Let's revisit coilovers (and airbags)!
05-29-20, 02:09 PM
#61
wait, what? you need to unbolt the bottom bolt before you can adjust height? I thought you just need to loose one of the top ring, then adjust the bottom ring to change height?
Last edited by digitatc; 05-29-20 at 02:22 PM.
05-29-20, 02:14 PM
#62
Instructor
Thread Starter
I contacted Jerrick and that is apparently not the case. It just seemed that way at first. I'll post after we finish.
05-29-20, 06:11 PM
#63
That's great to hear. Waiting for pictures.
05-30-20, 10:25 AM
#64
Instructor
You dont have to disconnect anything to adjust most coilovers. I have Megans and the simple adjustment is shown in this video.
05-31-20, 01:36 PM
#65
Lexus Test Driver
A HUGE Thank You WIL and i apologize to the rest of you...had no idea they worked that way...guess I need to step away from the coilover discussion since I don’t know what I am talking about.
06-01-20, 12:03 PM
#66
Instructor
06-03-20, 11:19 AM
#67
Driver School Candidate
Hi! I recently purchased an SC430 coming from a Mazda 3s, 2000 Prelude and a 2004 RX8. I love my SC430 but it's just so floppy. I would like to firm it up and lower it a smidge. The issue that I am having is on spring rates and feel. I want it to corner flatter, and remain reasonably comfortable. I detest the side-to-side transition. I've been reading and searching and reading and searching and I cannot find anything conclusive (which makes sense, comfort is subjective), nor can I find a consensus of some kind. I was thinking BC BRs at 14/12 or 12/10 with Swift springs, but how do you all know what spring rates to get married to?
06-03-20, 11:27 AM
#68
Instructor
Thread Starter
Hi! I recently purchased an SC430 coming from a Mazda 3s, 2000 Prelude and a 2004 RX8. I love my SC430 but it's just so floppy. I would like to firm it up and lower it a smidge. The issue that I am having is on spring rates and feel. I want it to corner flatter, and remain reasonably comfortable. I detest the side-to-side transition. I've been reading and searching and reading and searching and I cannot find anything conclusive (which makes sense, comfort is subjective), nor can I find a consensus of some kind. I was thinking BC BRs at 14/12 or 12/10 with Swift springs, but how do you all know what spring rates to get married to?
From what I learned researching this, the spring rate doesn't really matter that much on it's own and the dampers affect ride quality more, but they work together.
The MeisterR are 12/7 and with the dampers adjusted to -15 (front) and -20 (rear) from max hardness they feel maybe a little more comfy than stock. I haven't really had a chance to drive around a lot as I just installed them and I need to adjust the ride height a little more, but that was my first impression.
Other things I've done that have really made a nice improvement in body roll and cornering in general are bigger sway bars (front and rear) and a lot of bracing (STBs, chassis braces, etc).
Once I get the height right I'll post some pics.
06-03-20, 11:37 AM
#69
Driver School Candidate
From what I learned researching this, the spring rate doesn't really matter that much on it's own and the dampers affect ride quality more, but they work together.
The MeisterR are 12/7 and with the dampers adjusted to -15 (front) and -20 (rear) from max hardness they feel maybe a little more comfy than stock. I haven't really had a chance to drive around a lot as I just installed them and I need to adjust the ride height a little more, but that was my first impression.
Other things I've done that have really made a nice improvement in body roll and cornering in general are bigger sway bars (front and rear) and a lot of bracing (STBs, chassis braces, etc).
Once I get the height right I'll post some pics.
The MeisterR are 12/7 and with the dampers adjusted to -15 (front) and -20 (rear) from max hardness they feel maybe a little more comfy than stock. I haven't really had a chance to drive around a lot as I just installed them and I need to adjust the ride height a little more, but that was my first impression.
Other things I've done that have really made a nice improvement in body roll and cornering in general are bigger sway bars (front and rear) and a lot of bracing (STBs, chassis braces, etc).
Once I get the height right I'll post some pics.
Did you go sways and bracing first?
06-03-20, 11:54 AM
#70
Instructor
Thread Starter
So, going into tightening up my SC, I know it will never be the RX, but sway bars and bracing did more for roll than coils? I plan on going through the car and doing most of this stuff. I'm just trying to build an "order of operations" so to speak. I'll probably still go coils first, because lowering, but for sure I need a planted feeling. I will say that I have read that sway bars and braces wonders for top down driving.
Did you go sways and bracing first?
Did you go sways and bracing first?
I didn't plan to do coilovers when I originally planned out my build, but a long chain of events forced me to it, lol. (Big brakes didn't fit wheels (theres a thread on that), new wheels rubbed fenders, coilovers adjust the ride height to fix that, lol). I learned the hard way on this car to always start with coilovers, I won't make that error again.
What I can tell you is that I REALLY liked the sway bar upgrades (Aristo front, ISF rear) even on stock 100k mile suspension. It's hard to tell if front STB did a lot, but my custom rear STB was noticeable. I liked the TRD door braces, easy install, a little pricey for what they are, but a $150 mod on this car isn't really that nuts since pickins' are slim for performance upgrades. I also really liked the lower chassis brace (there's a thread on that too), that one was noticable even with some of the other braces already in place.
Which RX do you have? I'm also repping Mazda with my NA Miata.
PS, if you're doing coilovers, you might as well do the sways while you're in there since you're unbolting them anyway.
06-03-20, 12:22 PM
#71
Driver School Candidate
I can't really say which does more because I did the bracing first. If I was to do this car again knowing what I know now, I would start with coilovers, just because they makes life so much easier when you go to do wheels/tires.
I didn't plan to do coilovers when I originally planned out my build, but a long chain of events forced me to it, lol. (Big brakes didn't fit wheels (theres a thread on that), new wheels rubbed fenders, coilovers adjust the ride height to fix that, lol). I learned the hard way on this car to always start with coilovers, I won't make that error again.
What I can tell you is that I REALLY liked the sway bar upgrades (Aristo front, ISF rear) even on stock 100k mile suspension. It's hard to tell if front STB did a lot, but my custom rear STB was noticeable. I liked the TRD door braces, easy install, a little pricey for what they are, but a $150 mod on this car isn't really that nuts since pickins' are slim for performance upgrades. I also really liked the lower chassis brace (there's a thread on that too), that one was noticable even with some of the other braces already in place.
Which RX do you have? I'm also repping Mazda with my NA Miata.
PS, if you're doing coilovers, you might as well do the sways while you're in there since you're unbolting them anyway.
I didn't plan to do coilovers when I originally planned out my build, but a long chain of events forced me to it, lol. (Big brakes didn't fit wheels (theres a thread on that), new wheels rubbed fenders, coilovers adjust the ride height to fix that, lol). I learned the hard way on this car to always start with coilovers, I won't make that error again.
What I can tell you is that I REALLY liked the sway bar upgrades (Aristo front, ISF rear) even on stock 100k mile suspension. It's hard to tell if front STB did a lot, but my custom rear STB was noticeable. I liked the TRD door braces, easy install, a little pricey for what they are, but a $150 mod on this car isn't really that nuts since pickins' are slim for performance upgrades. I also really liked the lower chassis brace (there's a thread on that too), that one was noticable even with some of the other braces already in place.
Which RX do you have? I'm also repping Mazda with my NA Miata.
PS, if you're doing coilovers, you might as well do the sways while you're in there since you're unbolting them anyway.
I had a gen 1 RX8(04). Ayy NA. The Mazda is super fun to drive, I'd say it feels like what it is...a larger(heavier), more stable Miata. They are based on the same chassis. Everything about it is just click-click, snick-snick. Goodness, I miss it already (9.1K will never get old). Problems: zero highway appeal (DFW), terrible mpgs, small and less than comfy (road noise, tire noise). Driving stick in the city does get old after a while.
I still enjoy spirited driving when I get the chance, and honestly I'd be okay with a ride closer to Preludes and RXs than Lexus. The wheelbase and seats solve some issues.
The following users liked this post:
joemg (06-03-20)
06-03-20, 02:06 PM
#73
Driver School Candidate
You really need to budget for what you need to do for this car or you will see a big hole in the bank account. I've never imagined spending more money on modding/replacing parts than the car cost itself.
@joemg probably knows it best.
@joemg probably knows it best.
06-03-20, 11:24 PM
#74
Lexus Test Driver
I can't really say which does more because I did the bracing first. If I was to do this car again knowing what I know now, I would start with coilovers, just because they makes life so much easier when you go to do wheels/tires.
I didn't plan to do coilovers when I originally planned out my build, but a long chain of events forced me to it, lol. (Big brakes didn't fit wheels (theres a thread on that), new wheels rubbed fenders, coilovers adjust the ride height to fix that, lol). I learned the hard way on this car to always start with coilovers, I won't make that error again.
What I can tell you is that I REALLY liked the sway bar upgrades (Aristo front, ISF rear) even on stock 100k mile suspension. It's hard to tell if front STB did a lot, but my custom rear STB was noticeable. I liked the TRD door braces, easy install, a little pricey for what they are, but a $150 mod on this car isn't really that nuts since pickins' are slim for performance upgrades. I also really liked the lower chassis brace (there's a thread on that too), that one was noticable even with some of the other braces already in place.
Which RX do you have? I'm also repping Mazda with my NA Miata.
PS, if you're doing coilovers, you might as well do the sways while you're in there since you're unbolting them anyway.
I didn't plan to do coilovers when I originally planned out my build, but a long chain of events forced me to it, lol. (Big brakes didn't fit wheels (theres a thread on that), new wheels rubbed fenders, coilovers adjust the ride height to fix that, lol). I learned the hard way on this car to always start with coilovers, I won't make that error again.
What I can tell you is that I REALLY liked the sway bar upgrades (Aristo front, ISF rear) even on stock 100k mile suspension. It's hard to tell if front STB did a lot, but my custom rear STB was noticeable. I liked the TRD door braces, easy install, a little pricey for what they are, but a $150 mod on this car isn't really that nuts since pickins' are slim for performance upgrades. I also really liked the lower chassis brace (there's a thread on that too), that one was noticable even with some of the other braces already in place.
Which RX do you have? I'm also repping Mazda with my NA Miata.
PS, if you're doing coilovers, you might as well do the sways while you're in there since you're unbolting them anyway.
https://www.rigidcollar.eu/rigid-col...0-uzz40-108784
06-04-20, 02:17 PM
#75
Isn't the collars useful only if you track/race the car ? My problem is if you make the car to rigid, then there you give up comfort. Too much bracing and you loose the smooth ride of the Lexus.
Megan Racing offers a set of collars for the rear of this car.
The good things about MeisterR coilover that JoeMG installed is that it offers the same or better comfort ride compare to OEM, while at the same time, it allows right height adjustment.
Megan Racing offers a set of collars for the rear of this car.
The good things about MeisterR coilover that JoeMG installed is that it offers the same or better comfort ride compare to OEM, while at the same time, it allows right height adjustment.
Last edited by digitatc; 06-04-20 at 02:21 PM.
The following users liked this post:
joemg (06-04-20)