.

I have a decently modded Evo 8 with coilovers, F&R sways, bushings, 18x9.5 wheels, 265 R-compound tires (and going wider), low 400’s hp on pump gas with an FP Red and other engine & suspension mods. I use the car less as a daily driver and primarily use the it on the track 85%+ of the time. This winter, I’m increasing the wheel and tire widths and adding some areo bits to the car. Weight of the car is ~3250#.

I also want to increase my spring rates on the K-Sport GT Pro coilovers that are on the car now. Right now the spring rates are at 7.5kg front and 7kg rear.

What do you track guys recommend I increase the spring rates to?
Street-ability is becoming a less important factor.

East Coast tracks I run are Watkins Glen, Summit Point, VIR, NJMP, Pocono, etc.

Thank you.

.

 

I actually had those same coils for about 3 weeks before both front struts took a dump, but that's besides the point. Spring rates will depend heavily on the shock, and i'm not an expert on K-Sports valving rates. It will also depend on your car's weight, also do you have bushings, what tire are you running, what tracks do you like to visit etc etc.

Very generally speaking, a good majority of the 2 way adjustable's I've seen come with 7k front 8k rear. I personally have 9k front 10k rear on Robi's race coils.

 

8/10, 9/10, 10/12, 10/14, 12/14 --> All common spring rates that I see on heavily tracked Evo's. What you are doing with the car and how you drive as well as your valving and spring length, etc etc will really determine what's best.

Both my coilover setups fall into the categories above.

I've never touched K-sports. I've never professionally setup anything but I have had 4 setups of my own that I've tweaked and I can tell you stiffer is not always better for the track. With that being said; I think you'd benefit from something stiffer as long as you have the valving and grip to match. My .02.

 

Regarding the 8/10, 9/10, 10/12 etc. spring rates you mentioned.
I've heard of 9/11, but not 9/10. Is there a reason the 9/10 is only 1K difference, whereas the others are 2K difference between front and rear?

If I changed out my K-Sports to another brand that performs well on the track, but won't break the bank... what are a few choices I'd consider?

thanks

 

^^ I thought KW's ran 9/10? That's why I mentioned it.

New choices... hmm.. What kinda price range you looking at and what kind of adjustability you want? Are you going to be tweaking them yourself or have someone set them up and then not touch them?

 

Talk to Robispec.
Or GTWORX. com

 

Price range is relative, I guess. I see many coilovers in the mid-teens, and low- $2000 range. I gotta believe there are good coilovers to be had at around $1700, or so. Sure there are plenty that go way higher, but I don't think the incremental difference of improvement is in it for me there yet.

I only do basic work on the car. Suspension tuning is way out of my league and I would have a shop do that for me.

.

 

I'm running 9k/11k Ohlins.... with 255 R-comps. I think they would be too soft for 275/285 r-comp tires unless on a very smooth track.

 

12k/14k if your on Rcomps. If you have a stock rear swaybar, 16k rears.

 

https://www.evolutionm.net/forums/ev...-your-evo.html

7.5/7 is not ideal.

And you can't just throw springs at coilovers. Their valving can only handle so much.

You might want to chuck those and look for a dedicated set.

 

^^^What he said

 

Yes, get out of the Ksports fast.

 

.

Please name the top 3 coilovers to get for the track in the under $2500 price range.
Thanks

.

 

I'm really happy with my Muellerized JIC's. Mueller will custom build/valve for you and the pricetag is pretty reasonable - 2k.

I plan to run these until I get really stupid and jump to like JRZ.

 

In no particular order...

Bilstein PSS9
KW V3
Used Ohlins DFV (can be had for around $2000-$2500 depending on where you look and how patient you are)

The Bilsteins are way underrated, especially since you can get them for about $1800. They are a bit soft from the factory, but if you have a competent rebuilder revalve them for you, you can get pretty much any damping curve or range or you could want. Bilsteins are very modular.

Buy some Hypercoil or Eibach springs in whatever rates you want, some spherical upper mounts and camber plates, and go for it. You should be able to get a REALLY nice setup w/ a good revalve for ~$2500.

As far as spring rates go, you'll have to play with them, but 550F/700R (about 10k/12k) is a good start. Make changes as needed from there. There's no right spring rate for every car/tire/driver/etc. combination. There are too many variables. You WILL need to change spring rates at least once or twice until you find one that works for you.