Koni Sports / Yellows with (?) Lowering Springs
#1
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Location: Knoxville, TN
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Koni Sports / Yellows with (?) Lowering Springs
Looking for a fairly aggressive street setup for my daily driven 2011 Sport. I'll be using Koni Sports with all of these, but I need help deciding on springs!
1) H. Tech Springs - Front - 179 - Drop = 1.0"
H. Tech Springs - Rear - 129 - Drop = 0.3"
2) Racing Beat Springs - Front - 187 - Drop = 0.5"
Racing Beat Springs - Rear - 136 - Drop = 0.5"
3) Racing Beat Springs - Front - 187 - Drop = .5"
Stock Springs - Rear - 113
On top of the .5" drop that Konis give, option 1 is almost too low for me. Option 2 should give the best performance, but I don't know if I can deal with the rear being noticeably lower than the front.
So my main question: Is option 3 idiotic, or can Koni adjustments and different sway bars make it work? If so, what shock settings and sways would you recommend?
On a side note, I'm also looking at getting 36mm fat cat bump stops. If anyone has experience with their bump stops on any of these setups, or something similar, please share!
1) H. Tech Springs - Front - 179 - Drop = 1.0"
H. Tech Springs - Rear - 129 - Drop = 0.3"
2) Racing Beat Springs - Front - 187 - Drop = 0.5"
Racing Beat Springs - Rear - 136 - Drop = 0.5"
3) Racing Beat Springs - Front - 187 - Drop = .5"
Stock Springs - Rear - 113
On top of the .5" drop that Konis give, option 1 is almost too low for me. Option 2 should give the best performance, but I don't know if I can deal with the rear being noticeably lower than the front.
So my main question: Is option 3 idiotic, or can Koni adjustments and different sway bars make it work? If so, what shock settings and sways would you recommend?
On a side note, I'm also looking at getting 36mm fat cat bump stops. If anyone has experience with their bump stops on any of these setups, or something similar, please share!
#7
I have a 2010 s2 and am getting some s tech springs but wanted to get some new shocks while I'm at it. I'm having some trouble finding out what shocks would be best with the s tech. I don't want to drop more then 1.5. And any other part advice while him at it would be nice?
#9
Yes I have read those. I have read the intro to modding multiple times and it has helped alot. I thought about the koni yellows but I've read they drop an extra .5 and that added with the s tech is just to much for me. I don't need the "best" or most expensive but I wanted a quality shock that will work well with the s tech. Can't find any.
#11
Sorry. Lowering 1.5 max (s tech). I don't want the shocks to lower if possible. It's my daily driver so somthing super stiff would be rough. Better handling would be great and I don't care if i can't adjust the height much or at all. I'm not tracking it so I don't need coilovers.
#12
Water Foul
I have a 2010 s2 and am getting some s tech springs but wanted to get some new shocks while I'm at it. I'm having some trouble finding out what shocks would be best with the s tech. I don't want to drop more then 1.5. And any other part advice while him at it would be nice?
Yes I have read those. I have read the intro to modding multiple times and it has helped alot. I thought about the koni yellows but I've read they drop an extra .5 and that added with the s tech is just to much for me. I don't need the "best" or most expensive but I wanted a quality shock that will work well with the s tech. Can't find any.
Springs are also a problem. Because Mazda changed the rear spring perch location from S1 to S2, most aftermarket lowering springs probably will not give you what you want. I don't really follow the Japanese suspension scene, so maybe Tein has S2-specific springs, and I'm just not aware of it.
The truth is, very few aftermarket shocks are actually an upgrade over Mazda OEM shocks for street use. If you are sure the springs will work, and you really want to replace your shocks, you can try to find used R3 Bilstein shocks or buy them new off the internet. That would be worth doing while you are in there--assuming the spring rates of your new springs are not more than 20% stiffer than stock. Just be aware that shocks have an optimal operating range in terms of piston location, and moving the piston too far down by lowering the car can cause unexpected behavior and/or wear out the shocks quickly.
Otherwise, your sure-fire option is coilovers. There are a lot of them at all price points, so do your homework before buying. Cheap almost always sucks. Japanese almost always sucks. The only thing worse than Japanse is Taiwanese and Chinese copies of Japanese. Bilstein has finally released the PSS coilover to the US market for ~$1000 if you shop around. That is your best bet, really. Cry once or cry twice. Ask me how I know.
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Last edited by Steve Dallas; 11-07-2015 at 07:24 PM. Reason: Added excedingly helpful linkage
#14
#16
Good deal! Did you by any chance take a few measurements (front/rear fender gap or clearance)?
Thanks!
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