So here is my dilemma, I daily drive my evo and also want to be slightly competitive in auto-x and some track events. Thankfully however, I just graduated college (need an accounting job asap haha) and no longer have to drive in traffic to queens everyday.

My current setup right now is stock evo 9 gsr kyb's and hotchkiss springs (both of which have very low miles) h&r rear sway bar with adjustable end links, poly rear control arm bushings, 17x8.5 et30 rpf1's with 255/40 bf Goodrich g force kdw's (nice bite but noisy as hell) and my camber is -2.1 in the front and -1.8 in the rear with 0 toe all around. The car has your typical bolt ons and a great tune and makes 370whp.

I'm considering just doing a heavier spring like a swift spec r and changing the alignment to -2.0 in the front and -1.5 in the rear with 0 toe all around as well. Hopefully this will help the car rotate better instead of pushing.

Any other suggestions/ advice would be appreciated. Is there another heavy spring out there aside from the spec r's that people have experience with.

 

From what I remember on the Hotchkis they just lower the car and do not adjust rate.

I think you are on the right track going to a better sprung spring (SpecR). Also look into adding the front sway bar.

Fun fact: Swifts use a different material than other spring companies. They should actually be lighter (phys. weight).

 

My IX had the Hotchkiss springs on them when I bought it and they are quite honestly terrible. Under any hard cornering I am on the bump stops and understeering in every part of a turn (entry, mid, exit, and transitioning between each...). Granted Im running less camber, but the front is just too low and too soft. Going back and forth between mine and my roommates IX with Swifts and F/R sway bars (i dont know the brand though), its night and day. We have a specific corner thats 180* we take often coming from the freeway off ramp. My Evo has terminal understeer under power exiting the corner, The Swift equiped evo has a touch of power oversteer and feels much more stable through the corner.

Ive had the GT Worx springs sitting in my office for about a month now but my talon has been getting all my time lately. I think Ill finally have time this weekend to swap out the spring and dial in more camber to give a review.

 

In order of impact to performance: TRE rear diff, Swift Spec-R spring, adjustable front sway bar.

l8r)

 

Yeah, Ive been hearing so much about the upgraded rear diff being numero uno so you're not chasing your tail with corner exit understeer.

Im gonna have to send mine out there this winter to get it done before the Evo takes over auto-x duties.

 

Our GTWORX springs are stiffer than the Swift Sports and softer than Swift Spec R's. The big thing with our springs is that we don't lower the car as much, which means more usable suspension travel and better suspesnion geometry. Swifts are still good and work well, we just always thought the drop was a little much.

20mm front, 15mm rear with our springs

35mm front, 20mm rear with Swift

- Andrew

 

Thanks for the advice, but wouldnt a front sway increase my understeer issues? that was my logic for getting a rear sway. also any other recommendations for alignment specs? anything else that might help as well.... anti lift kit etc...

 

If your car was properly setup with matching roll and spring rates Front to Rear, then yes stiffer in front can cause more understeer or less oversteer (if thats a problem, one that Ive had in the 2g). Stock-ish Evos are not in this range.

The front has too much roll getting into positive camber. Going to a bigger rear bar only helps to un-stick the rear possibly better balancing the car but reducing overall grip. Going stiffer in front will reduce front roll keeping you in a happier camber zone increasing front grip. More front grip = larger front traction circle and a change in the balance of the cars grip levels.

 

awesome and well said.

Thanks!

 

You already have a stiffer RSB, correct? You'll want a stiffer, adjustable FSB to balance that out ... after you get a better rear diff. Starting suspension tuning with a stiffer RSB is a band-aid approach at best. Since you already have an H&R rear bar, the adjustable H&R front bar should complement it well.

l8r)

 

did u try messing with tire pressure????

 

Playing with tire pressures beyond a small bit of fine tuning is also just a bandaid. You can only attempt to get rid of grip if your tires are at the optimum pressure.

 

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-coilover.html

These guys like the H&R for a cheaper setup. Id stay away from Tein, JIC, or other "JDM" garbage. Personally Id stick to a good spring like mentioned above, then spend the money on something good when the time comes. But then again, Im a suspension guy and care more about handling these days so whats affordable to me might be a bit too much for you.

 

stock strut with a good spring. Best coilover for the money ... albeit non-adjustable.

l8r)

 

H&R - no spring rate known on the CT9A, cannot recommend.

I have them on my SVTF. Tells you something about them BUT still need more info on them for the Evo. I would no rock them until that is known.