Many of you might remember my recent post stating that I had purchased a set of Ohlins PCV Coilovers. They arrived via Fedex last week and were installed this afternoon. Here are the specifics.

Out of the box, this setup immediately puts to rest any doubts about it's capabilities. The suspension just looks about twice as robust as the majority of aftermarket coilover suspension upgrades. Everything about them screams, "For track use only," but that didn't stop me. Installation is as straightforward as can be. You don't have to mess with spring compressors as the setup uses pillow ball upper mounts. The only issues I had while installing them came about from me being the only person working on the car when ideally there should have been two. Also note that camber kits are not required.

Here is a pic of the stock suspension.


Here's some of the Ohlins dampers being installed.






After installation, the car had a bit more agression to it. The suspension lowered the car by just a little bit, but did so with amazing results. The wheels now look more "at home" in the wheelwells and the car looks much faster. Driving the car is simply amazing now. I made the shakedown run with the dampers on their softest setting and the ride quality was virtually stock. Sure, it was a bit bumpier, but not enough to really notice unless you spend a lot of time behind the wheel of an R. Very small bumps were hardly noticable due to the helper springs absorbing all the impact, but larger bumps did in fact cause the car to jolt a little at speed. After the shakedown run, I decided it was time to stiffen the car up a bit. I turned the the front to the sixth setting (not sure how many settings, but quite a few), and the rears to the eighth (trying to stiffen up the rear to promote more neutral handling at the limit as opposed to slight understeer). Words cannot describe how good the car felt. Just screwing around in a parking lot was enough to greatly impress me. When taken to the limit, the car was simply amazing, it gave the car a level of driver input/feedback much greater than the stock suspension and made the car (with shitty tires) stick like glue. I'm waiting until I can get back up to North Carolina to really put it to the test on some of the mountain roads.

Here are pics.




Bottom line: If in the unlikely event you ever run across a set of these, don't hesitate to pick them up. I bought mine slightly used for $1350. I think they usually sell for upwards of $2500 or more when new, but I'm not sure. I'll keep everyone informed with updates as I continue experiementing with them.

 

Nice review Kendall. Now im looking foward to a ride.

 

kendall...the suspension looks nice and i've heard good things about ohlins.

what are the spring rates?

and...why are you going with a k20 swap in the ITR?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by chet &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">what are the spring rates?

and...why are you going with a k20 swap in the ITR?</TD></TR></TABLE>

The front spring rate is 14kg/mm and the rear is 6kg/mm.

And K series engines are more capable than B series engine.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by -BEN- &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Nice review Kendall. Now im looking foward to a ride. </TD></TR></TABLE>

All in due time.

 

14/6?

time for a 26mm rear swaybar...

 

Thats real soft in the rear. I wonder if it pushes like a biatch.

 

Nice review. I'm running the Ohlins also and I just can't go back to anything else. I'm running 10k and 12k springs.


Modified by jonnybravo at 3:34 AM 2/8/2004

 

Thanks for the great review!

I'm curious how the car handles in respect to understeer/oversteer. You'll have to let us know as time goes on, or initial reactions... etc.

Chris - anxiously awaiting his JIC's....

 

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

The front spring rate is 14kg/mm and the rear is 6kg/mm.

And K series engines are more capable than B series engine.

All in due time.</TD></TR></TABLE>


.....Damn, that is retardo soft in the rear. I'd order some 21k rear springs if I was you.....

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Black R &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">.....Damn, that is retardo soft in the rear. I'd order some 21k rear springs if I was you..... </TD></TR></TABLE>

Stupid soft! Weaksauce comfort setup jk

 

Are other spring rates available??? Is the ride height adjustable??? Adjustable pillow mounts

 

14/6? thats like 400 ftlbin in front and 200 in rear

time to add that 36mm sway bar in the rear to compensate

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Soup **** &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">14/6? thats like 400 ftlbin in front and 200 in rear

time to add that 36mm sway bar in the rear to compensate </TD></TR></TABLE>

Actually its 770lbs/in Front and 330lbs/in rear. Conversion is kg/mm = 55lbs/in (rounded)

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Kendall &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Bottom line: If in the unlikely event you ever run across a set of these, don't hesitate to pick them up. I bought mine slightly used for $1350. I think they usually sell for upwards of $2500 or more when new, but I'm not sure. I'll keep everyone informed with updates as I continue experiementing with them.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I pity anyone that pays $2500 for them (no offense)

http://page6.auctions.yahoo.co...76350

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Dr Pooface &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Thats real soft in the rear. I wonder if it pushes like a biatch.</TD></TR></TABLE>

What he said.

Nice review.

 

I think you should order some stiffer springs.
They are 22 degree adjustable.

For mine I ordered some TEIN springs and remove the helper springs also.

RIght now it is F18k R14K and it handles GREAT!
I had Zeal B and B2 before and they are NOTHING compare to the OHLINS.

-david

 

Makes me want to do suspension. Sounds like quite a difference,

 

Needs to be stiffer!

 

actually, with the softer springs in the rear, the effect is amazing. The level of comfort is great and with the damping set a bit stiffer in the rear, it grips like crazy. I drove the hell out of it last night with the front damping set to the fourth setting and the rear set to the seventh. At the extreme limit the car wants to oversteer ever so slightly, but does so with amazing predictability. In all reality you would have to drink about 6 gallons of Jack Daniel's to lose contol of this car. As soon as I can get out somewhere where the average road conditions are smoother then I will start to experiement with the stiffer levels of damping. I'm also thinking it's about time for new tires as my current tires suck. Maybe some Azenis in 215/45/16's.

And yes the ride height is adjustable.

 

when you gona sell your cheap *** kumho 712's and get some real tires?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Bob-DC2 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">when you gona sell your cheap *** kumho 712's and get some real tires?</TD></TR></TABLE>

LOL, very soon. I found a great deal on some 16" Spoon wheels, I probably won't have them until mid-March, but decent tires will be on their way shortly.

 

thats a pretty rediculous setup if you ask me.

Look at those spring rates, thats just messed up.

How would those be a "track only suspension"...you can't even adjust the body of the damer


they "look" pretty

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Emerika &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thats a pretty rediculous setup if you ask me.

Look at those spring rates, thats just messed up.

How would those be a "track only suspension"...you can't even adjust the body of the damer

they "look" pretty</TD></TR></TABLE>

Most TOP of the line dampers (I mean TOP TOP, something that most of us can't afford like Moton or Penske), do not have adjustable shock length.

And the spring rates aren't messed up if you have been following the Gymkhana racing scene in Asia. This kind of ridiculously soft rear rate would induce oversteer at sharp tight turns due to the change in rear camber exceeding the grip envelop of the tire (or something to that effect).

 

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

Most TOP of the line dampers (I mean TOP TOP, something that most of us can't afford like Moton or Penske), do not have adjustable shock length.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I know. My friend has the H&R full race coilovers on his DC2, (the ones hey run on their race cars), and they are not adjustable that way. But it's also not a good deal to mess with ride height, since the design was intended for a particular height.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

And the spring rates aren't messed up if you have been following the Gymkhana racing scene in Asia. This kind of ridiculously soft rear rate would induce oversteer at sharp tight turns due to the change in rear camber exceeding the grip envelop of the tire (or something to that effect).</TD></TR></TABLE>

I don't pay attention. I run a higher rear rate cause I live in the US and thats what we do

 

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

Most TOP of the line dampers (I mean TOP TOP, something that most of us can't afford like Moton or Penske), do not have adjustable shock length.

And the spring rates aren't messed up if you have been following the Gymkhana racing scene in Asia. This kind of ridiculously soft rear rate would induce oversteer at sharp tight turns due to the change in rear camber exceeding the grip envelop of the tire (or something to that effect).</TD></TR></TABLE>

These dampers actually came used off of a car set up for Gymkhana racing (or that's what my friend who got them for me said).

And most Ohlins setups make Moton's look pretty cheap.