I recently bought a 98spec JDM ITR which has mugen low-down suspension fitted. I was always under the impression that it lowered an ITR approx 1/2 to 3/4inch front and rear, well in the car i bought it seems to have raised the rear end. Its sitting way too high and i cant figure out why. I have checked to ensure that there are actually mugen springs on the back shocks and there are. The top nut on the mount is screwed down fully...how can the rear end be sitting so high???? The tyres in the picture are 215/45/16 RE01-Rs but i have since changed those for Pirelli P-Zero Neros in 205/45/16 and the rear end looks even freekin higher now!!!

Help me remedy this!!!!

Original Auction Picture.


sorry i havent got any better pictures

 

my mugen low downs sit the same way....

 

Mine sit like that too.

You should try setting the front to 3 (1 being soft 5 being hard) and the rear to 4, I found this to be surprisingly good for taking the corners.

 

I personally like the ride height of the Mugens... lowered cars are extremely over rated as i have found by owning a fairly low civic. The handling characteristics completely change when you lower a car too much, especially a car like a type R that is finely tuned from the factory

 

function>looks in my book.

edit: im gonna try the 3 and 4, i have them all set to 4

 

Dan just try having the rear a bit stiffer, it seems to rotate a hell of a lot better.

 

On the street I tend to like my LowDowns at 1F and 3R. It varies at AutoX and track.
Here's a few pics also using a 215/45/16 tire.

 

I remember when i had an integra with stock type r swaybars and teins it would constantly want to rotate, with front biased rates and dampening all the way soft in the back.

The ride height looks nice with 16's

 

that ride height is about right, it is lower than stock if you could find one to compare to

 

What are the spring rates to the low downs?

 

im loving the white r with bronze tes.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by KOALA YUMMIES &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Quoted from an archive thread:

Spring Rates - Mugen
Front – 385 lb 6.8 kg/mm
Rear – 245 lb 4.5 kg/mm

Spring Rates – Stock
Front – 246 lb /in
Rear – 140 ~246 lbs/in

Stock rates converted to kg/mm
Front – 4.4 kg/mm
Rear – 2.5 ~ 4.4 kg/mm
</TD></TR></TABLE>


That's why I was never a huge fan of the lowdowns. They increase front springrate, yet the rear remains basically unchanged (besides the linear springrate).

I'd like to see a test of OEM ITR springs with Koni Yellows (on low perch) vs. Mugen Lowdowns on a track. I bet times would be about even, with perhaps the OEM/Koni combo winning due to better car balance. The lowdowns would nose-dive less during hard braking sessions, however.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tartje &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">that ride height is about right, it is lower than stock if you could find one to compare to</TD></TR></TABLE>

stock suspension & 195/55-15

 

FWIW, I switched from Koni/GC(800/600) to LowDowns and I prefer the feel of the LowDowns in every aspect. With the Koni's I never could get them to feel good to me and they always felt bouncy no matter the ride height or stiffness setting of the shock.

I do agree though, LowDowns are very similar to stock in the way the react and handle. One of the the first things I noticed about them was how I similar they really are to stock. A nice compromise between stock and a race application.

 

^ im gonna have to agree with get Right, i had konis/spoon springs and i like the ride on the mugen lowdowns a lot. i drive on 4f/4r daily. im going to try 4f/5r tonight.

 

I'm not at all impressed with the low downs, i have played with various settings and cant seem to find anything i like, i have it currently set at 4F and 3R but i still dont like the way it feels on the road. The initial bounce is off-putting as it seems too soft and throws the car of balance IMO. I have a set of older Ohlins c-type suspesnion and i think i'm going to fit instead which is a pity as the mugen suspension is like brand new and i'm estimating hasnt seen many miles (and please dont ask about buying it as i'm in europe and already have people in my ear wanting to buy them)...but at least i know theyre not faulty and the ride height is as it should be

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mugenracer &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I'm not at all impressed with the low downs</TD></TR></TABLE>
When you installed them, where they brand new?

That seems awfully stiff on the street. Have you tried softening them up? I have found that I hate anything over 3 in the front on the street.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by get RIGHT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
FWIW, I switched from Koni/GC(800/600) to LowDowns and I prefer the feel of the LowDowns in every aspect. With the Koni's I never could get them to feel good to me and they always felt bouncy no matter the ride height or stiffness setting of the shock.

</TD></TR></TABLE>

If those were normal Koni yellows, then it's totally understandable why the ride sucked. Your springrates were way too much for the shocks.

If they were revalved or SPSS Race, then I dunno. I always found Konis to be pretty good at controlling springrate and providing good dampening.

You sure you weren't crashing off the bumpstop with the GC setup? A lot of folks do but they don't realize it. This happens with non-shortened Konis and GC's that are set a little too low.

 

Mine where revalved SPSS3 and internally shortened. I hate slammed cars and they really where not lowered much more than the Lowdowns are. I really wish I knew why my old Konis sucked so bad because all I ever heard was good praise about them but my experience was an exact 180 from that.

 

Weird. I probably would have sent them back to Koni. Every SPSS equipped car I've driven has been really good. I've never daily driven a set though, but I could imagine that they wouldn't be good for that, at all.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Todd00 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Weird. </TD></TR></TABLE>
Indeed.

Someday I hope to graduate to the NZ's.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by get RIGHT &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">
Indeed.

Someday I hope to graduate to the NZ's. </TD></TR></TABLE>

If you decide to go that route, I have a set sitting in the box ready to go to a good home. I think they might have 300 miles on them. Maybe.

 

Oh.... I know.

 

The car was imported from japan in May of this year and they were already on the car when it arrived, but judging by their condition i'd say they were less than a year or two old and haven't had much abuse.

I'll try and set them softer all round to see how it goes but i'd say they'll be coming out and my ohlins going in.

 

you must just like your suspension set to "stupid-hard-gonna-catapult-me-into-a-field" eh Carl