RSR or TANABE springs for FC??
 

I have a 1991 RX7 with 225/50-15's all around. I want linear springs no if's and's or but's. I want my rex to basically handle like it's on rails. I currently have Tokico blues for shocks. I can put up with a stiff ride, but don't want to blow out the brand new shocks if the spring is way too stiff. Can anyone give me the pro's and con's for these 3? RSR race, RSR down, and Tanabe gf210. And yes, I am aware of the camber changes, etc. I will not be racing at a track, but I like a car with a very stiff ride. I hate that cushy feeling, and I want the turn in feeling of linear springs. I can deal with bumps with stiff springs too. I also don't want the rear end to squat any more during acceleration like it already does. I hate that.
Opinions please.

BTW, I've been searching for the last 2 days on this and I still can't decide, so someone please help me out.

Brian

The biggest thing I'm concerned about is blowing out my brand new Tokico Blues if the springs are too stiff. Would I have to worry about this with the RSR race springs?? Or should I check into one of the other 2 I mentioned?

There was a thread a while back where someone had RSR race springs with new blues and he said the ride was bouncy, so they're too stiff for the blues. Try the other two maybe, or there's racing beat and suspension techniques.

Anyone else?

Ground Control is good, you get to pick your spring rate too.

i say go wit the tanabes if your concern about it being bouncey, or about blowing a strut. I have the RSR Race on shitty struts and they bounce plenty.

ok, I guess I narrowed it down to either the RSR down springs or the Tanabe gf210's. Which do you guys think is better to go with?

i have teh RS*R race spring with Tokico blue

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...tokicosusp.jpg

havent installed em yet.....but when i do this weekend ill tell everyone how they are

Hmm, I guess let me know then. If not, then my question is this:
Should I go with spring rates that are closer to each other like the Tanabe's, or farther apart like the RSR down's? I also noticed that the RSR down's have a lower rear spring rate, and I'm trying to keep the rear from squatting. What do you guys think??

Make Model Spring Rates F/R Lowering F/R
Tanabe GF210 168/140 1.5/1.5
RS-R Down 201/123 1.4/0.8

RotaryRacer11, let me know how the setup is!!

for sure man.....ill hae em done on saturday.....
cant wait....

Please update rotaryracer11....i am planning on getting the same exact setup but am really worried about blowing the struts..


Sorry to jack, but what will you be doing for camber? rotaryracer11?

And for the guy with the black fc with the RSR race springs, what have you done for the camber?

here's the car sitting on RSR down springs

http://img88.imageshack.us/img88/7817/1220051db.jpg

i think it sits proper... as far as performance goes, they're not half bad, alittle on the soft side... i believe the spring rates are 4 and 2...

i don't think you could make the car handle like its on a rail with those spring rates, but for daily driving/street use, i think they handle rather smoothly...

Hey ePH C freak, just a few questions I have for you: what struts are you using with those RSR down springs?? Is the front too soft or is the rear too soft?? Or is it both?? How much better is it over stock?? And would you have rather settled for the RSR Race springs instead?? Does it have a bumpy or bouncy ride? I'm guessing with the spring rates that the RSR down's have are probably stiffer than the Tanabe gf210's.

Hey Rotaryracer11, any update on the setup and how it feels??

This is sooo frustrating. One minute people tell me the RSR Race springs are awesome, then the next moment they're "too stiff" the next moment, someone tells me that the RSR Down's feel a little soft and also have a higher spring rate than the Tanabe's, then someone tells me the Tanabe's are great. Ugh, decisions, decisions............

no updates?????

ouch thats gonna be a rouch ride on the streets

Yea here's an update. Just got back from Deals Gap. Tanabe GF with KYB AGX.

Comments were.... looked like a go-cart stuck to the road, no body roll, the car sits great, so on and so forth. The car handled incredible.

I drove the piss out of that set-up. Started with 2/4 on the shocks which is what I had been using as the normal set-up. Went to 3/4, then 3/6, then 4/6. The difference in settings was incredible. The new TOYO T1R tires helped.

For what it's worth that's my two cents....

Attachment 719267

Attachment 719268

I guess I'll be buying the Tanabe's then, unless someone can convince me to buy the RSR's with the blues.

It doesn't sound to me like you'll be able to make a good decision based on this info. It's too relative. Too bad can't compare the two side by side. Any lowering spring is going to produce postive results over stock for the most part. So it's hard to say which one is better.

The stiffness is really going to rely on the dampers you use more than just basing it off spring rate. They'll be softer on Tokicos then AGX's, etc...

Here's a listing of the springs we offer:
http://www.autornd.com/catalog/index...47c0431bf4a27e

Let me know what you can get the Tanabe's for and i'll see what I can do for you on those as a club discount. Email me sales@autornd.com.

I believe both the RSR and Tanabe have about the same drop. I've seen the Racesprings installed before and they looked the same as the Tanabe. For some reason the printed amount is just not correct.

Thanks, Rishie

Holy cow those Mazdaspeed springs are expensive! I can't see anyone actually getting those, as $675 for springs is rediculous. No wonder they're special order only.

You know, now that I think about anything you put on there spring or shock wise is going to be a huge improvement over what is on it if it's still stock. Dropping the car any amount lowers the center of gravity I guess and makes a difference in the way the car feels. ARD t2 is right, without true side by side you'll never know.

rs*r with agx's FTW!
http://img137.imageshack.us/img137/1529/dsc019590zv.jpg

This is what I've been wondering:
The FC stock spring rate I believe is 95/90 or close to that. But the FD's stock spring rate is 280/200. The difference in weight between the FC and FD is roughly 200 lbs. or so, but the difference in spring rates is rather large. So why is it that most aftermarket springs for the FC never come close to the FD's stock spring rates, except for the RSR Race springs? My friend has a 93 FD and complains about the rear end squatting too much under acceleration, but his stock rear spring rate is 200. The Tanabe GF 210's for the FC have a rear spring rate of 140, and the RSR Race are 200 or so. I guess what I'm trying to get at is why is it that just about all aftermarket springs for the FC don't seem to even come close to the FD's stock rates when there's only somewhat of a difference in weight between the 2? I guess this is my main concern about getting the Tanabe's, because the spring rate is much lower than the FD's, but the RSR Race are only somewhat stronger. Does anybody understand what I'm getting at? Is there something that I'm missing here?? I've ridden in an FD several times and the ride never seemed to bother me with those spring rates. Can someone help clarify this for me??

It's because of suspension geometry. You can't compare different applications like that even tho they are the same weight. Geometry, angle, etc.. can all affect the necessary spring rate.

FD double wishbone, FC is not.

Rishie