1+

 

Install is quite ez but does require removal of your rear trailing arms, rear toe controll arms and a rear alighnment once completed. No torch, just a press and a couple of wrenches. Both products come with instructions.

 

Great thread.. can't wait to hear how the front roll center correction kit changes things.

 

+1, Can't wait to read more results.

 

First of all, I want to apologize for my comment earlier in the thread, these Evo vs STi threads rarely stay on topic, I appreciate the direction its going.

In keeping with the spirit of the topic, and the quote above, have you guys considered testing revalved Bilstiens before taking traction away from the rear with a sway bar? Seems like the MR shock would be a good platform to build on and a potential untapped market for AMS. I, as well as quite a few others, sure would appreciate the results.
After spending big dollars on my other hobby car (Supra) I would like to approach the evo from a "do as much as I can, with as little as I can, tactic".
Thanks for sharing the results of your testing, subscribed.

 

Brian,

Revalving the stock Bilsteins maybe the way to go, but we're not there yet. But we will also have to factor price vs performance when we make that decision. Revalved shocks would be nice, but the stock bilsteins dont give you adjustability... Something to consider.

But your approach to do what makes a difference vs just doing something is the right way of thinking for suspension tuning.

Also someone asked what we alighned the car to. We left the camber stock and set the rear to 0 toe. The front is 100% stock.

Stay tuned!

 

GSC just designed a new center diff. that is 40/60.

edit: just noticed you said without changing the diff.

to add, i blieve vishnu at one time awas working on a ACD controller.

 

Thanks Evokid, we know.

Suspension geometry fix first, then suspension upgrades, then fine tuning, then maybe consider the diff.

We'll see, but long way to go.

 

I just installed the rear-trailing arm bushings and the rear bump-steer correction kit.

Wow! BIG difference.

With the previous setup ('03 stock suspension with 46K miles, Cusco v-brace and trunk brace) the car would push pretty bad if you tried to apply throttle coming out of a corner. With the above two changes, the car is very neutral and pretty much goes where you point it. At the last track day, I had my instructor, who drives an Elise, comment on how nicely the car pivots and pulls out of each corner.

Lawrence, for us '03 owners, how does this order of upgrades sound?
- suspension geometry
- front LSD
- suspension upgrades
- fine tuning

l8r)

 

Recently upgraded my suspension . I have an 03 GSR.
I installed 06 MR Struts/shocks and Swift MR Springs.
Turned the Front Shock Bolt for more camber.
I went ahead and replaced the trailing arm bushings with Energy Suspension (Black) polyurethane. Then upgraded the Bump Steer bushing with Whiteline bushing kit.
Finally .. I upgraded the rear sway bar to the Perrin Rear Bar with the Stout mounts. Softest setting... to start off with.

The car sits perfectly. The stance is just a little more agressive. Not slammed.
It seems to drive much more neutral. The bumpsteer kit made a huge difference. The car drives straight as an arrow over bumps now.
I haven't tested the High Speed Braking yet.... but it used to be when I would brake hard on the track after a long straight... I could feel the rear wiggle just a little. I'm guessing that will probably be gone now.... thanks to the trailing arm bushing. I probably won't really know til I go back to VIR.
I don't like to push it too hard on public streets. The car seems to feel like I can throw the rear around at will now.
The MR Shocks and Swift springs seem to have removed some of the hyper active feel that I used to notice all the time. It feels a little more refined.. Much more comfortable.

Highly recommend replacing the bushings! Big difference. Totally worth it.
It's a cheap upgrade... but takes a little time to do.

The only thing I'm not quite sure about is the Sway bar... I think after some track time.. I'll feel better about it. But right now... I'm uncertain of how much better it will handle. It's probably mostly me being used to the stock push around tight corners.. Adjusting with the throttle.
At higher speeds it seems like it could throw the rear around by letting off to abruptly. I guess... i just need to keep on the throttle more
Can't wait til I can get back to the track to test it.

 

again double post!

 

double post oops!

 

Luda,

I kinda agree.

The fist step is to decide what you'll be doing with the car.

Fixing the geometry is a must IMHO. Its an EZ way of make the car work better.

But I don’t have any reason to replace the front diff. The rear diff maybe.

I did however, finally, get the Whiteline R/C kit on the car. At the same time, I decided to install a set of springs that were given to me for testing by Robispec. These are his (yet to be released) street/track springs. I figured the R/C kit really is a fix for lowered evos, to raise the r/c back above the ground, and we’d see more of a benefit on a lowered car.

The results are fantastic! Nice soft ride for daily driving and a turn chewing, apex eating trackday car. The R/C kit was obvious immediately. Less roll and mid corner push is almost eliminated. The car just shoots toward the apex, rotates on demand and puts the power down. This allows to get on the gas much earlier, therefore faster.

Keep in mind this is all with stock shocks, stock sway bars, no chassis stiffening and street tires. It would rotate on demand with plenty mid corner grip. Much better than stock, no comparision really.

IMHO “must haves” for any lowered/trackday/street evo:

Whiteline rear bumpsteer kit
Whiteline front R/C kit
AMS rear trailing arm bushings
And a good alighnment
Motul 600
PFC 97’s
Ams Brake Duct kit

Products can be found at:
http://www.amsperformance.com/store/...Path=22_55_291

The above with an addition with an AMS flash, TBE, etc. Is more than enough for 95% of evo owners to really push their limits on the track and learn how to really drive the track.

Modesty aside, there wasn’t a single car that passed or caught my Evo with the above mods.

But an addition of a AMS GT3076, cams, VSR, and intercooler would sure make it a lot faster! Then maybe some shocks, then aero….. O’geez.

Hope this info helps everyone to make a decision on what to do first and especially those on a budget.

Happy Motoring!!!

 

you just described a full robispec "basic" .... thanks for the good review on the springs. I've also been recomending all the AMS parts you mentioned too...nice to note the street ride is a plush as you noted..(not really part of the design goals but nice to get as a by-product)...and on Chicago roads too!...

 

Thanks for the springs!!!

They really do feel better on our bumpy midwest roads. And great at the track.