Suspension Choice

[envy2]

Okay time to pony up the cash for my suspension setup. I've done a lot of reserach but I'm still on the fence between the racing beat suspension package with the Koni STR.T or getting the Bilstein PSS and a corksport rear sway bar. Usage will be mostly DD and summer Autox. There is a lot of pot holes where I live due to the winter but it's patch up every year. The cost difference between the 2 option is $12 so it's negligible. Technically the wife DD the car. I just get to race it out of a deal we came up with. She want something streetable and as close to stock as possible, I want something to help me out at the track without spending too much. Im also not crazy about dropping the car so if I get the Bilstein it will be at the highest setting. So should I go with the RB/Koni or the Bilstein route? As for wheels/tires Ill be racing on 15x7.5 wheels wrap in 205/50/15 Rival tires.

 

[molex7]

does koni make struts for the 2 yet? I've only ever seen products for the DY demio from them.

 

[124coupe]

http://www.koni-na.com/cat_search.c...UtnxXsJ4rMLhfVA==&as_fid=86u3vUV1SF9rdBDuGI+5

 

[jasyatz]

If you don't want to go too low, but want something for the street/track, why not the CS struts with the RB springs and bar? I have the Bilsteins, but if my priorities were different, I would have kept the CS setup.

 

[envy2]

That setup did cross my mind in terms of price/performance. Any reason why u went to bilstein and how did the 2 setup compare I each other? I mean if the bilstein on stock rubber over bumps feels like going over pot holes then I'll consider that 3rd option of RB spring with CS shocks and sways. However if the track performance are night/day then I'll will want the bilstein. The thing is I'm still a novice at autox and don't want to make too much changes without understanding them. I got the tire pressure down last season so it was time to move to suspension. I understand that driver skill development is still the most important of all.

 

[eyeballs]

I imagine the bilstein package will be a little too firm for your wife to daily drive, but it would certainly be one of the best options or autocross. I have the corksport adjustables and racing beat springs with front and rear CS bars. With the dampers on soft, the ride is better than stock. With the dampers 3/4 to firm its firm but not harsh. Your best bet may be the racing beat bars (since they are stiffer than the CS), corksport dampers, and eibach springs (they are a tad lower than the RBs). Run 195/55 tires on the daily set to offset the lowering. My car with a 195/55 setup is at about stock ground clearance levels.

 

[DanR]

I just put some bilsteins on last weekend. On the highest settings the fronts are 24" and the rears are set just a bit higher. The ride is firm, but not excessively so. The wife didn't complain while riding in the car. She has her own stock 2 with an auto, so she will not be driving mine. I am a fan of bilsteins and have been using them for 18 years. I haven't had the car out on the track yet, but I imagine it will do well.

 

[jasyatz]

With the Bilsteins struts with the bilstein springs, my wife was ok with the car, not happy but livable. With the linear springs in the front and heavier rear shocks, she hates it. Shell drive it, but then I have to hear her complain about how sick it made her.

She loved the car stock...so apples to grapefruit comparison.

The CS dampers I bought and neve installed. Was going to install them and get a pair of Tein Linear Tapered springs made, but couldn't get exact data on how much spring the CS units could handle, and didn't want to blow them up. So I moved them on to another forum member who installed them and loves them...

My priority for the car was autox, needed something that would handle 450 lb springs.

 

[zps2004]

Or you could do what I did. I have the bilsteins and I use my 14" Miata wheels for DD with Falken ZE-912s. Great tire for DD and with the 14's it rides pretty good. When I just swap wheels for autocrossing and track. I have a rear bar which I made on mine and it handles great for autocrossing and on track. It is still pretty soft. Once I get a 3rd car then I am going to stiffen mine up, but while it is my DD I am staying with the stock rates since it is pretty comfy and it handles well.

 

[envy2]

Thanks for the responses. It help a lot. I was highly considering the RB package with corksport dampers but then my dumbass went online and found that I might be able to get the bilstien for $757 shipped if the 3% off coupon work. The stupid coupon was only giving me 2.1% off so I'm contacting the company/website since they email offer me 3% off the entire order if I return to complete the order with them. I'm a sucker for deals that's y I was looking at koni since they were having 25% off. If I can get that $757 shipped then I guess the wife can hate me. I have been trying to get her to swap cars with my speed6 but she likes her 40 mpg hwy, 87 octane and 10 g. fuel tank. If someone found a better price then let me know before I place that order. $$ save = $$ towards racing beat front and rear sways which is ultimately the setup I want but I was trying to keep the cost down.

 

[jasyatz]

Saw a blowout out deal on a Fiesta Forum regarding Fords discontinuing the autocross pack ( Which is the Bilstein kit) Not sure with this sites rules how much more specific I can get.

 

[DanR]

Great price. I picked mine up shipped for $789 and I thought that was a good price.

 

[auto_werks 3.6]

I just installed the Bilstein kit in the last few hundred miles. On stock wheels and tires its fairly comfortable if the ambient temperatures are above 40 or so. From 0 - 30 degrees it rides real stiff. Its also fairly uncomfortable on my 15x7 autocross wheels with 195 50 RE11a's .... However, I could care less about that, I'll be running the stock stuff on the road. The biggest thing with the bilstein setup was fixing the fact that the rear bump stops are way too long. The ride was unbearable before I fixed that.

I also got my kit from allshocks.com for ~$790 shipped.

 

[zps2004]

yea I forgot to mention that cutting 1.5" off the rear bump stops makes a huge difference in ride quality with the bilsteins.