Its time for one of the best upgrades money can buy for any Rx7 owner, and thats suspension!

I still have my original factory suspension in my car and its getting really bad. I need to replace it soon.
My budget is going to need to stay under $1000 so im going to have to eliminate the Tien system which WAS my first choice

Please vote for the best brand you would reccomend for TII's, my mods are listed if ya need to know
Thanks!

 

I'm an AGX/Eibach junkie, got them on my GTUs and they're just great. Though, even on the lowest setting I can feel just about every granule of dirt as I drive over it.

 

I have the AGX suspension / suspension techniques springs and even though it provides nice handling in the corners, it's too stiff for the road. I have a friend with Tokico suspension and even though it's as cushy as my afro while cruising, it provides totally awesome cornering. So if you've got a little extra money, go with the tokico's. Suspension techniques springs may not be a bad choice to lower your car and add some stiffness if you're not racing. But you'll have to compare spring rates and shock rates to get a good match.

BTW the AGX have really crappy rebound. It's the same no matter what, so when you do have to make a road trip, even setting them to 1 is kinda harsh.

 

BUMP

 

Koni Yellow struts / RB springs

 

Go for the Racing beat Spring and sway package and any old type of shocks, as long there pretty stiff

 

AGX with some RB springs will be your best bet. Unless you want to shell out the cash for some high dollar Bilsteins. The AGX perform real well for the dollar. If you do Opt for the RB springs, make sure you also go with sway bars.

 

tokico Illumia with eibach springs is what i use

 

Fc3s.org has a nice package setup for racing beat springs with the sway bars, but they dont have good prices on there struts.

 

I have AGX shocks and ground control coil-overs, which use eibach springs, and I love it. It has great feel and is very predictable and easy to control, even with pretty cheap tires. I'm not a good person to ask about stiffness. My car is currently setup for a track. I keep the shocks on the stiffest setting all the time and dont have a problem with it. I actually wish the suspention was stiffer, but I'm kinda crazy in that respect. Also, I didn't notice the ride being much smoother on the softer settings, the car just wasn't as tight feeling.

 

Just to make it clear (I'm certain Sideways7 knows this), those are 2.5" ERS springs which you can select in a variety of rates and lengths. It's not the same thing that the Eibach progressive rate stock replacement springs.

 

Yeah, I know, thats why I specified that it was ground control springs and not the standard eibachs. If you can tolerate a rough ride, this setup has amazing handling.

 

Well im not looking for a track setup. Basically i want a good handeling setup but it has to remain pretty comfterble for street driving because this car is also a daily driver.
My key though is to improve the handeling and to spend under $1k so it sounds like the Racing beat setup with AGX is what most fo you would reccomend.

 

Illumina shocks w/ ground control coilovers.

 

RylAssassin: I share your goals

 

Here's how it breaks down:

-Springs-

Eibach = 1 inch lowering, progressive rate is perfect for a daily driven car in an area where roads are rough (NY area and tri-state).

Suspension Technique = .80 inch lowering, linear rate is great for the autocross/daily driver but these are much nastier over bumps than eibachs. Not recommended for daily cars in rough areas.

-Ground Control coilover sleeves =These are not e-bay coilovers so don't be fooled by the fact that they are sleeved units. This is the last setup I bought and I've had them on the car for over 3 years w/ winter driving in NY. Each time I wash the car the dirt/grime comes right off and they look brand new. They make no noise, the perch adjustments have never locked and they do not crack like cheapy ebay pieces. The availability of Eibach race springs (linear) is a huge plus here as you can choose from a bunch of spring rates/lengths to suit your local autocross, track, streets, driving style. Or, just tell GC what you use the car for and they will suggest lengths/rates.

-Struts/Shocks-

KYB GR2 (front) and Gas-adjust (rear) combo = These are direct replacement struts/shocks that are 10% stiffer up front and 15% stiffer in the rear than OEM TII pieces (quoted from KYB via e-mail). They are valved exactly the same as the middle settings on the AGX's front and rear. W/ a lifetime warranty they are great for daily cars that don't need adjustment.

KYB AGX = Simply the best adjustable units for the FC for your dollar. Perfect with ground control coilovers as an affordable "piece it together" adjustable coilover setup.

Many people will tell you that the GR2/Gas adjust combo is not stiff enough to control suspension tech springs or the standard GC coilover kit but it's just not true. I have had AGX's and the GR2/Gas adjust sets. I got the AGX's after my first set of GR2/Gas adjust blew after 50K with suspension tech springs in NY (only the rears blew actually). I replaced them with AGX's and after a few weeks I took them out and sold them since I didn't need the adjustability (although they are nice pieces) and replaced my original set of GR2/Gas adjust under warranty. My car is not bouncy or under-damped and many local FC people can tell you the car feels amazing.

-Options-

Tein camber plates = are the best out there for the price...no hacking up the strut towers as they bolt in, give a huge range of adjustment, make no noise and don't effect ride height. I believe they are about $150.00 a set.

Polyurethane bushings = a great upgrade for any FC owner. The difference in the entire car's feel is night and day but the ride quality suffers a lot. The chassis takes on a new feeling of solidity and you feel like all movement is being absorbed by the springs/struts/shocks. Installation is also a PITA, wear old clothing as everything will have marks of burnt/melted rubber from your OEM bushings. I used the full kit from energy suspension.

-Strut tower braces = A nice upgrade for most FC owners. I haven't tried any ebay braces but I hear good/bad things. I have a GReddy front brace which I've always been disappointed with. It looks cheap, came with GARBAGE hardware that I replaced immediately. I have a rear piece from cusco which is gorgeous and fis perfectly...I'll be getting a front one as well. It's on order from cusco and is going on the day my car comes back with it's TII motor (is an 88 base model). The improvement I noticed from the bars is in ride quality...bad surfaces, it feels like less of the bump is distributed through the chassis and more through the springs/shocks. I'd say they improve chassis efficiency as opposed to cornering. If you're a drifter/trail braker, skip the front and just use a rear.

-Lower arm bar = I'll have to write it up once I get my car back, it's being installed along with the new motor and some other goodies.

-Anti-sway bars = I never felt like the car ever needed upgraded pieces but I did get some used TII bars (the base model ones are smaller for 86-88) and put them in when I installed the poly bushings. With good springs and tires body roll isn't a real issue in an FC IMHO.

Wow this was long

 

I know you know and I know that's why you specified GC, I just didn't want these guys to get confused. Lots of people buy the Eibach Pro-Kit springs and I think it's often because of ignorance. I was just thinking that if someone doesn't understand the difference they might see your recommendation and think the pro-kit was the way to go.

 

In my description, eibach = pro-kit. All of the eibach springs from GC are standard race springs, 2.25 inch diameter I believe, in a variety of rates/lengths.

 

I love this list. I was looking to replace my shocks and struts in my 89 ragtop and was trying to decide on a KYB setup and you made my choice easier...

Mike B

 

i went with the RB suspension package, added their end links and rear camber kit for a total of $597 shipped, and found tokico HP's on ebay for $299 shipped. havent installed it yet (currently deployed to bolivia until mid july), but from what ive heard from a lot of people is that its a great set up. i have had tokico HP's on my '00 Si for a little over a year and havent had a problem. but thats my $.02.

 

After checking out all the options, I decided I was going to save up for some Koni yellow adjustable sports shocks. I figure with a lifetime warranty, I couldn't possibly go wrong. The only downside is the price tag. They are under $600 shipped for all 4. But I figure, I don't really have to worry too much, cuz in 4 or 5 years when the damping starts getting soggy, I'll just cash in that lifetime warranty and get a new set.

I was still shopping around for springs, but I'm leaning towards the GC coilovers.