by "DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
Published 02/15/2017 at 18:05
by "DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
Published 02/15/2017 at 18:05
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STARS: 1
Performance shocks on stock springs.
So naturally we all want to make our car more fun to drive. I’ve never driven a car with performance shocks, springs, or coilovers. I just want to know what y’all’s experience with performance shocks are. My understanding is that they improve responsiveness and “feel,” and they don’t actually stiffen the roll or stiffness of the car/suspension. Which sounds perfect for me since I only have one car, so I wouldn’t sacrifice much comfort or practicality for more fun.
So anyway; what does Oppo think of performance shocks?
FYI the car is an Integra. And if I was going to buy shocks today I’d get Koni Oranges/STR.T. If anyone has advice/suggestions on brands I’m open to hear them.
"Supreme Chancellor and Glorious Leader SaveTheIntegras" (jegoingout)
02/15/2017 at 18:12, STARS: 2
Go to redshift motorsports and message Chris. He’s the go to guy for any Honda spring/strut set up as well as a great place to buy products from. I’m getting Koni STR.T’s with tein s tech’s from him
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
02/15/2017 at 18:18, STARS: 4
The ability to better control the response of the otherwise stock suspension is a huge improvement in handling. If you go the adjustable strut route, you can also tune the handling balance of the car considerably. My father and I auto crossed a variety stock class cars for over a decade, and shocks/struts were one of the few things that could be changed. A good (and adjustable is even better) set of struts and a wee bit of toe-out up from will transform the way your teg corners, and especially so on turn-in.
My racecar is a 1st gen integra, that was autocrossed as a stock class HS car for many years before I turned it into an ITA club racing car. It has always run Tokico 5-way adjustable Illuminas, both as a stock class autocrosser and as a much lower and stiffer ITA car. One of the nice things about Tokicos is the lifetime warranty. After about 10 years of use I sent the set of struts back to tokico because they were starting to seep fluid. Tokico sent me a brand new set of struts for it with no questions asked and at no cost to me besides the shipping to them of the old struts.
To paraphrase Colin Chapman, you want the suspension to move, just not too quickly.
"e36Jeff now drives a ZHP" (e36jeff)
02/15/2017 at 18:24, STARS: 2
I have SRT.T’s on my ZHP, and honestly I’ve fairly sure they are nearly the same as the stock ZHP shocks. My guess is that they were benchmarked against the stock shocks. They ride pretty well and have held up for 120k miles, although they are getting rusty and they’ve lost a bit of their edge. I’ve been toying with getting a set of FSD’s to replace them since I have a baby on the way and a more compliant ride wouldn’t be a bad thing.
My e36 had H&R coilovers, which were very nice, but a bit on the harsh side. I installed Bilstein Sport shocks with H&R sport springs on my e30 and that was pretty much perfect.
"finn's arm" (andjeee)
02/15/2017 at 18:25, STARS: 3
Leading w/ advice: Make sure the rest of the complimentary parts are up to date. (Upper/lower spring or strut mounts, bearings/bushings at top or bottom of assembly). Check forums if you need to cut bump stops due to lowering.
In my research, SRT’s are fairly soft and great DD material. Should be the equivalent of running Bilstein HD’s (B6) on stock springs and shouldn’t (This is my experience running Bilstein HD on stock springs, YMMV) cause premature wear on the assembly.
More sporty shock/strut pieces from Koni/Bilstein require a paired spring so you don’t bounce around regretting your decision.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
02/15/2017 at 18:28, STARS: 0
Are you getting new springs at the same time, or are you just thinking about upgrading your shocks?
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
02/15/2017 at 18:29, STARS: 0
Just shocks, I don’t want to lower it while it’s my DD and only car.
"finn's arm" (andjeee)
02/15/2017 at 18:29, STARS: 0
This! SRT.T’s feel exactly like stock ZHP/Mtech suspension.
"03mach1 - Now has a Fiesta ST" (03mach1)
02/15/2017 at 18:35, STARS: 1
I’ve had Koni oranges for about 2 and a half years and couldn’t be happier. I’m also on stock springs. Great ride while giving me good handling. Really if you’re looking for something that doesn’t compromise ride quality while improving handling the Koni oranges are a really good pick. Pretty well priced to.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
02/15/2017 at 19:04, STARS: 0
Are you thinking of this strictly as a performance mod or do the old ones need to be replaced?
"ITA97, now with more Jag @ opposite-lock.com" (ita97)
02/15/2017 at 19:10, STARS: 0
Agreed. There is no reason not replace the mounts when changing struts. You’ve got everything apart anyway, and mounts are cheap.
"Textured Soy Protein" (texturedsoyprotein)
02/15/2017 at 19:41, STARS: 1
Performance shocks on stock springs will make a handling improvement. You could also look at finding particularly mild lowering springs.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
02/15/2017 at 20:50, STARS: 0
Strictly performance. The one’s on there were replaced a few years ago it seems.
"SidewaysOnDirt still misses Bowie" (sidewaysondirt)
02/15/2017 at 21:33, STARS: 0
I’d go with something adjustable like the yellows, but tires will make a bigger difference. With regards to the dampers, stiffening everything could actually make it worse and push more. What you really want is to be able to tune the balance. For example, to tighten a FWD car, my first instinct would be to stiffen the rear and/or soften the front. With adjustable, you can take it to autox, figure out what it’s doing that you don’t like, and adjust the valving to suit.
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
02/15/2017 at 21:55, STARS: 0
I don’t think I’m gonna go for adjustables. With the stock spring I doubt the shock setting would matter much and it’d be much easier to tune with a bigger rear anti-roll bar. For me I just don’t think they’d be worth the extra cost since I could get a roll bar for the difference in cost of the Orange and Yellow’s.
Also I’m not really trying to get more grip. Just make the car more responsive. At least for the foreseeable future :)
"TheD0k_2many toys 2little time" (thed0ck)
02/16/2017 at 00:57, STARS: 0
coilovers. /end thread
"DC3 LS, will be perpetually replacing cars until the end of time" (dc3ls-)
02/16/2017 at 01:35, STARS: 0
Ehhh, but I like my wheel travel and comfy ride. In the future if I get a second then defiantly. Although it’s a tough call since coilovers aren’t much more than just getting the shocks. Especially if I have a shop build the struts. Since AutoZone spring compressors look sketchy AF.
"TheD0k_2many toys 2little time" (thed0ck)
02/16/2017 at 03:52, STARS: 0
Most coilovers have dampening adjustment. Turn them to all the way soft.
"diplodicus" (diplodicus)
02/16/2017 at 08:51, STARS: 0
I can confirm that autozone spring compressors are sketchy as fuck.
"uofime-2" (uofime-2)
02/16/2017 at 11:54, STARS: 0
I’m sure you’ve been told this, but S-Tech = Style-Tech aka not a performance upgrade. They will lower the car and ride poorly