My Evo handles like crap
Nice bro! Must be my blown-out Bilsteins. That is two for and one against (not really), lol.
I'd lean towards them being legit too, and this confirms it for me. Thanks for the update!
P.S. I think I'm still changing springs.
I'd lean towards them being legit too, and this confirms it for me. Thanks for the update!
P.S. I think I'm still changing springs.
So, I went to the local Cars n Coffee Meet this morning, and saw something VERY interesting. 2 IX's. One GSR with Swift Sport (mach, whatever you want to call them?) and one MR with Spec R.
The Spec R were NOT excessively raked. It was the damnedest thing I've seen in a while, because it was certainly NOT what I have seen in pictures. I know they are supposed to sit the same, Sport or Spec R, but these did not. The IX MR on Spec R's had no rear fender gap and a slight front gap. It looked great. I took a pic with my camera phone but it mucked up royally tiny and pixellated.
UPDATE!: I forgot the owner has a blog, here are some pics of the car:
http://jimsgarage.wordpress.com/
And here is a pic of the install, confirming Swift on Bilstein (not that I doubted).:
http://jimsgarage.wordpress.com/2009...new-stability/
Here is a pic in case the link is broken, but you can see, not a ton of rake and pretty good ride height and gap.:
The blue IX GSR was raked too much for my taste, exactly like the forum pics. So much so that I began to doubt the validity of the Spec R's on the MR, but the owner, Jim, showed me the receipt, with part number 4M017R. He also showed me a Swift catalog sheet showing part number 4M008 or something, and said they are different part numbers. Still, I thought the rake was supposed to be the exact same. Any way possible to reduce the rear ride height? Bushings, modifying the spring perch, etc? This **** looked like coilovers that were set to the correct height, I was blown away, to be honest.
So I ask you. What the deuce?!?!?
The Spec R were NOT excessively raked. It was the damnedest thing I've seen in a while, because it was certainly NOT what I have seen in pictures. I know they are supposed to sit the same, Sport or Spec R, but these did not. The IX MR on Spec R's had no rear fender gap and a slight front gap. It looked great. I took a pic with my camera phone but it mucked up royally tiny and pixellated.
UPDATE!: I forgot the owner has a blog, here are some pics of the car:
http://jimsgarage.wordpress.com/
And here is a pic of the install, confirming Swift on Bilstein (not that I doubted).:
http://jimsgarage.wordpress.com/2009...new-stability/
Here is a pic in case the link is broken, but you can see, not a ton of rake and pretty good ride height and gap.:
The blue IX GSR was raked too much for my taste, exactly like the forum pics. So much so that I began to doubt the validity of the Spec R's on the MR, but the owner, Jim, showed me the receipt, with part number 4M017R. He also showed me a Swift catalog sheet showing part number 4M008 or something, and said they are different part numbers. Still, I thought the rake was supposed to be the exact same. Any way possible to reduce the rear ride height? Bushings, modifying the spring perch, etc? This **** looked like coilovers that were set to the correct height, I was blown away, to be honest.
So I ask you. What the deuce?!?!?
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 9,002
Likes: 12
From: somewhere testing various tires, brakes, and suspensions.
Sports and SpecRs in GSR from are exactly the same drop. MR versions are different. (rears are -0.66 lowered v. -0.8 in the GSR). But strut gas pressure places differently between the two also. Reports of people using the GSR on MR struts seems to have the rear ***-up. I think there is a thread somewhere with a picture of that...
And moving photos can be tricky since the car is loading the suspension. Only pictures I can confirm are from my car (SpecR GSR on HD struts. Front valved to match rates. Rear standard HD.)
255/40R17 are 1.2% smaller. Not the same diameter as OEM.
And moving photos can be tricky since the car is loading the suspension. Only pictures I can confirm are from my car (SpecR GSR on HD struts. Front valved to match rates. Rear standard HD.)
255/40R17 are 1.2% smaller. Not the same diameter as OEM.
Very interesting read! Suspensful! Sounds more like a story than an actual description of what happened. I also am experiencing a bouncy and unstable ride, nothing like what you describe though. I also have 70k mile on my factory KYB's and I was about to switch to bilsteins, when I read this. I hope you get it sorted out. I'd do the JIC coils if I were you. You have more than have a dozen of bilsteins so revalving them sometime later wouldnt be a problem.
Very interesting read! Suspensful! Sounds more like a story than an actual description of what happened. I also am experiencing a bouncy and unstable ride, nothing like what you describe though. I also have 70k mile on my factory KYB's and I was about to switch to bilsteins, when I read this. I hope you get it sorted out. I'd do the JIC coils if I were you. You have more than have a dozen of bilsteins so revalving them sometime later wouldnt be a problem.
thanks. I tried to tell a story that went along with how emotional I was about it. I agree, but I think I have the JIC's sold. You're right, since I have Bilsteins coming out of my tailpipe, I think I might try the 41017R or whatever Swifts on one set of Bilsteins, if I hate it, I will sell those as a set, rebuild my OTHER Bilsteins, put the ebay Robi's on them and G-O.
Sounds like a plan anyway.
Sports and SpecRs in GSR from are exactly the same drop. MR versions are different. (rears are -0.66 lowered v. -0.8 in the GSR). But strut gas pressure places differently between the two also. Reports of people using the GSR on MR struts seems to have the rear ***-up. I think there is a thread somewhere with a picture of that...
And moving photos can be tricky since the car is loading the suspension. Only pictures I can confirm are from my car (SpecR GSR on HD struts. Front valved to match rates. Rear standard HD.)
255/40R17 are 1.2% smaller. Not the same diameter as OEM.
And moving photos can be tricky since the car is loading the suspension. Only pictures I can confirm are from my car (SpecR GSR on HD struts. Front valved to match rates. Rear standard HD.)
255/40R17 are 1.2% smaller. Not the same diameter as OEM.
All day pics like this:
When I took pics of Jim's car, this is what I got:
(actually, it started 3 cars before Jim's car, now that I look at the pictures I transferred)
Pics taken later that day with the same phone look normal again, I have no idea what happened, unless once I got past 170 pics on my phone is jacked up the resolution to fit them on the SD card or something.
It's hard to tell because the resolution sucks and it almost has a fisheye lens effect due to how close I was, but the point is, in person, it is tucking rear tire tread.
btw I just confirmed. I looked at the pics I transferred again and they go from BIG 2500x1544px, down to 640x400 for a couple of pics, down to 320x140 for the last few pics. Apparently my phone was yelling "quit".
Once I cleared the sd card, pics taken went back to normal size.
helluva opportunity wasted there, and it will be next month before I see Jim's car again.
Once I cleared the sd card, pics taken went back to normal size.
helluva opportunity wasted there, and it will be next month before I see Jim's car again.
This thread sure did move fast! The suspense, the intrigue!
Whether you end up with Swifts, our GTWORX springs, possibly Robi's, I'm sure you'll be happy as long as you get the Bilsteins rebuilt/revalved. I'm sure those are the problem. Use Bilstein West.
- Andrew
Whether you end up with Swifts, our GTWORX springs, possibly Robi's, I'm sure you'll be happy as long as you get the Bilsteins rebuilt/revalved. I'm sure those are the problem. Use Bilstein West.
- Andrew
Yup. That's where we do a lot of our R&D for our custom GTWORX Bilstein Sport Shocks with matched RCE Yellow Springs (for Subaru....sorry!)
Anyway, good peoples. Give them the spring rates you're running and a little description of the type of driving you do and they'll be glad to help.
- Andrew
Anyway, good peoples. Give them the spring rates you're running and a little description of the type of driving you do and they'll be glad to help.
- Andrew
One question, is the car perfectly aligned?
If not, I had similar issues recently and all the trouble was poor alignment by 2 shops.
Thought the shocks were blown as the car was going everywhere and wobbling all over the place.
If not, I had similar issues recently and all the trouble was poor alignment by 2 shops.
Thought the shocks were blown as the car was going everywhere and wobbling all over the place.
Will do.
Talking with local Spec R guy Jim (mentioned last page), he mentioned that he thought the Spec R's 41017R was designed with the factory MR shocks in mind, so he would probably just get a standard rebuild when his need it. Any reason to valve them for the spring rates? Sounds almost like over-engineering, and I'd kind of like to not be locked in to Swift if I end up with them (don't want Bilsteins revalved for Spec R then go back to the Robi or GTWorx with that valving, etc). I'd also rather they didn't up the pressure if that is what is causing Jim's car to sit more level than the pics I've seen.
Also, if you don't mind, can you PM me the price on the Spec R in that specific 41017r (iirc) part number? I'll probably try them out and get them coming while the shocks are away.
Talking with local Spec R guy Jim (mentioned last page), he mentioned that he thought the Spec R's 41017R was designed with the factory MR shocks in mind, so he would probably just get a standard rebuild when his need it. Any reason to valve them for the spring rates? Sounds almost like over-engineering, and I'd kind of like to not be locked in to Swift if I end up with them (don't want Bilsteins revalved for Spec R then go back to the Robi or GTWorx with that valving, etc). I'd also rather they didn't up the pressure if that is what is causing Jim's car to sit more level than the pics I've seen.
Also, if you don't mind, can you PM me the price on the Spec R in that specific 41017r (iirc) part number? I'll probably try them out and get them coming while the shocks are away.
Great advice though.
Yeah I feel you, but I'm driving my car once every couple of weeks at the moment, on crappy all-seasons that the stealer put on so it would pass inspection. I have summer tires, and will go my own way for winter tires if needed, so they are basically throwaways.
Long story short, I was more worried about ride height when swapping springs, to mount my 255-40-17's on 17x9 +29. I figured I'd put the Robispec's on, park it and let it settle for a week or two, running around the block occasionally for an errand, then get it aligned. I just happened to have the co-ed Mardi Gras experience and **** rolled downhill from there.
Really, if I were rolling on new shocks I wouldn't have been alarmed, but when you introduce all those variables there comes a point where you should drop back and punt. That point comes a lot quicker for me after what I went through on my exhaust. You were in that thread so you know what I went through.
If I send the Bilsteins off, put Spec R's on them, mount my Star Specs, and get it aligned, there should be no more question marks and I'll know it's right instead of wondering. Then slap the Perrin on it on full soft, and I should have a tight, world-class handling sedan with more neutral handling than stock. BI-WINNING! Agree?
Long story short, I was more worried about ride height when swapping springs, to mount my 255-40-17's on 17x9 +29. I figured I'd put the Robispec's on, park it and let it settle for a week or two, running around the block occasionally for an errand, then get it aligned. I just happened to have the co-ed Mardi Gras experience and **** rolled downhill from there.
Really, if I were rolling on new shocks I wouldn't have been alarmed, but when you introduce all those variables there comes a point where you should drop back and punt. That point comes a lot quicker for me after what I went through on my exhaust. You were in that thread so you know what I went through.
If I send the Bilsteins off, put Spec R's on them, mount my Star Specs, and get it aligned, there should be no more question marks and I'll know it's right instead of wondering. Then slap the Perrin on it on full soft, and I should have a tight, world-class handling sedan with more neutral handling than stock. BI-WINNING! Agree?