Notices
Series I Wheels, Tires, Brakes & Suspension

Is it worth it?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Rate Thread
 
Old 03-28-2011, 03:19 AM
  #1  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
StreetGT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Is it worth it?

Despite my car being in the shop, I've been looking at a bunch of Mods to do. Top of the list of course is suspension.

Do you guys think the Tein-S springs running over the OEM dampers are worth it?
Because honestly ~210 lb/in in front and ~180 lb/in in back just doesn't seem like it would be enough. I'm a young guy and have no worry of back pains or anything. I want to do no more than 1.5 inches of drop but would love ~400 lb/in of pressure.


So honestly. Think I should just get the springs now? are they really THAT different? or should I hold out for the more expensive more intense 450 lb/in Tein basic dampers?

Can people with both let me know how they like them? any input at all. this would be my first significant mod.
Old 03-28-2011, 03:41 AM
  #2  
I HATE SPEEDBUMPS!
 
monchie's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 8,549
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 6 Posts
Don't ask me, i have cut springs
Old 03-28-2011, 05:03 AM
  #3  
Registered User
 
Kusanagi's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: Adelaide, Australia
Posts: 112
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
It's a silly question, it's like I'm young, I can take the pain, and I want all the pain... just ask yourself... what for? you don't just go the hardest spring in the world because you can take it... for no good reason.

Ask yourself again, what do you intend to do with your car? Autox, tracking etc daily driving or just want the lowered look? remember most lowering spring like s.tech or tanabe gf210 (one i have) do lower the car at the same time without sacrificing the ride quality, in fact they improve the ride quality over oem quite significantly!!! without the pain of course.

If you have hellaflush setup with only 2mm gap between guard and tyre then by all mean go the hardest spring that gives almost no suspension stroke, and those s.tech or tein basic you mentioned will not give you pain.

Originally Posted by StreetGT
Despite my car being in the shop, I've been looking at a bunch of Mods to do. Top of the list of course is suspension.

Do you guys think the Tein-S springs running over the OEM dampers are worth it?
Because honestly ~210 lb/in in front and ~180 lb/in in back just doesn't seem like it would be enough. I'm a young guy and have no worry of back pains or anything. I want to do no more than 1.5 inches of drop but would love ~400 lb/in of pressure.


So honestly. Think I should just get the springs now? are they really THAT different? or should I hold out for the more expensive more intense 450 lb/in Tein basic dampers?

Can people with both let me know how they like them? any input at all. this would be my first significant mod.
Old 03-28-2011, 05:17 AM
  #4  
#50
 
bse50's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Caput Mundi
Posts: 7,521
Received 10 Likes on 10 Posts
what he said^^
also keep in mind that harder isn't always better when it comes to suspension setups.
Old 03-28-2011, 01:29 PM
  #5  
Registered
iTrader: (5)
 
c0ldf1ame's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: los angeles, ca
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
tein s-techs were too soft in my opinion, and too low especially if your running them on oem dampers. It depends on what you want to do with the car really, if your mostly just driving on the street, i think s-tech and a good shock like konis are perfectly adequate. If you are going to be attending track days i would save up for something better,
Old 03-28-2011, 01:42 PM
  #6  
mkuhnracing.com
iTrader: (3)
 
TopGear8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 6,212
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
I wouldnt recommend putting 400lb springs on your stock shocks...Good luck getting them to last more than a month..
Old 03-28-2011, 02:08 PM
  #7  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
StreetGT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
TopGear8, the Tein damper systems are both shocks and springs... plenty of longevity there.

My last car had 400lb/in Dinan coil overs which were fine, but that car was also much heavier.
Ideally I would want 350lb/in in front and 270-300lb/in in back but haven't been able to find a system with those rates yet.

I only mentioned the young thing because I really don't care if it's a super taught suspension. I value the looks of a drop I guess, but mainly I want the handling.

Purely for handling and very occasional track use. What do you guys suggest?
Old 03-28-2011, 02:18 PM
  #8  
mkuhnracing.com
iTrader: (3)
 
TopGear8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 6,212
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
^I was referring to posting about the S Techs...

I'm running 560F and 400R on Moton shocks...May go up to 700F and 450R to do some further testing...

You say Ideally...How do you know what ideally is..have you calculated frequencies?
Old 03-28-2011, 02:51 PM
  #9  
Registered
iTrader: (5)
 
c0ldf1ame's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: los angeles, ca
Posts: 1,394
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
with properly valved shocks you can still retain some comfort even when running on stiffer springs. The quality of the shock valving is just as important as the spring rate in terms of ride quality.

There are several systems with rates close to what your looking for,

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda.../60-01758.html

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...5-RX8-DFV.html

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda...0-1070RX8.html

http://www.good-win-racing.com/Mazda.../20R-1102.html

Last edited by c0ldf1ame; 03-28-2011 at 03:00 PM.
Old 03-28-2011, 03:14 PM
  #10  
Registered RX8 Nut
iTrader: (11)
 
Highway8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fairfield, CA
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by TopGear8
^I was referring to posting about the S Techs...

I'm running 560F and 400R on Moton shocks...May go up to 700F and 450R to do some further testing...

You say Ideally...How do you know what ideally is..have you calculated frequencies?
Moton shocks or coilovers? Either, nice but price. I'm on stock kw v3 coilovers. I'm thinking about getting custom spring rates and maybe valving.

The kw coilovers are very streetable. 450/280 (progressive) I think.
Old 03-28-2011, 07:04 PM
  #11  
mkuhnracing.com
iTrader: (3)
 
TopGear8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 6,212
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
^Shocks and Coilovers are pretty much the same thing, They are the Clubsports. Height adjustable as well as Rebound/Compression adjustable. They don't sell "coilovers" as they do not make springs...Most people run Hypercoil or Eibach with their Moton's.
Old 03-28-2011, 09:02 PM
  #12  
Registered RX8 Nut
iTrader: (11)
 
Highway8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fairfield, CA
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by Highway8
Moton shocks or coilovers? Either, nice but price. I'm on stock kw v3 coilovers. I'm thinking about getting custom spring rates and maybe valving.

The kw coilovers are very streetable. 450/280 (progressive) I think.
I should have proofread.

Either way, nice but pricey.
Old 03-28-2011, 10:03 PM
  #13  
mkuhnracing.com
iTrader: (3)
 
TopGear8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 6,212
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Pricey indeed, but in the National Solo scene, they are as popular as RPF1's are for the rx8
Old 03-28-2011, 10:12 PM
  #14  
Registered RX8 Nut
iTrader: (11)
 
Highway8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fairfield, CA
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by TopGear8
Pricey indeed, but in the National Solo scene, they are as popular as RPF1's are for the rx8
How is the valving? Normaly shocks are valved for a small range of spring rates. Is the adjustable that wide?
Old 03-28-2011, 10:18 PM
  #15  
mkuhnracing.com
iTrader: (3)
 
TopGear8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Charlotte, NC
Posts: 6,212
Likes: 0
Received 4 Likes on 4 Posts
Typically(from the research i've done) The Moton's are valved to match a wide range of spring rates, what is that range? good question. I've only done testing so far with one set of springs, and got it set up to where I like it, as far as the valving goes, well i'm still learning alot. Bill at Small Fortune Racing is the guy to ask about Moton's valving.
Old 03-28-2011, 11:25 PM
  #16  
I ♥ Drifting!!!
iTrader: (6)
 
imput1234's Avatar
 
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Lexington, KY
Posts: 3,069
Likes: 0
Received 5 Likes on 3 Posts
Originally Posted by Highway8
How is the valving? Normaly shocks are valved for a small range of spring rates. Is the adjustable that wide?
They will valve it around any spring rates you want, let em know.
Old 03-29-2011, 12:51 AM
  #17  
Registered
Thread Starter
 
StreetGT's Avatar
 
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Berkeley, CA
Posts: 244
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes on 0 Posts
Hm.. well do you think it's worth buying the s-Techs and just experiment from there on out if I want it tighter?

I'd only do that if I was able to do all the suspension work myself though.
Old 03-29-2011, 06:38 AM
  #18  
Registered RX8 Nut
iTrader: (11)
 
Highway8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fairfield, CA
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by imput1234
They will valve it around any spring rates you want, let em know.
Yes I know that. I was looking more for the answer topgear provided, which is basicly that they have a wide range of adjustability and he will find out how wide.
Old 03-29-2011, 06:43 AM
  #19  
Registered RX8 Nut
iTrader: (11)
 
Highway8's Avatar
 
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Fairfield, CA
Posts: 1,366
Likes: 0
Received 7 Likes on 7 Posts
Originally Posted by TopGear8
Typically(from the research i've done) The Moton's are valved to match a wide range of spring rates, what is that range? good question. I've only done testing so far with one set of springs, and got it set up to where I like it, as far as the valving goes, well i'm still learning alot. Bill at Small Fortune Racing is the guy to ask about Moton's valving.
Going up to 700in the front is about a 25% jump which is pretty big. From what I understand, its the rebound valving that needs the most work/adjustment.

from what I understand shocks have low speed and high speed valving and most are only adjustable for low speed. The high speed are set based on the spring rates. Atleast thats how the KW's are which is why they dont recommend a large change in the spring rates. However the KW's and the Motons are in a different ballpark.
Related Topics
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
projectr13b
RX-8 Racing
20
05-14-2016 06:25 PM
Jazzmeson
RX-8 Multimedia/Photo Gallery
11
03-02-2016 02:25 PM
MolecularConcept
RX-8 Discussion
11
09-29-2015 09:21 PM
DG07
New Member Forum
3
09-28-2015 10:58 AM



You have already rated this thread Rating: Thread Rating: 0 votes,  average.

Quick Reply: Is it worth it?



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 02:55 PM.