907RotaryFB

I'm sure this has been discussed before but I'm just not that good with the search function so here we go:

What I'm trying to do is just get a nice sporty street/daily driver suspension setup for my car with a little (maybe 1") of drop from stock. Car is an '85 GSL. Springs I've decided on are the Racing Beat kit.

RB offers the KYB GR-2/Excel-G or Koni fronts. With the Koni's of course I would have to do a KYB in the rear or search for used shocks. RB also mentions that with heavier springs the KYB's might not have enough damping to no end up bouncy.

Anybody have experience with this type of setup have any recommendations? Budget is a factor of course but I just want to see what people out there are using with good success for good streetable suspension setups.

racerx01

From my experience; the KYBs set-up can not keep up with the RB springs. I drive my RX7 pretty hard and front struts lasted one year. I upgraded to Koni yellow (from 1st gen MR2 rear) struts and Koni orange (fox body Mustang) rears; have been quite pleased with results. The other advantage is that both of these Koni's always seem to be in stock. Know that some had to file down the nib on the struts to fit into strut tubes better; in my case they fitted without issue. Have heard that Koni did mis-label some of the struts; so if you get them and they are like 1-2" too long just return them. TBO the orange shocks my be little too stuff; if you have budget would get the yellow's (adjustable fox body Mustang) if they have lighter setting than the orange. These rears fit fine without mods.

LongDuck

Back in the 80s, the preferred street setup with RB springs was Tokico Blue shocks and strut inserts. These can be rebuilt, but Tokico doesn't make them anymore. It's something for you to search on, as there's a lot of info on shocks and struts related to Blues conversation. I've been running that pairing on an SA for 15yrs and when moved them to my -SE for the past 15yrs, still going strong as a street car and nice weather DD with over 150k miles on them...

SteveNC

In 2/2018 I replaced my original setup with Racing Beat springs on my ‘83 with KYB rear shocks and KYB strut inserts. I also installed Energy Suspension's polyurethane bushings, a Whiteline strut tower brace, and I replaced the ball joints. All other steering parts were done in prior years.. When I did it I was using it as a daily driver and it rides nicely. That fall I got a new daily driver so the RX-7 gets maybe 500 miles/year but it still rides nicely when I take it out.

907RotaryFB

All good feedback guys, thank you!

SteveNC, did you find you had kind of floaty or bouncy suspension with the KYB shocks and RB springs?

Trying to figure out if it's a passable setup. With the price of Tokicos or Koni's it's pretty much at the point to just go straight to BC Racing coilovers for the amount second hand shocks cost.

Maxwedge

iTrader: (1)

RB = $650 for new springs and shocks/struts with easy one weekend install.
BC Coilovers = $1000 plus labor (cutting/welding).

SteveNC

No, it feels a little stiff to me but I think it should feel a little stiff.

It took me a couple weekends days to do everything including brakes w/stainless steel lines. Removing the watts link bushings were what I spent most of my time on until I finally gave up on not using a little heat.

907RotaryFB

I have to ask....what cutting/welding are you talking about? I'm looking at the kit and it looks like a bolt on setup that uses stock spring and shock mounts. Even the struts come pre-assembled and they offer reimbursement if you send your old struts back to be reused. Am I missing something?

*edit* Okay I see you have to cut your old spindles off and weld them on the new strut bodies. That's not all that difficult if you have access to a welder I think.

Maxwedge

iTrader: (1)

Yes if you're a good welder and trust your life to your abilities (front wheels staying on at 70mph through that 35mph turn) then yes, easy. If you are not a pro welder I would have a chassis shop do it for you. And then those beautiful BC coil overs are going to rust unless you get a good powder coat / paint job, salt or not.

So for most car guys I think those $995 coilovers will become $1300 coilovers pretty quick. For a quality job.