Suspension What's my next step?
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1st Gear
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 20
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco California
What's my next step?
Hi all, I have a 2003 MCS. I have the Dinan stage 5 engine package so I am happy with the power for the moment.
I have been doing some suspension mods and here is where I am so far. The car came with the sports package. I have dumped the 17s and replaced them with 16" webspokes and 195 55 16 Toyo Proxis T1R tires. I added a 19mm H sport rear bar, M7 strut brace, M7 USS and the car handled really well, very responsive and great turn in. This weekend I installed Koni FSDs and the Ireland fixed camber plates. The car rides GREAT since the install of the FSDs which is important to me since it is my daily driver in San Francisco where the roads are in really poor shape. I will get the front end realigned in a day or so. The car seems to be sitting a little higher with the FSDs, esp. in front with the new camber plates. I am very happy, EXCEPT, I lost a little of the sharpness on turn in with the FSDs vs the original struts. Being greedy I want it all : ) It feels like the front end is leaning over more on turn in, just like the back used to lean too much on turn in before I added the 19mm rear bar. I want the sharp turn in back. Here is what I am thinking:
Add the matching H sport front bar
Add JCW springs
Maybe both. The ride is so good I would trade a little back for more responsive handling, I just don't want the pounding and harshness from before. Since it is sitting a little higher I think I would be ok with the half inch or so drop from the JCW springs.
Thoughts ideas comments recommendations? Thanks PB
I have been doing some suspension mods and here is where I am so far. The car came with the sports package. I have dumped the 17s and replaced them with 16" webspokes and 195 55 16 Toyo Proxis T1R tires. I added a 19mm H sport rear bar, M7 strut brace, M7 USS and the car handled really well, very responsive and great turn in. This weekend I installed Koni FSDs and the Ireland fixed camber plates. The car rides GREAT since the install of the FSDs which is important to me since it is my daily driver in San Francisco where the roads are in really poor shape. I will get the front end realigned in a day or so. The car seems to be sitting a little higher with the FSDs, esp. in front with the new camber plates. I am very happy, EXCEPT, I lost a little of the sharpness on turn in with the FSDs vs the original struts. Being greedy I want it all : ) It feels like the front end is leaning over more on turn in, just like the back used to lean too much on turn in before I added the 19mm rear bar. I want the sharp turn in back. Here is what I am thinking:
Add the matching H sport front bar
Add JCW springs
Maybe both. The ride is so good I would trade a little back for more responsive handling, I just don't want the pounding and harshness from before. Since it is sitting a little higher I think I would be ok with the half inch or so drop from the JCW springs.
Thoughts ideas comments recommendations? Thanks PB
5th Gear
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 644
Likes: 0
From: Washington, PA
There are several threads stating that lowering springs shouldn't be used with FSDs. I'm not sure if JCW counts or not. You may not be able to reconcile a smoother ride and sharper turn-in, you might have to pick. I don't believe that a front bar will sharpen things much, but I've been wrong before.
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