Suspension Lower and more comfortable?
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Lower and more comfortable?
After months of research I don't feel as if I am any closer to solving my suspension problem. I want to get rid of about an inch or so of wheel gap and improve the comfort of the ride. I don't want the car riding on the bumpstops nor do I want it stiffer in any way. I will kill the runflats for sure, but if I can't find a solution to the wheel gap I will keep the stock height and the stock 16 inch wheels. I don't really want to put on bigger wheels without lowering as I feel it makes the gap even more obvious. I am basically happy with the cornering of the car in stock form. It will never been tracked as is our main source of transportation. Suspension guru's please chime in.
#2
#4
The KW V1 ride similar to stock [R56 base suspension]. The cheap V-Maxx coilovers do ride softer than stock but you also give up some overall handling prowess. They are cheap, but they offer the same total suspension stroke as stock and appear to be built reasonably well. The only other thing I can think of is to get a set of TSW-tuned KW V2 and put softer springs on them and tune the rebound damping adjustment accordingly, however that's an overly expensive and complicated route for a daily driver, IMO. Look into my review of the V-Maxx coilovers and see if that sounds like your cup of tea.
Cheers,
Ryan
Cheers,
Ryan
#5
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#6
1000% improvement with H&R Touring Cup kit on my car. Claimed 1.4" lowering at both sides, but it doesn't drop as much in the back and as such has somewhat of a "raked" appearance. This spring/shock combo is somewhat on the soft side for an aftermarket setup, and as such, ride quality (with runflats gone and replaced with 17's) is FAR FAR better than stock on runflats and the horrible stock suspension. Only $600 for this kit (Xmas special from Alta) and considering that includes OEM'd Koni Yellows for the shocks, and H&R "OE Sport" springs, it's a freakin' steal. Might just be what you're after. If you were local (I'm in the Phoenix area), I'd gladly let you sample it.
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#8
#9
No disrespect to those that have coilovers and like them but I COMPLETELY disagree.... coilovers do not make for a better "ride". They may handle better but the spring is what makes the ride, the coilover/shock just dampens the effects of going up and down.
If you want to lower your car and make your ride better, get some NM engr'ing springs. After trying many springs (I'm on my 4th mini in less than 2 years) I PROMISE you the best springs out there are the NM's.
I drive my car (well, let's see, I've had this '09 for about 8 months and have over 20K miles) and do multiple track days.
And after all that, I still would recommend the NM's.
HTH's,
Mark
If you want to lower your car and make your ride better, get some NM engr'ing springs. After trying many springs (I'm on my 4th mini in less than 2 years) I PROMISE you the best springs out there are the NM's.
I drive my car (well, let's see, I've had this '09 for about 8 months and have over 20K miles) and do multiple track days.
And after all that, I still would recommend the NM's.
HTH's,
Mark
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#12
The roads here in Phoenix are probably among the best in the country - smooth as glass for the most part and very well-maintained. Enough so that my M Coupe was my daily driver (and only car) for over 2 years. I could NEVER have used it as my only car if I were still living in SoCal - I'd have been beaten to death! So - you might have some issues on really bad roads. But I can't imagine it being bad, because this seems to be such a good compromise between comfort, better handling, and lowering.
#13
If anyone is in the Phoenix area and would like to test drive my setup, send me a PM and I'll hook you up.
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Thanks again for the input Kevin. Interesting comment about the runflats. I suspect I should start with wheels and tires (or just tires) and use that as my "control". I'm also thinking that if the Cup struts are just yellows painted silver I may be better off with NM springs and yellows. Less drop=more travel (I think)=better for lousy roads.
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#15
You don't feel an impact when hitting the bumpstops, the first progression is soft and they're designed to be used. I suspect the 1.4 inch drop won't feel good on roads that are not glass smooth. Bring that to even the suburbs of DC and you'd be in for a world of hurt. :(
I do think that a mild drop (1 inch at MOST) spring with increased rates (at least 200 lbs/in) on Koni Yellows would feel pretty good. So I'm not 100% anti lowering spring.
- Andrew
#19
I still believe that coilovers won't give you the ride a set of springs would but I've had a quite a few people that have been very pleased with coilovers so we'll see.
I need something better for the track so I guess I'll have to sacrifice some ride.
Mark
#20
Thanks for your great input, Orangecrush (and others on this thread).
I am also in the market for some suspension upgrades. I also commute about 25k a year. I'm looking for some handling improvement, but also some comfortability.
Orangecrush, when you said that you think coilovers won't give you the ride of a set of springs, are you saying that the NM springs will be more comfortable than coilovers? I'm assuming the handling should be better with coilovers than the springs. I just want to weigh my options, especially if I'm sitting in the thing on the highways.
So for handling:
Coilovers > Springs > Stock
Long distance driving comfort:
Stock (non runflats) > NM Springs > Coilovers
Would this be correct?
I am also in the market for some suspension upgrades. I also commute about 25k a year. I'm looking for some handling improvement, but also some comfortability.
Orangecrush, when you said that you think coilovers won't give you the ride of a set of springs, are you saying that the NM springs will be more comfortable than coilovers? I'm assuming the handling should be better with coilovers than the springs. I just want to weigh my options, especially if I'm sitting in the thing on the highways.
So for handling:
Coilovers > Springs > Stock
Long distance driving comfort:
Stock (non runflats) > NM Springs > Coilovers
Would this be correct?
#21
I really have to stress that there is a huge range in comfort and handling between different types of coilovers, without getting into brands. A coilover is not automatically better (or worse) than stock or springs. There are coilovers that are absolutely terrible, in both handling and ride quality. Some coilovers ride really really well. There are more motorsports oriented coilovers, street oriented coilovers, coilovers that do a little of both well, and coilovers that just plain suck all the time.
I'd say the same can be said about springs, to an extent.
- Andrew
I'd say the same can be said about springs, to an extent.
- Andrew
#22
I really have to stress that there is a huge range in comfort and handling between different types of coilovers, without getting into brands. A coilover is not automatically better (or worse) than stock or springs. There are coilovers that are absolutely terrible, in both handling and ride quality. Some coilovers ride really really well. There are more motorsports oriented coilovers, street oriented coilovers, coilovers that do a little of both well, and coilovers that just plain suck all the time.
I'd say the same can be said about springs, to an extent.
- Andrew
I'd say the same can be said about springs, to an extent.
- Andrew
In general, you will find that coilsprings are much more comfortable than coil overs.
The NM engr'ing springs are extremely comfortable and handle very well. I'm looking for coilovers only because I do so many track days, I'm just not sure I want to sacrifice my ride since it's still my daily driver.
Bottom line, if you're not doing track days, etc, it shouldn't be an option, just go with the springs you're comfortable with.
Mark
#23
Yep Orangecrush is correct about the NM springs. I installed the NM springs about three weeks ago and commute about 50 miles every day. The ride and handling improvement is simply amazing. I did also add Bilstein's too. It is like driving a different car. All I can say is why did I wait this long to make the change.
#25