Daily Driver

[piston]

OK, I have had my 1991 240 for just over a year and I am now looking to upgreade my suspension.

My car truely is a daily driver and I do so for about 15 miles per day, if my car is so lucky. Now every so often I do get a chance to go out to a track day and go and give it my best, but things are just to squishy to take any chances. I also venture out to the local canyons, and take it slow.

What I would really like is something basic as far as springs and shocks/struts, but I am unsure what is good and can meet my small needs. I am also considering a set of anti-sway bars to add in the mix. I do already have front and rear DC Sports tower bars.

I plan on keep my wheels at the cool 15" stock size, with a set of tires with some meat on them, but a stiffer side wall.

hopefully I can get some good recomendations for what to do. I am open to everything but coilovers cause I just dont need that adjustment.

Thanks in advance.

Jason

[gumby74]

Well good for you. Sensible post. I will not preach coilovers, but you can get a set of good used coils for about the cost of springs/shox. Also someone sells Tanabe Pro OSC Type 2 coilovers on eBay for under $700 shipped. Good solid set up, bit stiffer than Tein basics, no dampening adjustment, but do offer ride height adjustment. Free plug.As for wheels you may want to consider a 16" that is a bit wider. More width= wider tire with a proper contact patch.At the very least replace all the bushings, the E S Hyperflex set is a bargain over solid links. Other than that save up some scratch for a helical diff.Maybe somewhere down the line invest in better brakes. Whether a Q45 or Z32 upgrade is prefferable over the stock set up with new pads and rotors is entirely up to you, however, it is my experience that ANYTHING is an improvement over stock brakes. Just a few things to consider.

[piston]

Thanks for the reply Gumby.

One of the things I am considering in new brakes, but I am not sure if I want to spend the time or effort to upgrade to the q45 or z32 setup. I was looking at ordering these:http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors...17020

I will also look into the Tanabe setup, that does seem like a good price. I never thought of changing the differencial, great idea. The bushings is something that I could do as well.

Any other ideas guys, what in your experance works for daily driver.

Jason

[gumby74]

Different strokes for different folks. What I find comfortable or sensible you may not.I am running heim joints all around, urethane bushings where no solid links are available, aluminum collars, wide wheels and soft tires, coilovers, helical diff, complete alignment, soon to be installed: aluminum driveshaft and possibly lightweight flywheel. My car has no carpeting, but that will change soon when she finally gets painted.As for your situation, start with the bushings. Then work out the lowering, and wheel tire set up. Get comfortable with your upgrades instead of just throwing everything and the kitchen sink at the car.You may not need everything on the list, but have a sensible approach, and design a simple plan of attack.

[chitownguy]

Indeed if not coilovers you could get Tokico Illuminas or Koni yellows with a set of lowering spring. I would definitely get replacement bushing to replace those old rubber bushings.

Also gumby your car sounds badass do you ever go to the auto-x's at the AT&T center.

[Brandon93240]

My good friend Phil has Gr2's with sportlines, new strut mounts, ruca's, toe control arms, powerbrace, spl tension rods, tein tie rods, ES bushings, ST sway bars and ebay special strut bars. The car rides really nice, its not to much for a daily driver. He runs 17x8/9 with 225/45 and 245/40's and its very responsive and crisp, plus it won't beat the hell out of you. I set his caster to 7.2 lf. 7.6 rf, camber is at neg. .9 in the front and neg. 1.25 in the rear, the toe is .06 front and .12 rear, he gets excellent tire wear and life. This is on a 90 hatch with a de swap. If you don't need coilovers don't spend the extra money on them, the money you save can get you other needed parts. Wicked sells adjustable inner/outer tie rods that are 17mm, that will allow you to adjust bumpsteer. He bought all of this for a little under 1700, I charged him 2 cases of beer, his assitance, and some pizza.

[gumby74]

Also gumby your car sounds badass do you ever go to the auto-x's at the AT&T center

Honestly, no. I have not tracked a car in many years. Work has really sapped a lot of the joy I used to get from driving. I am a commercial route driver, so I really dont drive like I used to anymore.There are a few more things on the car; but I will probably end up running some C channel on the frame rails before the end of summer. Hopefully that will eliminate some more body flex, THEN I will buy strut bars.

[piston]

I Think that the bushing kit will be the first thing that I do. Anyone know a vendor to buy the complete kit for?

After the bushing kit I think I will lower the car and maybe a few other things. Also, if I lower the car between 1-2 inches, do I need to get Rucas and other alignment components, or can I run with the small amount of - camber that might be there?

Thanks, Jason

[Brandon93240]

Enjuku sells the kit, just let them know you'll be dealing with them on all your parts and they'll hook you up a little the more you buy. The camber should be fine, just make sure your toe isn't crazy and you should be fine.