Softer ride suggestions

[exNeon]

I use my msp as a daily driver, and its 70 miles to work and back. I live in MA and we have some of the worst roads in existence.
I am looking for a (hopefully cheap) way to make the ride softer, so I dont feel every bump in the road, and yes I realize that I may have to give up some handling to do this.

any suggestions?

 

[pluto316]

Man, you bought the wrong car.

 

[exNeon]

hey, that was helpful.
what about an aftermarket protege es setup, or something like that.
anybody running something like that,
or perhaps an adjustable setup ?

 

[PHRiSCo]

Maybe the Tein Luxury H.Tech Springs? They might make it better?

I have Tokico Illumina struts with adjustable dampening so I just turn those bitches down daily driving.

Tokico Illuminas /w Tein H.Springs would be a great setup for a soft ride with the ability to make it stiffer.

I have the same except S.Tech springs instead. I highly recommened it.

 

[ND4MSP]

Man, you bought the wrong car.

wrd. Are you due for new tires yet? You could get some with marshmellow sidewalls. Maybe some 225 series tires would help.

 

[djp5]

Trade your stock 17's to somebody with the 16 in P5 wheels. Your speedo will be off, you will lose overall grip/traction, and you will probably have some nasty understeer problems. But it will ride softer.

 

[ChopstickHero]

go 16 inch rims with 55 profile tires. haha... thay may help.

 

[pluto316]

Trade your stock 17's to somebody with the 16 in P5 wheels. Your speedo will be off, you will lose overall grip/traction, and you will probably have some nasty understeer problems. But it will ride softer.

Not if he gets taller tires.

 

[djp5]

Not if he gets taller tires.

Not what?

 

[djp5]

not going to change the speedo.

P5 and MSP wheels with stock tire sizes are 4% different. I upgraded my P5 to MSPs so I calculated it.

 

[pluto316]

The spedo will be right. If you get good tires, you'll get better grip and because the wheels are lighter, better acceration and reponse.

The MSP rides on 17" for looks, folks.

 

[djp5]

The spedo will be right. If you get good tires, you'll get better grip and because the wheels are lighter, better acceration and reponse.

The MSP rides on 17" for looks, folks.

Sorry but I'm going to disagree.

If you look on tirerack.com at your specific tire's specs, it will tell you the diameter. The stock tires on a P5 are P195/50R16 are 23.7 in, and P215/45R17 should be around 24.65 in. This translates to going an extra 212 feet per mile shown on your odometer...which means if your speedo is about 4% off.

Bigger wheels are NOT just for looks. Bigger tires have larger section widths, which means a larger contact patch to generate more force. Switching to lighter wheels helps acceleration/deceleration, but doesn't have much to do with steering response.

 

[girth]

I have 16" rims with 205/55/16 tires for the winter and it softens up the ride somewhat...but not a whole lot. So I don't know...honestly I'd just get a whole different car if I was you.

 

[AamirMSP]

First step = Get new tires, all season touring tires in the factory size with soft sidewall.

If that doesnt work

Second step = Get 16" wheels and the correct profile size in a softer sidewalled tire.

If that doesnt work

Get the suspension from the MP3 and install it. (i think its possible)

 

[o.g.sk8er]

remove rear sway bar

 

[mspdfreak]

Yep, all-season touring tires. Michelin Pilots would be good for your application.

 

[sbagdon]

Dude, you've never been to some of the roads in South East Michigan. I went through this when I put struts and springs on my '91 MR2 NA. They were so brutal, my insides hurt, and I had to remove them. We're not all blessed with the mirror-smooth roads of South Florida (oh, how I miss some of those roads!), so we have to make due. I know what roads to take, and what roads to stay away from, so even the 17" tires on the MSP aren't that bad.

Heck, there used to be a section of 14 Mile Road, between Coolige and John R Road, that I'd take any car I was thinking about buying onto. There wasn't a sound you could hide, when driving down that road, it was so bad. Then they paved it (after about 10 years), so that "test track" was lost. That, and just about any part of I-96 downtown. OMG.

Steve B.
'03.5 MSP

Man, you bought the wrong car.