing beat sells shims that go under the top mount of the front struts to even out the ride height. As long as the chassis is not bent or twisted, then this is how you'll probably want to level the car.

 

The RB springs didn't drop my car very noticably that I can tell. I think the old springs were sagging pretty much already. It sure feels better tho, nice and firm but not too stiff. Feels a lot like the BMW now.

 

My car sat higher with the RB springs than it did previously but the improvement in handling when coupled with the Tokico shocks/struts is noticeable. It's a very good street setup, I highly recommend it.

 

I'm going to do a suspension overhaul too. I was wanting to get coil overs though... now that I'm reading this though I could probably get away with the suspension you are using? How much does that run as far as cost?
I was looking into Tein coil-overs because I want to slam my car but still be able to adjust it depending on what I'm doing(If I'm pulling into Lokirx7.1's driveway )

 

Coil overs and Konis would be a better choice for a race vehicle, but for pure street/light autocross use, the RB and Tokico setup works well enough.

 

Slamming a 1st gen doesn't improve handling, the suspension mods to make it handle do. Dropping it too far can degrade the handling characteristics. RB has a strut tower mod to drop the front end, yet still retain the all important shock/spring travel.

 

I got that exact setup on mine right now, my car sits lower in the front and the same in the rear compared to what ever was on there to begin with. Rear seems kinda soft for my liking and am actually looking to find a set of rear springs that will lower it more and stiffn it up some more, but overall I have been happy with my rb springs.

 

Black Dragon Auto has a set of adjustable Tokico shocks/struts which I am ordering. They have 5 settings/heights. The RB springs are also coming for those struts. Total cost looks to be around $600 as opposed to $1200 for coil-overs... I am going to get my wheels powder coated and get some low-pro Kumo all season tires since they're like $50/tire and look well as well as holding up well.

 

600 bucks for Tokico's? I just ordered the Illuminas for the front for $102.00 ea. I believe you can get the rears for about $60.00 ea. So that's like $324.00 total for all four corners... What the heck is Black Dragon charging anyway?

While I'm typing, who has the Intrax springs? I saw them on the Respeed site, and they sound like a real piece of work. But how do they compare? Are they stiff enough for competition (autoX mostly)? I already ordered RB springs, but they called today and I guess I got my address wrong or something so maybe this is my chance to cancel and get the Intrax springs instead. lol.

 

Well put. Racing Beat as well as the other companies (ST, Eibach, TMC, etc.) that produce quality springs for our 1st gens do not lower the car more than 1". These companies have done their homework.

 

I have the RB srpings and Tokico Illuminas on my car and the drop wasn't a night and day difference, but it DID look alot better once I bolted up my Panasports. But WOW it is a night and day difference in handling. I can see the drop difference when I park next to my GSL-SE (parts car).

 

i've heard nothing but bad things about intrax springs. poor handling, but a good drop. nobody on the mx6.com forums likes em. i can say my girls supra handled better before she put her intrax on, now her shiet is slammed too

i'm not sure about how they are for our 1st gens

 

I spy a mustang in the background.....

Nice toys!

Kev

 

Mustang? Where?

 

when you guys changed to the RB springs, did you notice a diff in the rear of the car?? My car has the stock springs cut in the back and stock struts. The rear end feels very bouncy compared to the fronts (RB springs and Tokicos). Prob a bad combination of suspension setup, don't you thing? It is very annoying when going over bumps and what not. Just wondering

The back seems to sit lower too

Thanks

Ryan

 

What did you expect the rear to do? Old worn stock shocks with stiffer than stock springs, I'll bet it's bouncy.

 

Nice Z car in the background. What year? I used to have a '73 that was gorgeous to look at and ran great, but unfortunately it rusted out underneath and ended up folding in half on me.

 

its my roommates 1972 260Z w/ the 280 motor and dual webbers. Wish he'd get the carbs synchronized again so it can get back on the street. Fun car to drive.

 

Ah, the top looks like an early 70's stang, I glanced at it real quick. It's the right color green. My buddy has a '78 280Z with an LS1. Fun car, but my nova can still pull him pretty hard.

Kev

 

See, I don't know why you are worried about so much of the drop in ride height as the handling aspect of it. If the car handles better by 10 fold, then who cars if it leaves your car sitting the same height? Perhaps that is just me. Its supposed to drop over stock height, but stock was 20 some years ago.

 

Hey Captain Obvious, I bought the car w/ this suspension setup, just asking a simple question to see what valuable information I could get.