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Suspension Upgrade to Late Model (1997) Bathurst

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Zediah
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Re:Suspension Upgrade to Late Model (1997) Bathurst 2012/06/13 16:09:45 (permalink)
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I'm not against getting coilovers, they sound easier to have installed but come with a few cons too. After all that I've read, they aren't always the best option, need all the information first before investing!
 
I've made up a little list about what I've been able to gather from the thread so far...
 
Coil Overs:
Pro:
- Replaces upper mounts
- Not as frowned on by NSW police?
Con:
- Not too long lasting (how long though, 1 year? 5 years? 10 years?)
- Alignment redone if adjusted
BC Racing Coilovers ($1000?):
Pro
- Great performance?
- Relatively hard ride?
Tein SS (unknown):
- Softer than BC?

Springs:
Con:
- No Linear Springs
- 'Floaty' on crests/bumps/hills
Eibach ($260 twosrus):
- Same as 93' Stock
- Close to Stock Hardness
- Decent Performance
TRD ($310 twosrus):
- Lower Than 93' Stock (1-1.5 inches)
- Stiffer than Stock
- Better performance?
- 'Floaty' on crests/bumps/hills

Inserts:
Con:
- Pain in the ass to install if sealed struts
Koni Insert ($347.50 front, $347.50 back):
Pro
- Soft, good for road use
- Adjustable to be hard for track
- Does not need alignment after adjustment
- Decent Perfomance?
- Very long lasting
Struts/Shocks:
Bilstein (unknown):
- Long Lasting
- Harder Ride
- Good performance

Other:
Sway Bars:
Whiteline Adjustable (+ bracket reo plates)
TRD Sway bars (not adjustable?)(+ bracket reo plates)
Ball Joints
Tie Rod Ends
Suspension Brushs:
Stock
Poly
- more maintinence
- Potentially more viabration

Does all this sound right? 
How many years can you reliably get out of coilovers? I've read posts where people have said they got not even a year out of them for example, but I'm sure others have had many many more.
#16
MaXim
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Re:Suspension Upgrade to Late Model (1997) Bathurst 2012/06/13 16:13:03 (permalink)
+1 (1)
In my past experience, coilovers don't last much more than 50,000km for street driving applications before needing servicing. 10kkm for pure track use.
 
Needless to say, don't buy second hand coilovers.
#17
nissky
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Re:Suspension Upgrade to Late Model (1997) Bathurst 2012/06/13 16:27:35 (permalink)
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You are going to need wheel alignments for any strut replacement.
So it shouldn't be a pro or con either way.
Coilovers can be quite comfortable. Depends on springs and how hard you set the damping.

What is your budget?
:D
That will be the deciding factor in the end.
If you have a decent budget.
Go konis/trd springs and let the shop worry about fitting the inserts.
Include bushes/ball joints/swaybarlinks at same time. $2500 including labour :)

Carless again :(
#18

purple5ive
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Re:Suspension Upgrade to Late Model (1997) Bathurst 2012/06/13 17:35:02 (permalink)
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Not all the SS comes with adjustable camber plates either so be prepared to fork out extra if you need them.
with coilovers also be carefull with the width your front wheels are some wheels dont clear with coilovers depending on offsets and widths in the front because the coilovers come down past the wheels in the front whereas the stcok strut/springs dont.
 
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Reddtarga
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Re:Suspension Upgrade to Late Model (1997) Bathurst 2012/06/14 12:30:42 (permalink)
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Zediah
Be careful with aftermarket spring manufacturers advertised drop.
They often appear to compare this with the early '90 model ride height when the OEM springs were new.
But your 20 YO springs will have sagged already.
I found for example that Eibach Pro-kits have an advertised drop of 25 mm, but if fitted to a 90 model sdub they will only lower about  17 mm.  If fitted to a 92+ model the ride height will stay about the same, because 92+ model were 17 mm lower than the early models anyway.
 
"Does not need alignment after adjustment"
As has been mentioned, if you remove the struts to fit inserts you will need a full alignment done.
After that, if you simply change the settings on Koni adjustable inserts, you will not need one.

1990 ADM NA
 
 
 
 
 
 
#20
big_al_92t
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Re:Suspension Upgrade to Late Model (1997) Bathurst 2012/08/16 16:22:12 (permalink)
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Bump. Bringing this thread back from the dead, how many users on here have had Bilstein struts on their MR2? They are apparently a mono-tube construction, in comparison to the Koni twin-tube, correct? That in itself appears to be a benefit.
I ask because I'm going to get a Strut and Spring package (the TRD Springs are so far looking like the most streetable option) and it's a hard decision to make between the Koni's and the Bilsteins... If I can get a hold of a set of Bilstein B6's that is.
#21

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