Suspension Upgrades

[bllabong89]

Ok, I searched google and here and couldn't find anything so feel free to flame if I overlooked something. I have posted in the put your coilovers up thread and want to make something similar. I have seen pointless threads about which suspension I should run but I want to make this more general so more people get helpful information from this thread also. If the mods feel like this is useless or if there is a similar thread already, please post the link and lock this one. Thanks.

I want to know what suspension components you have, what brand, if they helped, condition they are in after however long you have ran them and what model car they are going on. If you have pictures, please post them. Everyone enjoys seeing pictures as they read along. If you have questions, please feel free to ask.

If your experience has been different than someone elses, please specify what kind of experience you have had and what issues you have experienced. PLEASE don't rag on companies if your buddy used them or if someone you know thru another person used them and had a bad experience. Let the people in the market choose for themselves based on facts and legitimate information.

I will start...
I haven't installed anything yet. I can only state on looks for now but will update once my car is complete. The only thing I have ridden with is the Godspeed sway bars and the Tein coilovers.

I had the godspeed sway bars on my car when I got them. I dont know how long they have been there or how the car acted before. I recently bought Suspension Techniques. The Godspeed stuff was very stout. Thicker than the new stuff. The only issue I saw were the endlinks rusting but that will happen on most. So far, the Suspension Techniques sway bars paint isn't the best but the welds look good and the endlinks look top notch. Here is a comparison.

Godspeed


Suspension Techniques


I previously had KYB AGX struts and factory springs and then bought some use Tein Basic Coilovers. The KYB felt very soft. A comfortable ride on the streets but not the proper set up for a track car. The Tein Basic Coilovers made the ride a quite bit more harsh. The car responded alot better and felt more solid. The only issue with these coilovers is that they are only height adjustable so I will be upgrading at a later time.

Previous Strut set up versus Tein Basic coilover ride height comparison




Comparison


Power Brace that I made. I used my factory stuff and welded some supports on. Again, I haven't experienced them on the car yet but it beats spending the extra money on a Nismo brace.


Now I have my multi-link suspension parts from Yamato Garage. The quality looks very good and durable. The welds look nice like many high quality parts. The powder coating is interesting but I dig it(they switch they're colors up every once in a while I believe). The parts included are the Rear Upper Control Arms(RUCAs), the Tension Rods, Toe Rods and Traction Rods. They use QA1 two piece rod ends and feel very stout.


And here is a close up of the RUCAs


I have a couple questions now...What kind of tie rod and tie rod end combos are you guys/gals running? Are you using spacers and are they a bolt in affair? I am looking at the Tein stuff now but need some product review on them. Also, do you notice a difference after installing differential bushings?

Please feel free to flame if you must or ask questions.lol I hope this helps someone so its not just another wasted thread.

Enjoi

[gijoe392003]

I love suspension threads.

Don't have any pics, but so for I have:

89 Coupe

Tien S.Techs with KYB GR2's (will get coilovers later)
New OEM front and rear lower control arms
Suspension Techniques Swaybars
Energy Suspension s14 subframe bushings (haven't installed yet)

As for mutilink, I don't know which company to go with. After seeing the size of those Yamamota RUCA's I'm torn.

[bllabong89]

How did you like the sway bars after installing them? The Yamato stuff appears to be really good quality at a pretty decent price so hopefully they are as good as they look

[gijoe392003]

The sway bars are great, but I am running with struts and springs so I can feel a difference. Don't know how much of a difference could be felt with coilovers as I have never had any.

[DamonDread]

I have Tein Tie Rods, and RUCAS (dont know the companies name off hand) everything else is completely stock. Have to admit so far i havn't felt a difference. But its a been a while sense i have had her on the road. I look forward to post in this string again. Looking for a running s13, to start my suspension education on LOL. Love your s14 btw Bong!

[Cerevo]

The sway bars are great, but I am running with struts and springs so I can feel a difference. Don't know how much of a difference could be felt with coilovers as I have never had any.

I'm going to be running that exact setup I think.. Is it pretty neutral feeling?

[gijoe392003]

Feels better than stock and body roll is hardly noticeable. I just wish I can find some 17's to fit with struts.

[Cerevo]

fn01-rc's wont?

[scooz14]

this has potential to be a great thread. please the type of driving that you do with the car as well as the components used.

i have an 89 hatch, agx's s-techs poly bushings everywhere and solid subframe bushing and an hlsd. i use the car for grip, trackdays and hpde's. currently i am limited to 1.8* neg camber in the front and 2.5* in the rear. i get a lot of understeer followed by snap oversteer in sweeping turns. i also have sever wear on the outer third of the front tires. over winter i plan on putting gc sleeves all around and camber plates on the front. i feel the front rides too high with the s-techs, and that more camber will help my problem. im am going to try a stiffer set of springs up front to combat the body roll.


does anyone know what the rates of s-tech spring are?

[gijoe392003]

With the right offset, fn01-rc's probably would fit. I read the s-techs are 3.7 kg front and 3.1 rear.

suspension-faq-t11638.html

[hbpignosePA]

im running koni dampeners and RSR springs.... im totally happy with the setup.

i also have SPL RUCAs and soon will have tein camber plates up front.


im torn if i even want SPL tension rods, i think ill hold off for a while and just use ones with ES bushings in them

i also have PBM solid subframe bushings, solid steering rack bushing, and tien tie rods with an s15 hsld

some of the front end parts are new and i havent tried them, but after having koni's i really have no desire to get coils. I dont drift, my car is strictly driven on the street for my own enjoyment, and it grips the road.

the only thing down the line i might do is get ground control sleeves so i can go a tad lower.

but thats after i get a motor back in the car

[SX APPEAL]

Megan springs, Agx's, cusco camber plates, megan rucas and toe rods, J30 vlsd. Ride is a little harsh with the megans, a lot heavier than most springs (6.25F, 4.46R), but with the dampers turned all the way up its a dream for backroad blasting, of course thats at 80%. Can't really comment about how they handle on the limit. Pretty much just understeer's like all S13's do lol. I have way too much tire for the stock KA though, 225s in the front, 245s out back, you really have to be trying to break them loose.

[costa_rican13]

i have tokico blue shocks and springs, megan toe rods, circuit sports RUCA's , megan c pillar bar, and F & R stut tower bars and the bar that goes behind the differential and a j30 vlsd. tokico shocks and springs are ok, had them on there about 3 years. a little soft and tend to bottom out when hitting bumps. but hold up ok when drifting. everything else holds up great, and i recommend everything except the tokicos. longevity on strength isnt too long. ill post up my megan coils next week when i get them in the mail.