Springs vs Coilovers? Why choose one over the other?

[avera01]

In doing some research to consider what to do in improving the handling charecteristics of my M2 for daily driving (want really good emergency handling capability) as well as to improve the overall look I am not sure which direction is better.

Springs lower the car and stiffen the ride to reduce roll and improve traction, but they are not adjustable and if they lower the car, will impact the struts/shocks to some degree and may require their replacement. You also run the risk of bottoming out the car or hitting the wheel well/fender if you go too low. Part Costs: around $225 plus shocks/struts if needed could end up costing the same as coilovers.

Coilovers are essentially struts/shocks with built-in springs. They initially cost a whole lot more than just springs, but the included struts/shocks are designed for them therefore they should not be any further cost. Depending on the model they are also height adjustable which is where the advantage lies if you know how to use it and actually do use it for its intended purpose. Part Costs: over $1,000

So which way to go? Any thoughts or opinions?

 

[njaremka]

the biggest difference is coilovers will allow for custom height settings, and possible adjustable damping. adjusting those two settings could also lead to a very bad handling car, if you dont know what you are doing. a decent matched set of springs and dampers (struts) will sometimes perform as well as a set of coilovers.

before you choose, you need to decide what your goal is. modest lowering, with a "set it, and forget it" set-up? or, custom ride height with ajustable damping? most people with adjustable dampers end up finding one setting and never touching it again.

 

[avera01]

With that in mind, then what would be a good combination of Springs and struts/shocks for the M2?

Assuming that the stock strut/shock will not suffice (not intended design) with perhaps the exception of Racing Beat springs.

 

[cojsl]

improving the handling charecteristics of my M2 for daily driving (want really good emergency handling capability) as well as to improve the overall look

Couldn't find any posts saying you'd done this, apologies if I missed it, but replacing your OE tires with good summer tires will do far more to improve handling than any suspension work will, though they don't "improve the look".

Falken 912
Hankook RS3
Dunlop Z1
are all great relatively inexpensive choices.

 

[DarkSideMazda2]

it's all about adjustability (dampening, height) for the coilovers.

coilover also tend to be able to go lower and u can get the manufacturers to make custom spring rates for your coilovers.

but alas, is it worth the extra $$? tht's for you to decide.

 

[elfhearse]

I'd like to try the springs/shocks route, but NO manufacturers are making sport shocks** for the Mazda2...yet.... I check the Koni site every week but nada.

EDIT: **shocks/springs in lieu of coilovers.

 

[DarkSideMazda2]

bilstein does

 

[Racebrewer]

So far I'm happy with the Bilstein coilover set-up I got.

The only adjustment is height. The stock Bilstein shock is not adjustable without dismantling and re-valving.

FWIW, the rear springs are a 'standard' 60 mm ID spring so other springs could be used. The front springs have different ID's top (BIG) and bottom (60 mm) so the springs are not off the shelf, unlike some other coilover set-ups, although that can be corrected with a couple fabricated pieces.

John

 

[Joker2]

What kind of driving do you do? How do the Billies compare to the OEMs in the different scenarios you encounter?

 

[XCLR8TN]

What kind of driving do you do? How do the Billies compare to the OEMs in the different scenarios you encounter?

Also interested in this. I've been debating just getting springs instead of the bilsteins but I am an extremely spirited driver, and Ohio is not known to have the best roads.. I don't want to be replacing a shock in a month... How many miles do you have on them?

 

[Racebrewer]

Hi,

I wrote up some of this on the install description I posted earlier.

If I described my driving style it would probably be considered socially irresponsible...... cough....choke, so I won't<LOL>

Part of the reason I went with the Bilstein package is because a friend is considering building a B-Spec Mazda 2 and I'll probably do most of the fabrication/building so I thought I'd try out the 'steins. Also, the rear uses 60 mm ID springs and with a little fabbing so will the front. I'm not concerned about the life of the 'steins as they are a quality product and are re-buildable and/or re-valveable for stiffer springs.

Overall, I'd say the understeer has been reduced almost to neutral. The springs have reduced body roll but not totally so I'm going to add swaybars front (Fiesta if it fits) and rear (homebuilt tubular steel that will bolt into two of the holes that Mazda left in the rear torsion beam).

The ride is somewhat firmer but not horrible unless the road has a repetitive choppiness. The shocks are much firmer to my sense of feel and could probably handle stiffer springs.

When in steady state cornering there is a lot less correction that has to be done, as the car tends to take a set and stay there. No little lurches. Its a much more confident feel. I'd like to try a stock M2 just to see how it feels. Sometimes going back gives more of an impression than going forward.

The tire squeal going around corners has taken on a steadier "cheeeeeeeeeeee" kind of sound rather than a "che-che-che". The rear tires now make noise going around a corner along with the fronts. Before it was just the front tires doing all the work.

I dropped the car about two inches and could go lower, but it would be a pain to drive.

My last thought is that everyone now seems to go so much slower around cloverleafs, even when I'm not pushing it. How's that for scientific?

As to tires vs suspension, I think that they go hand in hand. I could put on the best ballet slippers out there and I'd stll fall over, but let me drop 50 lbs and practice for a couple months and I might not be too ugly<LOL>

Years ago I autocrossed a Vega GT and we had put some Formula Ford race tires on it. The Vega actually had a decent suspension, for all of its other issues, but the tires overwhelmed it when they dug in and gripped like a panicked house cat.

Cojsl, what would you recommend in terms of tires for the M2? I'd like to keep the weight down and I'm looking at 15 x 6.5" rims. I've driven cars with bigger, heavier tires/wheels and didn't like the feel.

Thanks,
John

 

[cojsl]

Cojsl, what would you recommend in terms of tires for the M2? I'd like to keep the weight down and I'm looking at 15 x 6.5" rims. I've driven cars with bigger, heavier tires/wheels and didn't like the feel.

Thanks,
John

For a 15x6.5 you'd want 205/50R15, either the Dunlop Direzza Sport Z1 Star Spec or Kumho Ecsta XS are spectacular. You could go with a 225/45/15 Hankook Ventus R-s3 if you found a 15x7.

 

[Racebrewer]

Thanks Cojsl,

I looked up the specs. The Kumho's (somehow there is a bad joke in that name, but I once had a tire whose model designation was FU) look good and are only a few pounds heavier than the OEM tires.

John