Ever just need a change?

[redmanfx]

I've had my Q now for 3 years or so and when I first got it I was so much into it that I over absorbed information on modding it out. I've put over $10,000 into it beyond purchase price and have many of the spirited driving mods available, but I seem to now want the luxury side of the car to stand out more so then just the balls to the wall fury that is my lead foot. Well, maybe just more of the luxury aspect then I currently have. What do I mean? Well, I want to swap out my Stillen adjustable tension rods and go back to OEM with some good bushings. I want just a little more "quite comfort" and don't want to hear the road as much.

That being said, have you ever got your vehicle to one side of the road only to discover once you got there that you want to go back or slightly back? My guess is that any passionate car lover has experimented with all sorts of mods and what not only to discover that they would prefer to go another route. So far the tension rods in combination with the subframe spacers and collars as well as the CC springs and active sway bars/Front tower braces has me wanting to change the tension rods back to OEM with good bushings. This makes the first thing I've done to my Q that has me wanting to switch back. That's right after everything I've done, this is the first time.

Just Curious:How many times have you do something to your Q and only your Q and wanted to switch it back because you just plain didn't like the results? Explain your answer for us.

[CrimsonQ]

I switch my tcu back n forth every few months.

Also just put the piepans on, took the eibachs and blues off, and switched my ecu to "stock"

Its crazy how different the car feels. Alot quiter, but the handling feels so loose compared to the old setup.

[ponzy]

you guys were going home now, as we are going towards your "route"? sounds an encouraging discouragement for us.. LOL

[goody90q45]

Just Curious: How many times have you do something to your Q and only your Q and wanted to switch it back because you just plain didn't like the results? Explain your answer for us.

I've made a few upgrades since buying my Q about 20 months ago trying to get better handling. While I'm not a speed demon on the local freeways and suburbs I do enjoy spirited driving on the windy, untraveled roads of the Sierra Nevadas and nearby foothills.

I started with new suspension bushings all around and then an "active" rear sway bar. After that the Jeff Williams FTSB and Tokiko blues, which are 15% stiffer than OEM. Finally I went from stock piepans to 245-16 Yokohamas and for a short time 245-17 Yokos.

Each of these improvements improved the handling of the car with the 16" Yokos being the best- a super tires on dry, windy road. But with each improvement came an increase in stiffness and road noise. The final set of tires, the 17" Yokos, were so noisy I thought my transmission or rear end was whining and getting ready to die.

I've gone backward to a 225-16 Goodyear Eagles with another set of rims (in my sig) and the ride is much quieter and much smoother. I gave up some handling but the trade off is worth it. I've also got a 16mm rear sway bar I'm going to bolt on next time I'm under the car to see if I can retain most of the anti-sway but get rid of some of the stiffness.

I'm not complaining. Without NICO I'd still be driving around on pie pans, wondering where the gas leak is, and tearing up the trunk looking for a beehive. In fact, I'm looking forward to spring so I can put the 16" Yoko's back and have some fun.

Lesson learned: With every suspension upgrade that we put on our Q's comes a bit of added suspension stiffness, road noise and a less smooth ride. You need to weigh the smooth ride that you are going to lose with the better handling that you will gain. I'm still looking for the right balance. Just my two cents.

[Skibane]

but I seem to now want the luxury side of the car to stand out more so then just the balls to the wall fury that is my lead foot. Well, maybe just more of the luxury aspect then I currently have. What do I mean? Well, I want to swap out my Stillen adjustable tension rods and go back to OEM with some good bushings. I want just a little more "quite comfort" and don't want to hear the road as much.

Diagnosis: You're getting old and soft.

Welcome to the Fraternal Brotherhood Of Geezerdom - We've been placing bets on how long it would be before you joined us!

[ScottJackson]

definately getting old and in the way. But at the same time, I sadly can relate. I no longer want my mustang to have over 1200hp. I'll be happy with 800-900. I'm also second guessing my solid motor mounts for that car. I want to be able to drive it 15 miles without feeling numb all over. Lastly, I don't care if it only tops out at 180-190mph. That's plenty fast for me and I don't need to push the limits of stupidity as far as I once did. Yes, I'm getting old and soft also, but not so much that I would consider a lightly modified Q45 as being too much or too harsh.

[Q45tech]

The 15.9mm rear bar exerts only 16 pounds per inch of body roll.

Probably unfeelable compared to no rear sway bar unless you are extremely beyond Sensitive.

Do you have oem rear rubber bushings on the 20mm bar? That is usually enough to deal with harshness on the street.

Remember the 20mm was STANDARD on every Active Q so it didn't add any perceptable harshness..............with new rubber bushings adjusted correctly.

[Rex]

Until recently, I had 2 Q's - my completely stock 94 (well, except Jeff's strut bar and 18's) and a 95 ,Rob's (rsiwicki) old Q - Da Beast. They were noticably 2 different cars. As I look for my next 2nd car, I'll be looking for something less aggressive.

If you're seriously interested in swapping out the Stillen Tension Rods, I have a NEW OEM set, I'd be willing to trade.

[redmanfx]

Still have the 20mm sway bar, but do need the new bushings for both the rear and the front(they will come with the OEM tension rods). I think I'll be good to go after that. The car will be right where I want it.

Rex - 10% chance I'll trade, but right now I think I'm at 90% I'll keep the Stillen's because I will have another Q shortly and I'll most likely use them on it with a different set up which will include the SPL Adj upper links as well without the CC springs or the Sub frame spacers and collars.

As far as getting old............ NAAHHHH, I'm still young. At least not until I'll have to get my prostrate checked, then I'll be at that age when I'll probably feel old. Still have one of the heaviest foots around the coast so no slowing down here. And with the addition of the new motor sports shop here, you know there's a supercharger coming with my new engine... NAAAHHHH, not old at all.

[tkd_q45]

Wish I had kept my 92 and put the money into it when my wife blew the head gasket.

[Q45tech]

Cars are cheaper than wives [girl friends] who blow their[/B] head gaskets.........expensive medicine forever.

[maxnix]

Yeah, even the Nismo tension rod bushings were almost too far for me.

But the blues definitely were not.

[elwesso]

dont blame the suspension before you blame the tires!

However, i do agree about the tension rods. if there was a rod that used the stock bushing but was adjustable, i would probably buy it. perfection alignment is something i NEED to have!

remember you cant use SPL adjustable upper links with stock tension rods!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[ponzy]

dont blame the suspension before you blame the tires!

However, i do agree about the tension rods. if there was a rod that used the stock bushing but was adjustable, i would probably buy it. perfection alignment is something i NEED to have!

remember you cant use SPL adjustable upper links with stock tension rods!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

nice info WES....................so will a OEM link work on OEM tension rods with FSB/RSB setup plus eibachs? What's basically the FEEL with oem adj link/tension rods versus SPL adj? which one is a good combination --- (just for improving handling with a little bit action) ?

The 15.9mm rear bar exerts only 16 pounds per inch of body roll. Probably unfeelable compared to no rear sway bar unless you are extremely beyond Sensitive.Do you have oem rear rubber bushings on the 20mm bar? That is usually enough to deal with harshness on the street.Remember the 20mm was STANDARD on every Active Q so it didn't add any perceptable harshness..............with new rubber bushings adjusted correctly.

dennis, (hope it's ok to call you on your first name--- i'm 'wanna be' friends. ), anyway, so I can use a regular rubber bushing on both front SB/ rear SB? will it affect the effectiveness of upgraded suspension?

thanks ya'll, pardon my ignorance......

[maxnix]

However, i do agree about the tension rods. if there was a rod that used the stock bushing but was adjustable, i would probably buy it.

Surely we can design a different end for the stock bearing.

[elwesso]

im sure you could. I actually have acqured a set of stock tension rods for free, and im wondeirng if we could put an adjuster in there. Still, i probably wont swap it out because the ride harshness (its not really much of a ride change, just more noise... you hear more bumps than you actually feel them)...

[maxnix]

I would be interested in CNC machining an end to accept the stock or even NISMO bushing. Hmmm....

[HashiriyaS14]

I've never owned a G50, but I take mods on/off cars all the time.

Hell, I think I installed and uninstalled the short shifter on my WRX 4 times, just because I felt like having different shifter feel than whatever configuration it happened to be in.

[redmanfx]

dont blame the suspension before you blame the tires!

However, i do agree about the tension rods. if there was a rod that used the stock bushing but was adjustable, i would probably buy it.

I really like the Pirelli's allot. The PZero Nero's aren't that loud to me at all and man do they hug the wet roads here on and around tobacco road as well as the coastal roads. I'm not in 120 degree AZ where they gave Greg a problem.

Would that adj rod with decent bushings be sweet or what? I can't believe that there's not something out there already that's just way below radar or something.

Anyhoo, my father moved to CO from Peoria, AZ 6 miles from Pueblo so there's a road trip and a half for me sometime in March. I'm sure I'll give me set up at that time a thorough review. Maybe stop at some friends on the way. I know Dayton/Cinci area will be my first overnighter and maybe even more. Then it's off to CO from there.......

[maxnix]

I'm not in 120 degree AZ where they gave Greg a problem.

Missed that post. I do like Pirellis, but ever since Michelin tamed the agressively sudden breakaways of the early steel belted radials, they have been a notch above, especially after a few thousand miles.