Most comfortable way to lower your car? (Mr. Coleman :P ?)
 

Right now my FD sits on stock rims, but with stock springs and Koni Adjustable shocks. I am pretty sure they are on a "harder" setting, and the ride is somewhat rough.

I've read Howard's post about the cost effective setup for performance being a good set of a certain spring rated lowering springs, and leaving the STOCK shocks. I am wondering how rough this ride will be with 17s or 18s on the car?

I, like most others, want it all. The look of having it lowered (MODESTLY, like 1 1/4"), the performance of a lower center of gravity, and the styling of having bigger rims and a smaller/stiff/straight sidewall.

My FD is on the road a much larger percentage of its life, so I don't need the hardcore set up, what's the best way to go to have it lowered, but still somewhat soft for daily use.....? experiences?

Just get Eibach or Tein lowering springs and keep the Konis at or close to full soft. That's about as "soft" as you are going to get.

What do you mean by "I am pretty sure they are on a "harder" setting, and the ride is somewhat rough" -- why don't you just adjust them to full soft?

Thanks for the advice. Do you have experience with that setup? Or multiple setups?

Why don't I adjust them? LOL Ummm, just haven't yet. I am due for many things on her so it'll all be happening soon (New Fuel Filter, Spark plug/wires, brakes, oil change...)

It only takes about 2 minutes at most to adjust all four corners?

Tradeoffs is tradeoffs man.

Stick w/ 17" wheels, and get a tire with softer sidewalls, i've heard Yoko AVS sports are soft, and i'm sure there are others. Have you already lowered your car with the Koni perches?

I have H&R lowering springs with the stock shocks and 18" wheels and find the
ride comfortable.
Also ridden in an FD with 18" wheels, koni yellows and Eibachs and didn't find that
setup too harsh

As Damon said, it takes all of 30 seconds to adjust the fronts, including opening your driver's door to pop the hood. The rears take a minute longer because you have to pop off the plastic interior pieces covering the shock towers.

EDIT: I have experience with full stock, Konis with HKS sport springs with stock wheels, and Konis with HKS springs with 18" wheels. The 18" wheels did not contribute to any ride harshness except for with regards to the heavier unsprung weight. The Konis and HKS springs definitely ride harder than stock, but the HKS are the stiffest lowering springs on the market (discontinued) and require me to adjust the Konis up from full soft for decent spring control.

BTW,

I don't think AVS sport is 'soft'. I have them and feel they are rather very very stiff :( I hate them!

get eibachs with stock shocks i'll trade u if u want hahaha

if your cold air pressure sis set correctly.... 30 front 27-28 rear and your car rides too stiff your shocks, or their current setting, are no doubt the problem.

it will be interesting to find out just where your shocks are as to adjustment. if you haven't experienced adjustable shocks you will be surprised how much you can change your car' ride with the twist of a dial. from buckboard stiff to buick-like.

since you indicate your ride is stiff i won't be surprised if the shocks are set near full stiff.

after adjusting them full soft and going for a drive if you still feel the car rides too stiff trade them for a set of oem shocks and some cash ... ( the classifieds on this forum work v well).

then go buy yourself a set of Eibach Pro Kit springs... install them w the stock shocks, my suspension setup... don't forget the right air pressure...

and you will be one happy driver:)

good luck,

howard coleman

I agree, with the stock wheels and tires the ride is very plush. After I bolted the 18's on it was still very comfortable

My car on NY streets feel good (comfy) with the stock 16" wheels running Konis and PFS comfort springs. My friends using stock shocks and H&Rs running 17s doesn't have as good ride quality. If you are worried about ride quality, keep the 16s as the bigger sidewall will give better ride comfort.

the konis are so freakin easy to adjust. just turn counterclockwise to soften them up.

I just went and got me a set of Tein Flex coil overs. At the softest setting (my street setting) is softer that stock. I'm pretty happy with this set up. I don't have to slow down at the train tracks any more.

Is that true? I was going to ask that. I know that bigger rims mean's less sidewall, so I always thought that was one contributor to a stiffer ride, but if it doesn't affect the ride nearly as much as the suspension choice, then it'll be easier for me to buy 18's as a street rim.

Howard: I just autox'd for the first time, and in my FD with it's current setup and with Victoracers on a second set of stock rims I have; it was a blast! I know and read that "some" bodyroll is okay, and I feel my car handled like a dream. Could I, or should I, keep the Koni's, since they are adjustable, so I can make them harder for the track days, and softer for the street? Then also get the Eibach springs to lower her a bit?

I don't mind how heavy (to some degree, within reason) the 18's will be or how stiff/performance I get out of street tires (again, within reason) because I'll always be putting on the stock rims with victo's for any track days.

Well, it was true in MY case. :) The increase in ride harshness was pretty mild for me, an order of magnitude less than going with stiffer springs.

If you already have the Konis, you shouldn't feel you have an inferior setup. I think the linear Eibachs and the Konis would get along great with each other....

Bear in mind kids,
The sidewalls on the stock wheel tire sizes are as follows (mathematically, each manufacturer varies a little):

225/50/16: 4.43
245/45/16: 4.34

Now here's the sizes for typical 17" sizes:

235/45/17: 4.16
275/40/17: 4.33

You're not talking much difference there. Where you really suffer a bit is with 18" wheels, particularly when you use super small sidewalls, like on 285/30/18, or 245/35/18. Feel free to get 17" wheels without hurting too much.

True and I am mitigating the 18" wheel effect slightly by running slightly taller tires -- 235/40 and 265/35.

Sidewall height is ~3.65 to 3.7"

"Correct" sidewall height for 18" tires would be ~3.43"

Tire choice also comes into play -- perhaps my Toyo T1-S (only tire I've used with the 18s) are inherently softer riding than the Dunlop 8000s I liked on my stock rims.

I mitigated it even more:

255/35/18: 3.51"
275/35/18: 3.79

Mine are Toyo's too, and to be honest, I felt little difference when going up from 17's.

I thought they were pretty stiff when I had them, too. They seemed much stiffer than the S-03s I replaced them with (and also went from 16" to 17" wheels in the process).

-Max

It was actually the Tire Rack guy who told me they were soft... and more intended for grand touring cars, than the RE71's he sold me at the time.

He was probably thinking of the Yoko AVS (without Sport appelation).