bilstein shocks and racing beat spring review
 

Just swapped out the original suspension on my fd. Ride height was lowered to just above the top of the wheel in both the front and in the back. I have always been a fan of the Bilstein shock. I was afraid they would be too stiff on an FD. I normally go for a progressive rate spring but opted for the Racing Beat springs and sway bars due to great experience with my first gen. The linear rate is predictable and reassuring with great feedback. The shocks are actually better at absorbing light bumps than the stock set up. The stock shocks used to bounce around the sweeping off ramps I love to hit hard. The new shocks are smooth and level. I no longer notice the changes in pavement and the small dips. The dampening is really superb. It's only the heavy bumps that let me know that the suspension is no longer stock. Even saying that, the pot holes dont jar the teeth with this set up like some tokicos I had on another car. Sweeping turns are flat and level with no bouncing. I get no body roll at all...I also installed a cusco bar. The car attacks tight turns now. Before there was so much body roll everything was in slow motion. Like the lady said, this car corners like it is on rails. FWIW

Time for another down the twisties, eh Aron (hee hee) :)

BTW, those are the Bilstein HD shocks you're talking about right?

yes, they are the heavy duty. I could not easily/cheaply find the sport application.

Where did you get them and how much were they. I am starting to investigate my suspension overhaul.

http://www.eshocks.com/bil_veh4.asp?...Mazda&Manf=All

Not the best pricing I found but they are nice people so I went for it.

actually that's a great price for bilstein hds. mazdaspeed motorsports development sells them for more than that. $116 is cheaper than stock showa r1/r2 shocks from mazdaspeed motorsports. thanks for the link..i'll buy my bilstein hds eshocks too :)

www.shox.com

I got my Bilstein HD's for about $100 each from there last year.

And yes, they're a great shock. I'm on my second set.

a friend got r2 shocks with racing beat springs and they lowered the car so much in the front end that the tires are up inside the front fender. I have been told that r2 shocks have lower perch mounts and that racing beat springs are designed for shocks with stock perch mounts. FWIW

Hey Aron, I assume you're referring to Phil Palermo's silver FD. He called me about his car. Apparently his Racing Beat Springs were installed backwards @ AIM Tuning. The rears were up front, and vice versa. The rears have a softer spring rate than up front, thus when the springs were installed in the reverse positions, the front end was too low (cuz the motor is up there). Anyhow, AIM Tuning was righting the situation, and Phil called to see if there were any detrimental effects from the reversal. Other than occasional tire rubbing up front, and unusual handling from too soft a spring rate up front, there shouldn't be a problem with reversed springs. Phil should have the Racing Beat springs setup properly by now. I have NOT received a call, so they must be ok LOL :)

It's funny because when I had a muffler shop (Beck Service Center) do my Racing Beat springs back in '97, they not only reversed the positions, but intalled the fronts upside down too!! I'd driven the car that way for a year before figuring this out!! So AIM Tuning is doing 50% better than the local muffer shop LOL :) Seriously it's not obvious as to which end the springs go. The Racing Beat springs are not marked as to which end each spring set goes. As I recall the taller set go in back (shorter up front). The springs are tapered such that the larger outer diameter goes up. Someone will need to verify (DamonB? maxcooper? rynberg?), since it's been 5 years since I fooled with the Racing Beat springs myself :)

FWIW, the stock Showa R1/R2 shock spring perches ARE in the stock positions. There is no change in the lower spring perch positions. This also holds true for the aftermarket FD shocks. The lower spring perches stay in the same position. The only exception is if you go with an M2 FD coilover conversion kit (maxcooper has this kit with GAB Super R shocks). This kit converts FD aftermarket (or stock Showa R1/R2 shocks) to 2.5-inch coil overs. The stock lower spring perch is removed, and a threaded collar put in the lower spring perch's place.

We'll have to go for another southern Indiana One Lap, now that everyone has a new suspension setup; or perhaps we should until Ryan Adkins gets his done LOL :)

Enjoy the Bilstein HDs!

M2 Coilover Kit Thread