suzukisteve

iTrader: (4)

Dale, I got fortune auto 500 on my car with all new super pro bushings if you want to try it out. It use to be Arghx's car. The suspension on it was pretty stiff and loose. It rides much better now, but I wish I had upgraded to the Swift springs.

The Rx-8s ride so much better. S̶o̶m̶e̶ ̶d̶a̶y̶s̶ a lot of days, I regret selling mine. I am hoping I can get my 7 to grip and be as playful as an 8.

suzukisteve

iTrader: (4)

Stoked to hear y'all got an R3. Do you have a thread for it?

Ceylon

iTrader: (3)

I went from the OEM late R Bathurst spec Showa adjustable height suspension to Ohlins DFV's and it rides so much better in every aspect now. I expected it to be harsher but it's actually more compliant, cant recommend the Ohlins enough.

Testrun

I think Ohlins are a bit over budget from what Dale is looking at. I maybe just got "sold" on the Fortunes, but my thoughts are.....5year warranty, assembled here in VA, rebuildable here in VA, said to be comparable to Ohlins (I know Ohlins owners it could never compare for 1/2 the price or 3x less the price the price so you can chill), got excellent reviews from anyone who I could verify that actually owned or drove with them. They can customize them with no hassle and you can upgrade them down the road. Again if your not in a rush I can give you an honest review soon.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Thanks everyone! I'm definitely not in a rush here, just getting some ideas and opening up discussion.

I'm also looking at just getting ideas for EVERYONE, not just me, that would like a good handling FD that isn't going to break your back or break the bank.

Still need to see what the hell is currently on my car, got distracted last night and didn't go out to the garage .

Dale

Zepticon

iTrader: (1)

I realized that i was an «old man» when i didnt even bothered to install my powerflex bushings and instead wanted to just buy some oem 😅

So now the plan is oem bushings and FP-Spec Touring suspension. But deciding between stock OEM or competition/mazdaspeed is the trouble :/

SpinningDorito

iTrader: (2)

I was honestly pleasantly surprised with how my superpro bushings + OEM pillow bushings ended up riding. I was a little hesitant to do it after my experience/ride quality with harder bushings on my Mustang, but I haven't had any of those issues on my FD yet.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

Yeah, I'm pretty sure the FPspec with the grand touring spring setup and valving will be a bit better for on-road ride comfort. The biggest problem with trying to get a comfortable ride from the FD is that the rear shocks are a bit long and the bump stops being too big and not progressive.
The FPspec helps to address this issue in part due to this (from their website):

• Custom Long-Stroke Öhlins DFV Damper Bodies Exclusive to SBG

As for poly bushings - avoid them if you are after improved ride quality. The higher durometer of the polyurethane transmit more vibration than the stock rubber or Mazda Competition bushings. This comes from my personal experience with all 3. Great for track and autox though.

Montego

iTrader: (1)

I am a big fan of ground control coilovers + adjustable koni yellows. The softest setting on the struts coupled with a reasonable ride height (low but not slammed) handled the streets of Tijuana just fine.

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

I've installed GC coilers some time back, I've never been pleased with the quality. It's really just a spring perch and springs on some OEM shocks. I'm glad they work well for you, but they're not my speed .

The SB Garage Ohlins sound nice but GOOD LORD they are pricey. You obviously get a super quality, tuned, and well put together setup but that's a bit more baller than I'd like to go.

Dale

djseven

iTrader: (56)

Ohlins, 17s and good bushings. I’m on 18s but my fd is very tolerable and I’m super picky about ride comfort.

RX7gp

Dale,

Years ago when I was just heading toward old (well past it now) I was looking to soften the ride on my '93 FD. Dave at KD Rotary had a set of lightly used PFS comfort/sport springs that I paired with a new set of '95 stock shocks. My understanding on the shocks was that they got progressively softer from '93-'95. This has worked very well for me on 17" wheels with Michelin SuperSport tires. I'm in PA and sure that the roads here are worse than in FL, and I'm 60+ now. Of course, this probably doesn't help you much since finding this stuff today may be impossible, but maybe a data point if nothing else...

Gen2n3

iTrader: (1)

Dale, I'm glad you asked this question! I'm looking to upgrade my FD's suspension. I am looking into the Ohlins or the Tein packages. I'm very ignorant when it comes to suspension setups so I hope to get some excellent knowledge from the rest of the members!

As you say, the Ohlins from SBG are VERY pricey! But they may offer more in the package when compared to other competitors.

Pat M

iTrader: (1)

Funny folks are chatting about this. I had to share a story about an FD that was parked for like 6 years I just got running. Still needs a lot of work but I couldn't help but take it for a little cruise up the street to try and feel things out last week just to see if I could get through a few gears and such. Anyway, it is on 18 year old Ground Control Springs / Koni's that are adjusted as high as they will go and I had less then one finger worth of space in the back wheel(way too low). I pushed down on the front with my body weight and this thing feels solid like a rock no movement at all. You can imagine it rides super harsh like a go-cart with rocks for wheels. Anyway, I'll be pulling a lot of suspension bits this weekend but I think any option listed above will be better then what I have now.

Best part is I have receipts from 2003 and Ground Control gave me specs to check and let them know what I find and will replace springs that are out of spec. Haven't talk to Koni yet who also has warrantee but I'm just trying to get a safe reasonable ride much less a comfy one. Sure there are lots of rubber bits being ordered soon.

____________
1993 Brillant Black

Neo

iTrader: (4)

Oh I don't know about that.. it's pretty damn harsh even in the softest setting. I don't have it slammed either. Probably an inch or 2 between the top of the tire and the fender. On the street, its pretty rough. It feels a whole lot better and handles beautifully on the track. This is a track that isn't buttery smooth either. It's a thing with FD's. They feel a whole lot better going really quick.

This being said, In order to improve the ride quality, I might bite the bullet and pick up those fp spec Ohlins. As I mentioned before, I bought up already a few of their kits and they're mighty impressive. Duel oil coolers, and their BBK's. Nothing but great things to say and very noticeable improvement in the overall feel of the vehicle. If the suspension is all they're claiming it'll be, I'm pretty sure I'm going to love the new setup. Alas, I gotta scrunge up enough cash to make that type of purchase. 3.5g's US isn't cheap when you convert it to Canadian currency. Although, with the hoopla that happened in capital hill this past week, our dollar has gained strength.. with any luck, it might get closer to parity when I'm ready to pull the trigger on this..

Billy7

iTrader: (7)

I currently have Tein Flex Z on mine, very street friendly, and rides better than my previous Koni Yellow/Eibach Pro Spring combo (that was a stiff and harsh ride).

DaleClark

iTrader: (55)

Thanks everyone! I've got an email going with Fortune Auto right now, picking their brains, I'll post up when I have some more info from them.

I did a half-assed attempt to find out what Tein coil overs are on my car this weekend that didn't get far. I need to get it out of the garage and jacked up to read the sticker on the coil overs.

Also meeting up with Suzuki Steve tomorrow to try out his Fortune Auto setup.

Dale

neit_jnf

iTrader: (17)

I have Bathurst Showa OEM dampers with Tein S 8k/6k springs. Haven't driven it enough to get an opinion.

I admit I don't know a lot and haven't driven any other FD than mine. I used to do track days on stock Touring dampers with H&R springs and RB sways. I got the Showa/Tein combo as an upgrade for better street and track performance based on a lot of reading and affordable cost.

I'm puzzled as to how the Ohlins with such stiff springs depending on setup (10/8, 11/11, 12/10, 14/12) are not super harsh on the street... I wonder if such greatly positive reviews in part come from "I spent $3k on these I better like them" mindset?

DaveW

Harshness is related to stiffness over small inputs such as slab joints. So, that being the case, harshness is more related to damper "nose angle", i.e., stiffness at the first small increment of stroke. So dampers, stiff tires, and any other friction-like items that contribute to stiffness at small stroke are what relate to harshness. And since the displacement is very small in these cases, spring force will not change much, and high spring rate is therefore not a prime cause of harshness.

neit_jnf

iTrader: (17)

Interesting! How about the jumpy or bouncy feeling that can unsettle the car, especially when going over a bump or dip during a turn? what's the main reason for it?

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

Just FYI... You guys dumping on GC don't seem to understand what the GC setup is...
The GC setup is basically an adaptor/conversion to run cheap off the shelf shocks with generic 'racing' springs:
- a threaded collar that slides over your shocks allowing you to raise or lower the spring perch and adjust your ride height
- an upper shock mount to mount the shock and spring assembly to the unibody and act as an upper spring perch
- a set of 2.5" inner diameter springs where you can select whatever spring rates you want

It really isn't any different than any other coilover setup except that the threaded collar is removable.

The real way that the GC setup is different is that it is cheaper and you can select your spring rate and length vs most that package their setup with a specific spring rate and length. SakeBomb also allows you to select your spring rates.

If you feel the GC is riding harsh - look at the springs in your setup. At the time the GC setup came to market, most people were going that route for track and race use so they usually came packaged with very stiff springs. Try some 450 or so fronts and some 350 rears preferably in 7-8" lengths. They are cheap to replace - $50 each new; 1/2 that used.

All that said, the shock valving is the other piece of the puzzle. This is where the Ohlins are the most impressive - along with other high end shocks. You get what you pay for with these shocks. The level of precision that goes into machining and assembling the high end shocks is not comparable to mass produced shocks like the Koni, Bilstein and others. This is also why you want to avoid the cheapo coilovers...


@Pat M try swapping the front collars to the rear. The front and rear collars are different heights where it slips over the shocks. They aren't labelled and some people mix them up accidentally. Also set the shocks to full soft.

gracer7-rx7

iTrader: (16)

starting from the road surface on up, let's go through what happens with an expansion joint:
- the tire sidewall will deflect slightly
- the wheel and tire hub and control arms will move up in an arc
- the bushings in the control arms will deflect slightly
- the shock shaft will be forced into the shock body displacing the oil and gas in the shock body
- the spring will compress
- if there is a 'bushing' in the upper shock mount like the stock rubber or a poly urethane spacer in the GC, it will compress or deflect a bit as well

So that bouncy feeling is a question of how and how quickly the components of the suspension system react to the road irregularity.
- the stiffer the bushing, the more work the shock and spring needs to do
- if you are running stiff, high rate springs, they won't compress much, forcing the shock to work harder at soaking up the bump
- the shock shaft needs to have the mechanical ability to quickly compress in milliseconds
The shock is doing the hardest job in all of this.

Montego

iTrader: (1)

Interesting as my experience is the complete the opposite to yours. I wonder if one of your struts and/or bushings are shot. Have you replaced them in the last 17 years?

DaveW

Sometimes, a bouncy feeling is related to suspension so stiff that the tires do a major % of the total deflection. And since the tires, themselves, are not highly damped, going over certain types of bumps will result in a bouncy feeling. I've had that on my racecar when I ran really low tire pressures allowing the tires to deflect a lot.

Another cause can be very stiff springs coupled with low damping forces - i.e., the suspension is underdamped, causing the car's motion to not damp out after 1 cycle..

HiWire

+1 on the ride quality from the Michelin Pilot Super Sports. They feel good even on my Eibach / Koni Yellow and 18" RX-8 wheel combination. I imagine the Pilot Sport 4S has a similar ride quality.