First of all, this set up will replace my current H&R Sport/Tokico Blue set up. I will be doing mostly daily driving with a small amount of auto-x come spring/summer.

Should I just order the OTS set up for the GCs, or should I get a custom rate? It isn't much more expensive, I am just unsure of what would be better for me. Also which rates would you suggest? Any input would be greatly appreciated. I plan on ordering the set up in the next few days.


PS. No Limit Motorsports has a good deal going. The whole set up will cost $809 for the OTS set-up or $822 if I get custom rates.

 

How familiar are you with suspension tuning? You'd be okay with OTS for now, becuase the springs can always be swapped later on when you figure out what your needs / wants are. What may end up costing more is by getting high springrates that the Konis will need to be revalved for.

 

for $13 more i'd probably go with custom rates, but that depends on what the OTS rates are of course... anyone know?

 

the OTS rates are front heavy - 400/500 is a good street/track/autox starting point

 

Get the custom rates in the neighborhood RJ suggested. Should be a nice versatile track/autocross setup that won't rattle your teeth out.

 

I'll speak for this combo too, I got Yellows/GC with 400fr 500rr rates this summer and I'm so happy with it. My car is a daily driver (in the summer only) and I'm usually good for 30 events a year. If it was strictly a street car I'm sure I would go with lower rates (for myself) cuz it is a little rough. A compromise I'm willing to make though!

 

I have 400f/250R Koni/GC setup and they are awesome for the street. I haven't used this car for Auto-X yet since I'm awaiting the go-ahead on an engine swap. Once I get that, I'm thinking of steping up to 500 lb/in rears & hitting the track.

I can say this, you are realy going to love them. If you run your car low, there is a really good trick to adding shock travel w/ the front Koni shocks too...

 

yeah i'd go with custom rates, regular i think is 325-350 front and 250 rear, that what im using with the yellows and they are too soft IMO

 

for daily driving, id actually recommend just staying with OTS springs.

getting higher rates, espeically in the rear, may improve your lap times on the track or autox once you learn to actually drive that limit, but its really unnecessary if your goal is just to have a more than decent handling car driven daily.

the rear springs make more of a difference on how the car drives and feels on the road. i say just keep the front biased setup, which the OTS springs are. then spend some $60-80 and buy some used springs of higher spring rate and put them in the rear later on if you want.

really, its not like not having the championship winning setup of 450/550 (or whatever) is going to prevent you from having fun or even being competitive out on the track or autocross. its not like the car ceases to function just because you dont have the highest spring rates possible. anyway, thats just my opinion from having gone from 450/900 springs to currently running on stock suspension (and everywhere in between) and liking it stock (almost )

 

i'm running 400 f / 500 r also, and i agree it's a little bit too stiff day in and day out. if you don't mind a little bit of a harsh ride it's no big deal, but get just ots rates if ride comfort is more of your concern than that extra few tenths of a second.

 

I run 450 front and 550 rear. With very large tires it's not to bad(215 45 azenis I think). I really should get the konis revalved though. Sometimes over big bumps the rebound is a bit much.

 

ahh finally people can discuss spring rates and not get flamed!! NICE!


any of u guys ran with 400f/350r spring rates on the GC/koni setup? my car is not my daily driver but it isnt an autoX car either. (sorry to hijack the thread )

 

I think my ride is a little harsh right now. Does anyone know where I can find out the spring rates for the H&R Sports? I checked the website and I can't seem to come up with anything.

I think I will go with the most common answer and order the set-up that way. But if i choose to go 400/500, will the Koni shocks be able to handle the rates or will they need to be re-valved?

thanx for all the great replys so far.

edit: after rereading, since some people are saying that the 400/500 is too stiff for daily use, would it make sense to drop down to say 350/450 or lower? i hope that makes sense.

 

i had 380f 450r on my hatch and it did good, still had understeer when pushed really hard, but if you let of the throttle or hit the brake durning or corner it would send you around, but it was controlalable. it just slowly steped out.


380f is what comes with integra OTS i wouldn't go any lower.

i daily drove my car with the 380 450 and it was fine. I have now jumped up to 600F 800r so once the car gets on the track we will see how it goes

 

I think 400 up front is fine. 450 rear might be worth a try. Let us know what you deciede and how it worked out!

 

Ok, if you think your H&R Sports are Harsh... do, not, I repeat, do not get 400/500 Eibachs! Not only is your current spring rate probably about half of what you are looking at, but your H&R's are progressive (get stiffer as they compress) and the Eibachs that come with a Yellow/GC combo are linear (same rate through entire compression) I had H&R Sports on my Acura and H&R Race on my EG (before the Coilovers) and both felt like a Cadillac compared to my Eibachs... If you're not ready for the bumps don't do it, it's a compromise I was more than willing (actually happy) to make.

 

im running the otf koni neuspeed yellows, with integra gsr otf ground controls. My car is daily driven and i love the set up.

 

ok forgive my noobish questions about suspension set-ups, but I am the first one of my friends to actually research suspension set-ups before actually buying one. My friends come from the school of thought that lower = better handling. So they go out and get the $35 ebay coilovers and slam their cars to the ground.

Anyways, I think I may be confusing stiffness with bounce. I do A LOT of highway travel. So will the 400/500 set up make my car more bouncy on the road? Higher srping rate = more bounce?

Honestly I dont think I would mind more bounce if it made my car stick to the road better. My set up now feels very sloppy. I've already ordered a ST 19mm rear sway bar to hopefully combat the sway. I just want a set-up thatll keep my car planted on the road better, and will make the car handle better overall.

Thank you for all the help and lack of flames so far.

 

you need good shocks to make your handling better. not how low you can go. with proper shocks, even stiff springs will work properly with little to no bounce.

 

ok lets see if I can finalize things here so I can put my order in:

If i go with the 400/500 will the Konis need to be revalved?

are bumps on the road going to make my car seem like its going out of control? will it seem like the car is slamming when going over the bumps?

i think i might as well up it to 400 for the front since its only 20 higher. the rear i might just do 450 in attempt to make it more driveable.

 

dont need a revalve....... ride will be "tolerable" on the street... if you are concerned about ride quality go 300# in the rear.

 

Lee Grimes at Koni has said that OTS Konis are good for about 550#. So they should handle your 500# springs fine. But I think that you might find 500# a little annoying for the street all the time.The car won't be "bouncy" at all but will bang on sharp pavement bumps like expansion joints.

It all depends what the roads are like around you and what annoys you. There are some people on this forum who have 800# rears and think they are ok for the street. There are others who think 300# is "too stiff"

Remeber, that springs shocks tires and swaybars all together determine the ride. The spring rate of your tires can substantially change the feel of the car. That's why manufacturers go to great lengths to tune a car's suspension AND spec out the tires. Honda and Bridgestone worked hard to come up with a spec tire for all their performance cars (ITR S2000 and NSX).

So, go with the general advice here (300-400 front 400-500 rear) or go with OTS from GC. The GC setup will be safer for the street and more comfortable. The H-T setup will be faster at the track, less comfortable and more likely to get you into trouble on the street. If you are the type that drives fast around corners on the street and have been known to lift the throttle suddenly mid-corner then get the GC setup. You will live a lot longer. The H-T setup is less stable in a panic situation (which is the same as saying it rotates easier)

Also, after you install the Koni GC setup make sure you get the car corner weighted and aligned or at least aligned. Too much toe out in the rear could make your car an accident waiting to happen. And don't go too low with the GC sleeves you risk the shock by making them more likely to bottom out when you go low. Stick to a 1" to 2" drop from stock and you should be fine.

regards,
alan

 

ok, I think ill stick with the OTS for the fronts and bump the rear up to 300. which should make it 380/300. I think ill need to get used to having the larger sway bar first before I go and make it too stiff in the rear.
From time to time i may take my foot off the gas during a turn, so I dont want the car to completly come around. the sway bar will make it come around enough for now. I could always switch the rears out later if need be.

The roads around here are really crappy so I think the 380/300 will be good enough for daily driving, and some fun times at the track.

Ill let everyone know how it all feels once they get installed.

Thank you all for the help.

 

I've got a 99 EK hatch and I went with 400F/300R, but the reason I went with a lower rate in the back was because I also have a 22mm ITR bar. I also performed a front 26mm Si conversion. I love my setup. The only people that complain are those who are top heavy If you decide later to get more serious, you can always up the rear, so stick with what you've decided on for everyday driving.

Latez,

Paul

PS-I've also got Koni/Neuspeeds with the GC top mounts.

 

i've got 350 F and 400 R, it's nice, not too stiff and not to soft...
daily driven and many auto-x in summer

but yea u can always change the springs...when/if u want to