What's the latest in suspension tech?

[ZoomZoomZoom]

I need to overhaul the suspension on my 90 MKIII. It currently has the Eibach lowering springs and Tokico shocks. They've been on there who-knows-how-long. I haven't found much talk on the latest options for suspension, so I thought I would post and see what people are doing nowadays. Keep in mind this car is not a track car. No plans to go there. I don't really want my teeth rattled out of my head with a rough ride. But I want some good cornering, especially with the top out. And I want the car to stay lowered. Since I am replacing these parts, what other parts do I need to swap out while I'm doing the suspension?

thoughts? suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[JDMMA70]

If you have TEMs and like it, perhaps the new offerings from Tein coupled with the EDFC will give you a very nice ride. I currently have Tein Flex Z coilovers that I plan on installing tomorrow. I will let you know how they ride.

 

[Backlash2032]

I had Tein Street? coilovers on my car before I traded it in, and I loved them. Took it to a track day about a month before it went away. Granted it was my first track day, but they seemed to handle the roughness of the track rather well.

 

[destrux]

I also have the Tein Street Advance.

Despite the "Street" name and the seemingly low spring rates ("only" 16K front and 9K rear) they do ride like a track suspension though. They are a lot stiffer than a Bilstein/tokico/koni and eibach spring combo. If you value comfort at all stay away from coilovers unless you are having them custom valved and built with something reasonable like 10K/6K springs (Tein will do this though, for a price). The Tein SA are a great coilover though if you have smooth roads to drive on and you never have to enter a steep driveway (you'll end up lifting a wheel). I suppose they call them a street coilover because they won't turn you to Jello as quickly as a real track coilover will. I like them just enough to keep them on the car and not tear them off for something else, but I wouldn't do them again on a street car.

Best off the shelf street suspension IMO, is a set of Bilsteins or Tokicos with Eibach springs and a pair of upgraded swaybars. I like the Godspeed bar set because it's priced right and works well for me. I had the Godspeed bars on with my koni/spring setup and with the Teins and they work well with both.

 

[JDMMA70]

The Tein Flex coilovers are installed and on the softest setting it is a pretty compliant ride. Even my old man who is 70yrs old didnt mind the ride. I really want the EDFC so I can control the dampening from the cabin.

 

[jugodegolf]

Tracy talk to Ken Henderson, he had a nice write up on setups.

 

[emiliorescigno]

Koni/Ground Control

 

[destrux]

Looking at Tein's site the Flex coilovers have a lot more reasonable spring rates for the street. They're listing those at 12K front 6K rear (14K front on the Flex Z) which sounds about perfect.

I forget sometimes that my car is on the lightweight side of the supra weight spectrum so the Street Advance 16K/9K springs on mine will ride like a full weight 3700 pound supra with 18K/12K springs.

 

[MoparMarq]

Does anyone know what the spring rates are on the Eibach springs? So that someone could compare apples to apples? I have Eibachs on the car now, but am considering some coilovers. I can't seem to find the spring specs anywhere. The car needs new bushings all around, and might as well look at whether coilovers might be a better option for a street only daily driver - particularly for ride height adjustment. Thanks for any input.

 

[GC89]

http://www.supramania.com/forums/threads/75269-Stock-Lowering-Spring-Rate-Compilation

 

[seoul4korea]

Don't forget there are other parts of suspension than shocks, here is my current setup:




This includes the front, all poly and battle version setup.

 

[emiliorescigno]

Here's a more up-to-date list of spring info.

http://www.supramania.com/forums/th...ings-Options?p=2026035&viewfull=1#post2026035

A better question is: what are your goals with the car?

edit: I just re-read what your goals are. The best dampers by a large margin are Koni shocks. Do yourself a favor and get those, paired with whatever lowering springs lower the amount that you want. (Or get the Koni/GC combo I suggested earlier)