Rotax500

So here's the deal, 88 vert in process of restoration.
I bought new shocks but cheaped out and bought Monroe's
I also purchased Suspension Techniques springs.
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I installed all the shocks and springs, but hated the front shocks, they were bottom of the barrell Monroe's, i know i know. So I put the 145k mile fronts back on, handles much better with the stock shocks. I left the sensatrack rears and st springs on, they seem ok.
I just bought tokico hp's for the front, didnt put them on yet.
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My question is, it seems like the front end is really sagging and I'm bottoming out on the rough roads around NYC. I just wonder if when I put the HP's on if I should put the stock springs back in, as they seemed to make the front end sit higher and stiffer?? The rear on the other hand seems to sit higher with the st springs and shocks, but rides ok, firm, but not bad.
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So do I put the HP's on with the ST springs and leave the rears alone, or put the HP's on and put the stock springs back on the entire car. I know the Monroe's arent valved for the ST springs, may make the rear ride better anyways.
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And also, would the wore out front shocks make the front end droop, or is it the springs, I didnt think the shocks had anything to do with it.

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Thanks Guys!!

Rotax500

anyone?

coldfire

iTrader: (1)

your springs are the main determiner of ride height.
a lot of people don't have the greatest experience with the ST springs.
once you put the new Tokico struts in you may have less issues with bottoming out since the compression rate on them should be stiffer than the Monroe crap or stock struts. but if your stock springs are fine that might be a better choice.

if you are looking to drop your ride height you should get a quality spring with a higher rate. the Tanabe GF210 is a good choice for the price.

Rotax500

Thanks, thats what I was thinking. Seems that the rates of of the ST spings, according to Mazdatrix, the rates are 120 front and 120 rear, where as most of the other a/m springs are softer in the rear. I'm thinking this is why it seems the front is lower than the rear, and could also be putting more weight on the front than the rear. I think I'll be putting the stock springs back on as they seemed to make the car sit more level. My only other options would be to put the stock springs in the rear and the st springs in the front, this it seems would get me closer to the 120 - 80 split front and rear. Any thoughts on this?

Enthu

iTrader: (1)

The Tokicos should fix the bottoming out issues as said earlier. I have the ST springs and have no issues with them and they do drop the car. They certainly are stiffer than the stock springs though, but I prefer a stiffer feeling ride anyway.

I notice the front is ever so slightly lower on my car too, but I don't think thats because of spring rates. I believe RB springs drop the rear more than the front to even it out, so maybe the FC sits higher in the rear normally.

Rotax500

Thanks, I think I'll be putting the stock springs back on, I liked the stance better. I'm assuming handling will be worse now with stock springs vs. the ST springs? I guess I'll sacrafice handling for ride quality at this point. Maybe I can do a strut bar and poly sway bar mounts to compensate?