whitet777,

Any additional comments on the Tanabe springs - i have been follwing your report to date and would be keen for an update now that they have been on your car for a while...

Just got my EVO VIII delivered here in Australia and am keen to lower it using the Tanabe springs - car is used mainly for road, very occasional track use...

 

I have had about 4 autocrosses on the new Tanabe GF210's, and I can still say that I like them better than stock. I've won all of those events, so my suspension setup must be pretty good. There is decreased roll, but not by much. Modifying the front swaybar helped that more than the springs did. Initially I felt like the springs were overpowering the stock struts, but I changed my mind. I think the "hopping" I felt while cornering hard was not the struts being underdampened for the springs, but was actually a spot of very rough asphalt.

Overall for the money, I don't think you can beat the Tanabe's. My only real complaint I guess is that the car looks more raked front to back. The front looks lower than the back. I also have the Hotchkis adjustable rear swaybar (highly recommended). The next thing I would buy for the suspension would be the camber plates. I still have too much understeer and would like to dial in more than -1.8 max camber in the front. After that, it is time for the coilovers!

 

Highly appreciate your reply - thanks, on my way to invest...

 

anyone here got the RSR springs ?? if so, please do tell ! .. im looking into getting some springs and heard alot of not so good news with TEINS H/S tech springs .. im looking into some harder and handles better in high speed ... so i want something that will really grip the road

Thanks

 

JIC FLT-A2's spring rate is wrong also...

http://www.jic-magic.com/Library/sus...a2susp_app.htm
it comes with 8kg/7kg... though the sales guy told me that it will allow
up to +2kg with no problem.

 

I wouldn't buy a grain a salt from tanabe. I've purchased Tanabe Hyper Medallian Exaust system for my RSX and literally every welding they did broke one after the other. If I can't trust them on some simple welding I can't trust them with springs or ANYTHING.

I gotta try some of these spring rate and drop on Grand Turismo.

 

Does anyone know anything about the new Hotchkis sport springs. They say they lower 1.5 in. front and 1.0 rear. Spring rates are close to their "stock" calculations @ 190lb front and 275lb rear. What do you think? They found stock to be 195 and 270lb ???

 

Yes... thats just a bit more than stock...

so less travel.. same soft spring rate.. hmmm...

 

They do provide shorter bumpstops to compensate for the loss of travel. I would like to hear from anyone running these (hotchkis) springs.

 

I would also like to hear how the Hotchkis spring are....

 

What would everyone reccomend for daily driving, a bit softer ride then stock, yet still increases performance and lowers height by an 1" or so. I was thinking the Tein Flex Coilover set up w/ EDFC.... any comments on this ?

 

Hi,
Great thread - very helpful . I just bought an MR, and I like the way the suspension feels (a lot). However, the car sits higher than I like, and rolls a bit too much for my taste (I track race / time attack). I'm thinking stiffer sway bars, and lowering springs with close to stock stiffnes should do it. However, I have no idea what the stock spring rate on the MR is. Anybody have any info?

Also, since I'll be reducing the suspension travel but am aiming for identical stiffness, would a progressive spring be a good idea (starting with the same stiffness as the stock MR, but then increasing)? I drove a Celica with Tein SS-P (400 lb) coilovers before the EVO, and while I liked the cornering ability of the car a lot, the ride was quite harsh. Do you think progressive lowering springs and stiffer sways will get me what I'm after (lower stance, less roll, maintain the stock ride)?

Thanks for the help .

 

Call Road Race Engineering, talk to John. The sway bar he put on my 2003 is great.

 

Thanks - I will once I'm ready to get serious about it.

 

I would start by finding out what the MR spring rates are for sure. I don't think I have seen anyone post them yet. I would shoot for a linear spring with similar spring rates as the MR if you are into any autocrossing or track events and don't want something too severe. A progressive spring is usually more for a nicer ride that stiffens up when you push the car harder. It is kind of like two springs in one, but compromises in both areas.