shock options for fb with high spring rates
 

I have a 82 fb that I use for autox (also signed up for my first track day this month). anyway, i've been working on the suspension currently running 375lb/in front and 175 lb/in rear springs. I'm running camber plates and coilovers. Anyway, I'm trying to figure out what kind of shock/strut options do I have. I'm currently running tired konis in the front and back, just wondering what my options are for something to work with these spring rates...

I know Gforce has some that could work, but becomes extremely expensive ones you get the housings and such.

Thanks,

Alvin

Go with the GForce parts if you can afford them. When you get up to higher spring rates its almost impossible to get a valve in a small dia shock to do the job. Jim has done all the work for you choosing valving for these higher spring rates. When we first did the FB's we were both auto-xing so we liked stiff cars, we had 450lb fronts and 300lb rears. The Koni's that were available at the time just kept up with those rates when they were almost their stiffest. The right shocks make all the difference.

ok, thank for the input, but do i have any options, i just can't justify 2gs for shocks alone...

Thanks,

Alvin

Just the regular Konis or even Tokicos will work OK. I havn't shopped for FB shocks in a long time and the last shocks I bought for my FC cost over $5000. If you get something adjustable that will help, the other option is to buy some shocks and get them revalved. Koni will custom valve non-adjustable shocks for you pretty cheap, I think about $75. They will want to know your spring rates and corner weights. If you tell them its for an FB they will have most of the info they need about the suspension. If all the suspension parts are stock that will save you a ton of measuring weights and motion ratios.

The Tokico race insert works fairly well in the front at that rate. The rears don't work so well, make the rear hop over bumps. Best low buck compromise is Tokico in front, Koni in rear. And those aren't really stiff spring rates......

JGREWE: Are you the guy that built my ITA RX7 cage in Toledo about 10 years ago?

Dave Damouth

It depends, are you looking for someone to sue?LOL You were jumping from auto-x to road racing after doing the FormulaSAE stuff right? Are you still running the car?

I use Bilsteins in the rear of my GTU vintage racer, which runs 300 lb/inch rear springs. I told Bilstein what I was running for springs, sent the shocks to them, and they revalved them. Cost to revalve was $80 per shock.

The Tokico Illumina's (the "IT" ones from Mazda Motorsports) on the front of my black/white RX-7 can not keep with my 400# springs. For autox I didn't seem to notice a problem, but driving back and forth to work, you can tell that the springs aren't damped very well - even on the #5 setting. This car no longer sees autox duty, so I'll be going back to 300# springs where the shocks seemed to work better.

JGREWE- Cage still looks good. Car just had it's second logbook issued last weekend, so figure 60+ races. EP car now.

My fall back shock package for the ITA setup was Tokico Illumina "Race" fronts on setting 4, Koni single adjustable on setting 3 in the rear. Generally around 450 front spring and 300 rear. It was not the best setup, but could be amazingly fast if driven smooth. The stiffer shocks always feel better, let you drive a bit crazier, but are not always faster.

Current setup is 750 front, 300 rear, with a 7/8" rear bar and a modified front bar. Shocks (Advanced design) are actually softer than many people run at the lower rates. Still tweaking on it, but it works really well so far.

choices:
A) Pick you flavor of Koni and budget
B) Bilstein (Call Mike @ ISC)
C) Tokicos Adjustables (not a bad entry level choice
D) Tokico non adjustable (throw them far)
E) Advacned Design (ymmv)

Dave - do you know the part number on the single adjustable Koni you used to run?

Marcus

28A-1152 rears.

Billy Waits has Tokico Illuminas that are designed for a different car, but work well on the 1st gens if used for racing. You might want to check with him...