Coilover Spring Rates

[Allan74]

What is a 'comfortable' yet 'responsive' set of coilovers going to be rated at for....let's say, AGRESSIVE STREET (Weekend Warrior, Daily Driver ?).

Application: Near OEM Weight BNR32

Currently, my car rides like a tank. I don't want to overexagerate, but I would not be surprised to find 12+kg/8+kg Setup in the car right now.

The car doesn't get 'comfy' untill about 100km/h.....50km/h is a killer.

Anyways, where do I start ? because it's not like I can 'try them out' and return what I don't like....lol

[Skym]

Factory setup. :D

Those spring rates are more for semislicks / slicks and chassis with rollcage.

There are formula's to work suspension out (available on the internet). But you need access to shock dyno to get shock data for formula, so is a suspension specialist only type of job that have a shock dyno.

Just tell suspension specialist what you want, let them look at car and do measurements and they should be able to custom build a suspension setup to your requirements.

Sorry, I don't know of any suspension specialist's in Canada with shock dyno, etc. :(

Or someone in Canada who works with Nissan racecars should be able to help you set car up properly -

http://www.madmacsracing.com/index.htm

[Allan74]

Ya, that's a little more than I am willing to do. Off-the-shelf stuff will be fine.

I want to take a ride in someone's car who runs 10/7kg setup or similar and see how it goes.

Although My car is getting raised back up to nearly stock ride height, I still want it lowered a bit, so OEM's are out.....

[Aaron]

Allan if you have the time I highly suggest reading this whole thread.

howard coleman's FD Chassis/Setup - RX7Club.com

Yes, the specifics applies to RX7s but the theories are the same with any car it will open your mind greatly on suspension tuning. Howard Coleman is the biggest vault of information on that site. He really know`s what he`s talking about.

It`s a long read, but once you`re done I guarantee you`ll be happy you read it.

[Aaron]

And don`t skip any parts! You`ll want to, but every sentence in there helps.

[Allan74]

Thanks for the link. I will give it a good read.

[Skym]

Interesting.

I agree with nearly everthing he has said in that link. But pillowball hats are not that bad on the road, unless you hit potholes. The steering response when turning from left to right and right to left is improved with pillowball hats. Tyre pressure bleeders are a good idea for track use.

[Snow]

Wow a good read Aaron, thanks!

I need to take my suspension in for tuning so I will have to take a closer look at that before I pull the car out next season.

[Aaron]

Not bad eh? The GTR does not wieght that much more than an FD. It is a bit more front heavy. Allan I think you would be very happy with 10k/7k springs. The Tein SS are valved to take any spring you want.

One thing people forget to take into account when setting up suspension is roll centers, camber on bump and sway bars. Too many people counter act body roll with really stiff springs instead of a combo of sways and moderate springs. Along with some tension rods, FUCAs, RUCAs and trailing arms, the GTR (or gtst) can be set up very well.

[Aaron]

Interesting.

I agree with nearly everthing he has said in that link. But pillowball hats are not that bad on the road, unless you hit potholes. The steering response when turning from left to right and right to left is improved with pillowball hats. Tyre pressure bleeders are a good idea for track use.

On an FD, pillow ball's don't have any effect on steering. On a mcpherson strut I can see it helping but with the double wishbone suspension on the RX7 there is really no need for them

[Skym]

Interesting.

RX7 double wishbone vs Skyline R32 multilink on front -

http://media.photobucket.com/image/RX7%20double%20wishbone/g81981/MultivsDoubleA.jpg

I think your correct, as it looks like top hat is not touching strut tower directly with double wishbone RX7 suspension setup, so it probably doesn't affect steering response much with a pillowball top hat.

If he has rollcage inside GTR and is running semislicks or slicks, run higher spring rates (up to 10k). Without rollcage, semi slicks or slicks, I would use softer spring rates. Alot of the track orientated rates are for race chassis, race tyres.

[Aaron]

For a street/track GTR 10k/7k plus some hollow bars with new endlinks and bushings would be great.

Then tune rebound like howard coleman says with the zap straps on the strut. Take the coilover out and measure what your camber is at 2'' of wheel travel. This will help you set your static camber.

FD's have true race suspension that increases over 3* of camber on 2 inches of wheel travel into the fender, this is why FD's don't run agressive static camber like Civics, Skylines and 240s do.

Use a infrared heat sensor to see if your tires are heating evenly. This will assist in tire pressure and camber settings.

I found 3.5* in the front, 1.2* in the rear with 6* of caster to be sufficient. Toe is a personal prefrence kind of thing.

[Skym]

Interesting.

He probably would need some semislicks to work with those rates for road, racetrack.