I am looking to ease up the rough ride on my 93 RX7.

It currently has stock shocks with lowering springs, but its awfully rough, when driving, and I would like to have a bit more of a softer ride.

Anyone recommend springs/shocks that would allivieate the rough ride, I want to use the car more, but with the current rough ride, its not exactly the most comfortable.

Im looking for something affordable, I do not use the car for racing, so that is not an issue.

I am in Ontario, if anyone has a recommendation for a shop as well.

real1st

 

The OEM shocks and springs are gonna be as comfortable as it gets. The FD out of the factory is a pretty rough ride no matter what.

If the shocks are old and blown then it'll make it worse. Also if you have an R1, the suspension is rougher than a base model FD. So my suggestion is to just buy some OEM base model shocks and springs wherever you can get them the cheapest.

 

What wheels/tires are you using? A lot of the ride comfort starts there.

 

Sounds like your shocks are blown. I have a nice set of tein flex for 999 and greddy type-s for 1050 which are very comfortable and great for daily drivers. Let me know if you are interested.

 

Alright, so my tires/wheels are:

BF Goodrich G-Force T/A 225/45Z R16

Rims are ENKEI RACING. Old rims. I do not even see the model/make, just TTC VIA on the bottom.

When I drive, its the back that feels like no cushion at all.

real1st

 

+1.

What springs are on the car? How many miles on the car and shocks?

 

They were neuspeed springs, put on years ago (3 years), but the car was not driven a lot. The shocks I believe are original/old.

The neuspeed springs were new, but the car has not been driven much, while I have been fixing things up.

What are going prices on shocks (the lowering is actually pretty good), and any suggestions for tires (17'+) . I am considering putting 99 rims (not the bbs spirit rims but the oem ones), which tires would you recommend?

I am just trying to relieve a very rough ride, especially in the back, where when I drive down my driveway, you can hear a thud when the back tired come off the driveway.

Thanks
real1st

 

You need a different car. This is a sports car.

If you want a better ride, why are you thinking of getting 17's? Bigger wheels are going to make it even less comfortable.

Blown shocks will be less comfortable so check them out and replace with adjustable shocks, and then make them full soft.

 

For a better ride:
16" wheels, the stock ones are among the lightest out there. 225/60-15 (non-race) tires.
"Long" springs, like the factory ones. Lowering springs will be necessarily be stiffer so the car doesn't bottom out with the reduced travel.
Good street shocks: think koni, bilstein, or something similiar of high quality.

Note that many of these things go against what we like to do to our cars, myself included. So we know...

Good luck!

 

I do not need another car.

I have other cars. The hope to soften a bit of the extremely rough ride, is not unreasonable nor is it unthinkable.

I will be checking out the shocks, they could be, and most likely are, and will do that first.

Thank you for the information.

real1st

 

Thank you Hadavette,

I was thinking of using the 99 rims (17') and replacing my shocks and springs if necessary. More so the shocks.

I will look into Koni and bilstein, to ensure that they are no longer an issue,

The issue is not so much the riding on relatively smooth roads, but when I hit the smallest little crease in the road, its thud... thud.. I come off my driveway, thud.. thud..

That has to be fixable, no matter what car it is, thud thud thud..

I will look into this and get it done

Thanks again

real1st

 

It will only be marginally softer even if you get stock springs. The stock FD suspension is extremely stiff compared to just about any regular car designed for comfort.

 

Hmm...if I remember correctly Tokico Illumina shocks (with their 5 softness settings of adjustability) and Racing Beat springs yielded a "comfortable" ride compared to the R1 suspension. Although you might be better off just getting the shocks instead and using the softest setting. If you want to lower then car then get the RB springs they are only 7% stiffer than stock.

 

Just so you are aware, creating a more comfortable ride will compromise handling. Not to say you'll turn the car into a Cadillac, but you may not be taking turns at 1+ G's. Some suggestions:

Tires: Get something with a softer sidewall. This will help absorb some of the road noise and allow the car to be more road compliant. If you are going to 17's or 18's, a good road based tire which isn't too expensive would be the Nitto Invo. Michelin also has tires with good road comfort but they are on the expensive side.

Dampers: I would suggest going with either Koni Adjustables or the newer Tokico HTS shocks. You can adjust them down to make the ride very comfortable. Then you can (somewhat easily) crank them up for some serious driving at a local track.

Springs: H&R Springs provide good ride quality with a very attractive stance.

 

Your description of thud, thud, is interesting. Is this sometihng you hear, or feel? If it's more of a hear than a jolt to the butt, it could be some worn bushings. Is everything tight in your suspension? Are the suspension bushings good factory rubber, or perhaps aftermarket polyurethane, delrin, etc? Rubber rides nicer.

FWIW: I have rubber bushings, koni yellows, H&R sports, and 17" wheels. It is stiffer than stock, but tolerable. Also stiffer than my full size 3/4 ton GMC pickup! The shocks do stiffen up nicely for autocross with a simple adjustment. From what you describe, I think this is stiffer than what you are after.

Don't lose the car, they are way too much fun!

 

I was about to say the same thing regarding the bushings and pillowballs.

btw, I had the same setup as you for years. Then moved to Ground Control coiloves over the Koni shocks when I was doing lots of track time. No longer tracking the car and getting old so just switched back to non-adjustable coilover springs - this time Tein H Tech springs that I got from the forum's favorite suspension and wheels vendor AutoRND.

 

It is something I feel. I feel the thud.

I was talking to someone from this forum, he has H&R springs with Tokico Illuminas 5 way adjustables for sale. I told him I am interested in the set.

Any reason I should not purchase them?

Thanks

real1st

 

IMO, Tokico Illuminas are too old school. I have them on my car currently, but then again I bought them in 2005. No way I would buy them today with their newer/better line available.

 

FWIW I got a ride in the HKS S2000 democar (supercharged) with Hipermax 4 GT coilovers today... it had a smoother ride than my totally stock MR-2. LOL. And that's with the dampers 11 clicks from the bottom.

 

I have a set of koni adjustables with eibach springs somewhere and those rode really nice even when I had them on the stiffest setting. I can take them out of hibernation if you want to purchase that pair

 

A lot of people don't realize this. Even if your tire has tons of thread left, but if the tire is old it plays a big part in ride comfort.