paulrenn Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 Hi all Was wondering what options are available to give a more compliant ride, i.e. soaking up road irregularities much better while still allowing decent handling. OK it probably doesn't exist...but... I've had about 6 Toyotas and they all suffer from the same "stiff-knee" ride. They just bounce over the bumps without really trying to smother them. Not complaints about grip or handling, just the ride is terrible over uneven surfaces. If you drive on cobbled surface you end up needing an engine and dental rebuild, the rattling is so bad For the record, I have stock Toyota shocks (dunno if they are original, but they are certainly OEM). On my previous Supra I had the yellow Bilsteins and I remember they were the same. Any suggestions? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terminator Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 I think you may be looking for UK suspension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 I think you may be looking for UK suspension. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 I think you may be looking for UK suspension. ......or dare I say American Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulrenn Posted May 24, 2005 Author Share Posted May 24, 2005 Termy, this probably is the same as standard UK suspension. Most people (boy racers?!) want height and camber adjustable, lowered, rock hard, bone-shaking suspension thinking they are track day heroes but not of much use for real-world driving. Roads these days are so piss poor that I don't see the point of that anymore unless you keep your car for sports events. If Phil doesn't know the answer to this, there probably isn't one BTW Nic, the Bilsteins were on my American car - I guess they were available in all markets. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefgroover Posted May 24, 2005 Share Posted May 24, 2005 I am about to fit 380lbs F and 220lbs R spring to my HKS hypermax. Thats the standard USA rates. HKS use something IRO 730F and 440 R. Personally i think super stiff springs and adjustable shocks are old tech, and the after market suppliers seems to have a competiton to see who can go the crazyest. I'll be fitting them Fri or Sat, I'll let you know in a week or so when they have bedded in. For the record I had better lap times with standard UK shocks and eibachs then with the HKS so far. http://www.coilsprings.co.uk can make you whatever you want, and CW can give you Bilsteins customs valved to your taste with adjustable ride height. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulrenn Posted May 25, 2005 Author Share Posted May 25, 2005 Sounds good, chief! At last someone agrees with me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewizzy Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 http://www.coilsprings.co.uk can make you whatever you want Including making me laugh OMFG!!! Have you actually looked at their website!? I think its actually one of the funniest things I have seen in a long time! I'm not sure if it works, but one of the website designers or marketing people for the company DEFINATELY has a sense of humour! http://www.coilsprings.co.uk/powerkit.htm And I quote "If your Astra rolls like a jelly when your doing donuts in Tesco’s car park - steal a mobile and phone us first" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefgroover Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 And I quote "If your Astra rolls like a jelly when your doing donuts in Tesco’s car park - steal a mobile and phone us first" No doubt about it they are marketing to the biggest buyers of lowering springs, the car park bridgade. They do most of there business with racing teams. Nice to see they still have a sense of humour after 20 years in business!. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewizzy Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted May 25, 2005 Share Posted May 25, 2005 heh that page is funny "In the Sixties it was Matt Black Bonnets and Stickon Wheel Arches - In 2000, Y00F wants RADICALLY LOWERED SPRING KITS TO DROP THE RIDE HEIGHT ON HIS HOT HATCH OR CUSTOM DOWN." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chiefgroover Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 Got my springs, they are just as I asked for. Size, length etc just fine. The problem is the HKS struts. HKS list them as using a 60 mm i.d. spring, however they are actually about 68mm and my springs dont fit the rubbers at the top. Anyone who wants some comfort could buy a set of custom valved bilsteins from CW with 60MM adjustable seats fitted. Put these springs on them and have a nice ride :-) I am totaly sick of Supra Suspension, Whats so good about a car that crashes over every feg but. Where I live the roads are 3rd world country quality. Think I'll buy a Shogun :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 with regard to a more compliant ride i stumbled on an interesting combination, i bought a set of Koni's and "TRD springs" (yeah right, you know who you are) off the board, it turns out they were no more TRD than my car is a ferrari and infact just a set of stock springs but i put it down to experience and fitted them anyway, the Konis have 2 circlip grooves so you can lower the car with stock springs which is what i did, so i had a lowered car but using the stock springs and i have to say i am well pleased with the ride quality, i would say this is half way between the mediocre ride you get from stock and fillings rattled loose from some of the "street" set-ups (and it was cheap) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted May 28, 2005 Share Posted May 28, 2005 So for a non-techie like me, what do I need to fit on mine to get a better ride? Springs and shocks, or just shocks, or...? Any ideas on cost? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jason m Posted May 29, 2005 Share Posted May 29, 2005 So for a non-techie like me, what do I need to fit on mine to get a better ride? Springs and shocks, or just shocks, or...? Any ideas on cost? Yeah - what he said ? This would pre load the springs right ? Does anyone know the stock spring rates ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted June 15, 2005 Share Posted June 15, 2005 And the answer is...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted June 15, 2005 Share Posted June 15, 2005 for a nice ride i'de say replace the shocks and use standard springs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted June 15, 2005 Share Posted June 15, 2005 But my suspension is stock at the moment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 And the answer is...? Are we saying simply fitting UK shocks would give a UK-like ride? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carl0s Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 i reckon new bushings/bushes/whatever would help. Mine should be here soon-ish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 And the answer is...? Are we saying simply fitting UK shocks would give a UK-like ride? cant comment on the UK shocks as i have a j-spec my personal set up is koni adjustables with stock j-spec springs set on the lower setting of the konis to drop the car, if you did this with your uk springs what have you got to loose if you dont like the ride take the stock springs off and get some aftermarkets Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 Gah, this is like pulling teeth! I don't have UK springs. I have a J spec car with J spec suspension. If I wanted to make the suspension softer (for example, more UK like) should I change the springs or the shocks or what? And what should I change it to? (do I change the springs for UK ones or aftermarket ones, or the shocks for UK ones or aftermarket ones, do I want to change both or just the shocks or springs, etc, etc) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paul mac Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 Gah, this is like pulling teeth! I don't have UK springs. I have a J spec car with J spec suspension. If I wanted to make the suspension softer (for example, more UK like) should I change the springs or the shocks or what? And what should I change it to? (do I change the springs for UK ones or aftermarket ones, or the shocks for UK ones or aftermarket ones, do I want to change both or just the shocks or springs, etc, etc) jeeze fella if you want it softer than a soft thing i suggest you buy a matress and attach some wheels Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Geezabloke Posted June 21, 2005 Share Posted June 21, 2005 For the record i run the standard UK setup on mine and have taken many a J spec (moddified) owner for a spin. The commants are usually "wow what a difference" and "if i took corners at this speed id spin off" to "im gettin one of these next" so soft doesnt mean no good. Personally i would take ride comfort over ride height any day, as a choppy ride can ruin the enjoyment of driving a car, especially if its always crashing and banging and fighting against you. And lets face it, how many of you actually use your cars on the track where the aftermarket setups DO make a difference? and then again how many track days a year do you do? Most people on here use there cars for general transport and some drag racing? in which case softer suspension will aid your getaway and help traction too! Of course this is IMO and only what ive experienced or spoken to others about, feel free to disagree......l Dave Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aerotop Dave Posted June 22, 2005 Share Posted June 22, 2005 It's the 'over potholes and bumps' performance that I'm interested in. I find the J spec setup to be far too harsh. But, the same question remains... what do I need to do to my standard J spec suspension to get a UK style ride? Change the shocks, change the springs... does anyone know? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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