Spring rate suggestions

[SVXMAN2001]

hey guys, so I am soliciting all suggestions on possible spring rates. I currently have the koni/gc setup with 430 lb/315 lb (front/rear) and the ride is much too rough. I strongly disliked the ability to feel every tiny pebble in the road and cringe whenever I went over a small pothole. I am looking for a good, comfortable yet sporty ride (subjective I know :-/)

The stock spring rates are 140 lb/110 lb (front/rear). I am thinking of going double that to 280 lb/220 lb (front/rear). What do you guys think? Would this be a good compromise between comfort and sport?

I use the svx primarily for highway cruising and honestly got the koni/gc setup for lowering ability.

[icingdeath88]

How much lower than stock are you looking to be? If you go too soft and too low you'll run into problems. 280/220 ish would still let you be pretty low. You'll also have to reduce the rebound firmness of the konis. I did that recently if you forgot how.

[SVXMAN2001]

As far as lowering, 1.25" in the front, .75" in the rear. Just enough to eliminate the wheel gap on stock rims. More so the front.

Adjusting the fronts are simply using the white tuning knobs right? As for the rears, it involves depressing the valve with an Allen wrench, counter clockwise increases firmness?

[icingdeath88]

Yea, the rears, the strut has to be compressed, and then turned. So it needs to come apart most of the way. And you turn it the opposite direction from the front (will double check this when I get back to the car, I have the directions in the glove box). The front you just go by what it says on the knob.

Doesn't seem like you have it lowered too much, I would expect 280/220 or whatever to be ok. Just keep in mind that it might rub a bit on hard turns that make the car lean a lot (especially the rears).

[SVXMAN2001]

If you could do that (check up on the rear strut adjustment) I'd really appreciate it.

Also, just curious but did you install bumpstops on your setup? I spoke with GC and they highly recommended it...of course it's self serving. They seem more like insurance against a blown strut rather than improving ride quality.

Also....in your experience do you think installing the bumpstops AND adjustment the strut firmness would improve ride quality...OR no matter how I adjust the koni's will the springs dictate the firmness of the ride?

[icingdeath88]

Originally Posted by SVXMAN2001

If you could do that (check up on the rear strut adjustment) I'd really appreciate it.

Also, just curious but did you install bumpstops on your setup? I spoke with GC and they highly recommended it...of course it's self serving. They seem more like insurance against a blown strut rather than improving ride quality.

Also....in your experience do you think installing the bumpstops AND adjustment the strut firmness would improve ride quality...OR no matter how I adjust the koni's will the springs dictate the firmness of the ride?

Bumpstops will only do anything for the last couple inches of the strut travel. You do need them, as a precaution against damaging anything. You will need them even more with the softer springs, since it would be easier to compress the strut all the way on a big bump than with the really stiff springs.

The springs will affect the firmness more. The konis are only adjustable on the rebound side, so only when they re-extend. The rebound damping is to control the movement so that after the springs are compressed, when they re-extend, the car doesn't bounce up and down. I'm not sure exactly how much you'll need to adjust them.

[SVXMAN2001]

So I adjusted my front koni's yesterday evening and the ride quality was a bit better, still firm but tolerable. Firmness on the fronts is increased by turning the white adjustment tool counter clockwise...the rears are the opposite...correct?

[svxfiles]

Originally Posted by SVXMAN2001

So I adjusted my front koni's yesterday evening and the ride quality was a bit better, still firm but tolerable. Firmness on the fronts is increased by turning the white adjustment tool counter clockwise...the rears are the opposite...correct?

The rears have to be off of the car with the springs to be adjusted.
They then have to be fully compressed for the adjustment "fork" to engage the adjusting mechanism.
On the rear clockwise rotation of the piston rod will increase the firmness.
Be advised that there is suposed to be only two full turns from full soft to full hard.