Your opinions on a suspension setup

[rousie13]

I'm looking for a suspension setup that will improve over stock, but don't race my car, just hard street driving. I was looking into Ground Control "Coilovers" with KYB agx shocks or spending the extra money for Tein HA coilovers. Which ones would you guys recommend, or would you go with something else?

[voltron]

The ground control w/ shocks is a proven reliable setup. It works and is not too stiff. If you are not racing your car, don't bother with the more expensive setup.

[Dori Dori]

If you buy AGX's and GC's, don't lower them more than 1.5" under stock or you'll blow your struts.

[Exar-Kun]

:withstup-chet

[Phax]

I'm looking at getting a Ground Control setup too. My S13 is a daily driver, and the spring rates on most of the coil-overs (Tein, JIC, etc) all seem to be much too harsh for street driving.

What sort of spring rates / shock combinations are you guys with GC's running? Also, how's the suspension travel with regards to things like speed bumps and potholes?

[voltron]

Phax;A good combo for the ground controls would be an adjustible shock. I don't know anything about any certan brand of shock blowing out, but if you go to low on any suspension you will have problems. The only time you will have problems with potholes and things like that is if your car is too low. See the pattern? 1.5-2 inches is good for looks and performance but much over 2 inches just does not work that well. I am speaking from personal experince. I tried a few diffrent ride hights on my last car wich had a GC/Tokico combo and 1.5-1.75 inches is where I had the best results.

[Phax]

I tried a few diffrent ride hights on my last car wich had a GC/Tokico combo and 1.5-1.75 inches is where I had the best results.

Voltron,

Thanks for the insights on real world driving with the setup. I had Tokico's on my Datsun 510, yet around here I've been reading that most people seem to prefer the KYB AGX. This seems to be especially true with the Ground Control preference. Is there a particular reason that you went with the Tokico?

What sort of spring rates were you running? I already have a lot of structural rigidity with the strut and sway bars, so I'm interested in something that will absorb highspeed bumps (think 120 MPH+ freeway transition connecters) without bottoming out, or floating too much. Not a lot to ask, huh? =)

[voltron]

Well I went with the Tockios partly because they where cheap and partly due to inexperince. I put those on my last car about three and a half years ago. If I had known better I would have thrown down the cash for KYBs. My brother had them on his car and they where great! Lots of autoxers use them with good results. I had the same suspension for three years and about 50.000 miles, soI can't rember what the spring rates where, whatever GC gives you when you order a set.

As for the high speed stuff, I will not offer any comment other than KEEP IT ON THE TRACK.

[Phax]

As for the high speed stuff, I will not offer any comment other than KEEP IT ON THE TRACK.

As much as California gets bagged on, we do have some pretty well maintained expanses of highway. They're only really usable on those rare, earlier morning (3-4am) weekday nights... barring the nearly inevitable CalTrans work.

Speaking of the track though, how's the high speed stability with the KYBs and Ground Control setup? Does the car set noticably?