Bilstein HD on '97 LS400
01-29-13, 11:17 AM
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Bilstein HD on '97 LS400
Well I finally joined the elite and now own a '97 Coach edition LS400 with 119,000 miles. She is a beauty, dark green, chrome wheelz.
New Firestone FR710 tires aren't supposed to be the greatest but will do for now. I think she needs an alignment but maybe new shocks too. I'd like to alleviate some of the floatyness even though this is part of what the car is all about. I'd like to replace the shocks before any alignment if I replace them at all.
I've searched here some and found Bilstein mentioned some but no real review or comparison. Lowering the car a touch is something I'd like to accomplish but definitely not slammed or HerraFrush. So what say you those who have Bilstein on their 2nd gen LS400? Is there a thread that has covered this already somewhere?
What about alignment specs? I also have a '96 Miata and spend quite a bit of time on Miata.net. The suspension section is actually too full of information, information overload and the myriad of combinations folks have tried. Most any other site I visit for just about any other car is really lacking the indepthness so it's feast or famine. Do you all just get aligned to factory spec and call it a day? Alignment on a Miata is crucial to turn in, stability, twitchyness and tire life. Factory spec is not great.
I did post this over on another forum but it isn't as busy as this one seems to be.
New Firestone FR710 tires aren't supposed to be the greatest but will do for now. I think she needs an alignment but maybe new shocks too. I'd like to alleviate some of the floatyness even though this is part of what the car is all about. I'd like to replace the shocks before any alignment if I replace them at all.
I've searched here some and found Bilstein mentioned some but no real review or comparison. Lowering the car a touch is something I'd like to accomplish but definitely not slammed or HerraFrush. So what say you those who have Bilstein on their 2nd gen LS400? Is there a thread that has covered this already somewhere?
What about alignment specs? I also have a '96 Miata and spend quite a bit of time on Miata.net. The suspension section is actually too full of information, information overload and the myriad of combinations folks have tried. Most any other site I visit for just about any other car is really lacking the indepthness so it's feast or famine. Do you all just get aligned to factory spec and call it a day? Alignment on a Miata is crucial to turn in, stability, twitchyness and tire life. Factory spec is not great.
I did post this over on another forum but it isn't as busy as this one seems to be.
01-29-13, 01:40 PM
#2
the bilsteins are great shocks, and you can even lower the car a small amount using the adjustable spring perches. They are definitely firmer than stock but not too harsh provided you use a reasonable spring setup. If all you want is slightly firmer damping the bilsteins with factory springs is a reasonable route.
If you want anything more you should be looking at coilovers. Megan EZ/LP street are well regarded but may be a bit too much for you as they don't go anywhere near stock height on the '95-00 cars. An often overlooked setup these days is the Tein Comfort Spec coilover, it's a fair bit more money than the EZ, and doesn't go as low, but the ride is VERY well preserved and makes the car feel more bmw-ish in firmness.
If you want anything more you should be looking at coilovers. Megan EZ/LP street are well regarded but may be a bit too much for you as they don't go anywhere near stock height on the '95-00 cars. An often overlooked setup these days is the Tein Comfort Spec coilover, it's a fair bit more money than the EZ, and doesn't go as low, but the ride is VERY well preserved and makes the car feel more bmw-ish in firmness.
01-30-13, 09:48 AM
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Thanks for the info. I may wait and sort out the tires first. She has brand new Firestone FR710 all seasons which are a bit noisy and maybe why it's so floaty. A Grand Touring or High Performance All Season might just make it all better.
Tein is a respected name in the Miata world but the Megans start some heated discussions. They seem to be really popular on so many cars they just don't provide as much data as the severely critical suspension folks over at Miata.net are used to. They always get lumped into the same group of re-branded no name Chinese shocks that flood eBay.
I spoke with Fat Cat Motorsports, a suspension legend in the Miata world, he re-valves standard Bilstein HD shocks to your requirements and sells full coil over sets for around $1,800. He is going to look into how Bilstein has valved the HD's for the LS400 and see if he thinks it could be improved. Bilstein quality and longevity has few equals but sometimes they really get the valving wrong and the Miata is one of the worst examples.
Tein is a respected name in the Miata world but the Megans start some heated discussions. They seem to be really popular on so many cars they just don't provide as much data as the severely critical suspension folks over at Miata.net are used to. They always get lumped into the same group of re-branded no name Chinese shocks that flood eBay.
I spoke with Fat Cat Motorsports, a suspension legend in the Miata world, he re-valves standard Bilstein HD shocks to your requirements and sells full coil over sets for around $1,800. He is going to look into how Bilstein has valved the HD's for the LS400 and see if he thinks it could be improved. Bilstein quality and longevity has few equals but sometimes they really get the valving wrong and the Miata is one of the worst examples.
01-30-13, 11:08 AM
#4
coming from the miata world, i understand you have a plethora of information regarding suspension because well it's a race car and many folks dabble with different setups. the aftermarket support is one of the best out there.
with the LS it's a different ball game where most folks either go for OEM, air suspension, or use super stiff coilovers. finding a nice medium is rare around these parts but you have PureDrifter who understand all sides.
what i like about the LS is that you can fine tune your alignment without having to install adjustable arms (unless you are super slammed and want stock alignment). the stock cam bolts used in the suspension gives lots of room for different settings depending on your driving preference. the LS is solid when aligned in stock parameters. i'm sure you can squeeze out a better turn-in feel if you adjust toe but the car is so HUGE the gain is hardly apparent. after all this is a luxury car!
with the LS it's a different ball game where most folks either go for OEM, air suspension, or use super stiff coilovers. finding a nice medium is rare around these parts but you have PureDrifter who understand all sides.
what i like about the LS is that you can fine tune your alignment without having to install adjustable arms (unless you are super slammed and want stock alignment). the stock cam bolts used in the suspension gives lots of room for different settings depending on your driving preference. the LS is solid when aligned in stock parameters. i'm sure you can squeeze out a better turn-in feel if you adjust toe but the car is so HUGE the gain is hardly apparent. after all this is a luxury car!
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02-01-13, 09:09 AM
#10
Just did a quick search on shockwarehouse.com on an LS400 98 and 97 without the air shocks... and the part number for the fronts and backs comes up the same...so I would say, yes, you can use the 4 for from the 97 on the 98... Front is: F4-BE5-2734-H1...and rear is: F4-BE5-2735-H0... you can check yourself to make sure the ones you have on hand match the numbers the site tell you... assuming shockwarehouse.com is accurate, of course...
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