i was a little worried about the camber as well...

 

The negative camber is visible on my TSW's, but you can still get a proper alignment without getting aftermarket RCA's. I'll be going in for an alignment in about 400 miles.

 

Yeah I've been lazy, no alignment yet. Going to buy my own tools and do it.

Make sure to put some fixed camber plates while you're in there. They're 100% worth it.

 

I do too much interstate traveling right now. As soon as that settles down a bit, I'm all over the IE camber plates.

 

Anyone with pics on 18's? I'm about to pull the trigger, just really want to see wheel gap change for an 18.
My wheel gap right now stock sport suspen. is probably right around a little less than 2". If I get a drop of 1" i'd be pretty happy, putting me in a <1" gap in New England with these crappy roads and winters, it'd be a good compromise imo.

 

i personally say go TSW... for 3 reasons:

1) Suspension geometry: you're not going to get great performance just from slamming your car like honda people. mini's have a very great sweet spot with just a 1 inch drop, after that you start messing with the suspension geometry. sticking with JCW and TSW will give you higher rates with linear set-up and not unnessesary drop.

2)Balance: if you take the ratio ( >1 is front bias, <1 rear bias, 1 is perfect 50/50) the stock springs have a bias of .71 (for an idea, most honda's are 1.6 bias)... the Eibachs at highest rate, not the lower springs, are .72... where as the TSWs are .86... WAAAY better, better balance, better feel... IMO anyway... some people love the tail out action. but with a better balanced car you can dial in and out your tail action by just adjusting the rear sway bar...

3) this is my personal belief, i say if a stock suspension has linear springs then aftermarket should do that too. it keeps the car in a similar feel... on top of that, suspension systems like coilovers mainly have linear springs two... i've seen maybe two with progressive... Koni comes to mind. but if you want the drop of eibachs and like the more cushy ride and stock bias then go for them. i just think with hard pot holes and any sudden changes in the road could make a big problem if you go from soft to hard spring suddenly... once again tho, just mho

hope that helped some!!!

 

p.s. the negative camber is just -.25 on the TSWs... nice enough to give you more grip but not overwear your tires at all

 

If i were to get TSW springs (1" drop), how much camber would i get at the front assuming I shove the shock towers in as much I can (I have the slots on the front shock towers that allow this)

 

about -0.4

 

ahhhhhhhhh dilemmas!
thanks dunphyj there were some good points in there to reinforce my thoughts.

 

Go with the TSW's. You'll be happy... I promise.

 

After going for a ride in a96's car with TSW springs and IE camber plates, I have gotta say WOOOOW I AM STUNNED! . Much better handling than my mini with H&Rs. I think I have whiplash from the ride earlier! j/k

btw I couldn't stop thinking all day today how easily your car corners.

 

So have we won you over??? You know you want that neutral handling.

 

Haha....hmmm....I love the drop on the H&Rs but LOVE the handling on the TSW...this is tricky...

 

Get coilovers- they'd solve both problems

 

Lol, I would love to get a set but thats alooot of money. I really have to get convinced to pull the trigger on something like that!

 

Izzy's right, but CO's are overkill for a daily driver, IMO. I went back and forth about them for a couple months before I decided that TSW's were the way to go. And personally, I like the stance more than that of the H&R's. It gives the car more a "sleeper" look. Not to mention that actually bottom out on the roads LESS than what I used to on the stock springs.

Also, there are a few CO's that use progressive springs... boo.

 

Can I get a better understanding on linear vs progressive springs because I don't know exactly know the difference between the two.

 

progressive springs get stiffer as your suspension travels.

linear springs don't.

 

Ahhh, makes sense, thx!

 

Yep.

I'd like to point out that it's not at all a bad thing that linear springs remain constant. Because they remain constant, your car's handling will be much more predictable than with a progressive rate.

 

The theory behind progressive springs seems sound; less stiffening for when you don't need it(straight line more comfort) and more stiffening when you do need it(at turns). Some issues encountered however are the springs losing the soft rate before the hard rate, and handling being unpredictable.

Frankly, I would like to see(or best case scenario design my own) CO system that adjusts automatically(user presets the different points) depending on the road and maneuver. I believe Mercedes was boasting about a similar design they have on their new smaller SUV.

Note: Sorry for going off topic. :X

 

no problem. The car is 100% neutral, and very easy to drive and scare passengers. I'm still tempted to do the cross coilovers as I sometimes start having some body roll issues (both inside tires screaming for dear life) when I push the car way too hard. That or maybe a 22mm IE bar, not sure yet.

 

How hard are we talking here?

I'm trying to decide weather or not to skip the springs and go with coilovers. How hard is way too hard in your opinion. Of course, if I don't really notice a whole lot of roll (I do, but it isn't completely unbearable), I probably am not pushing as hard as you. In that case, I may just save the dough and get the TSW springs.

btw i have the stock sport suspension plus a 19mm alta rear sway, and a m7 front strut brace.

Also, what kind of driving do you usually do? Daily driving that is. Most of my daily drive is highway. I have held off on the camber plates for fear of accelerated tire wear. What is your experience with this?

Thanks.

 

I do a lot of highway and haven't noticed any bad wear. I think I'm talking triple the posted speed limit on a 180 degree really tight left hander. I like taking turns fast and the car is RE TARDED on the highway (for going around traffic). The camber plates did a lot, the springs did the rest. Ask Richi0207 if I drive hard, I don't look at the speedo most of the time.