Hi Everyone!

After reading thread after thread from people on here ranting and raving about the Bilsteins and how well they handle, I finally decided to get me some! So I searched around and finally got my hands on a set of MR Bilsteins with about 20k miles on them.

I have been running my Evo 9 for a couple years now on KYBs and Swift Sport springs. I like the way it handles but on long trips, it can be a butt-numbing experience. I have a wife and a 6 month old son, so I would like to soften up the ride a little...but of course don't want to lose any performance. Like most people, I can't help but think that there is something better out there.

So...now I am trying to decide on what to do...

Is anybody in the Seattle area running MR bilsteins with springs who wouldn't mind taking me for a short ride or at least give me your opinions on my questions to help me decide?

1. Should I just slap the MRs on? (I am thinking that this would give me a compliant ride, but would probably lose some performance from the KYB/Swift sports that I am currently running)

2. Should I slap a set of springs on the MRs? If yes, which springs? I am torn between the Swift sports, the GTWorx, and the Swift Spec Rs.

2.a If you think that I should put Swift Sports on the MRs, is anyone running the GSR Swift Sports on their MR Billy's instead of the MR Swift SPorts? just asking because I already have a set of GSR Swifts..

3. If Yes to the springs question, then should I send the MRs to Bilstein to get rebuilt and revalved to match the rate of the springs selected?What kind of improvements can I expect to get from having the shocks and struts matched to the springs?


My car is mostly DD, but I autox occasionally. Go on spirited drives frequently. I would like to participate in a HPDE sometime too...

 

1. wait for springs unless you wanna pull the shocks twice if you're getting springs within the month then it just saves some install time to wait

2. swift sport for DD, swift spec R for auto X, gtworx i don't know the rates, but i know the drop is lower with the swifts than the gtworx. personally i'd get swifts

2a. through some quick research it seems the only difference is the springs rates of the two, the MR's are about 10lbs softer to compensate for the way the bilsteins are set up, otherwise the two have the same drops. personally i'd get MR springs and leave the stock valving, i know you won't have an issue selling swift sports (hell, if you'd been selling them a month ago i'd have gladly taken them)

3. i wouldn't worry about them being rebuilt until you need them to be. they have a 6-12 week wait time i believe due to demand and the speed ("lack") at which they can do all the revalves and rebuilds

i'd stick to the sports if you DD the car

 

I have ridden in and drove John's (thrilla) car, IX MR with factory Bilsteins on Swift springs. The ride is superb to say the least and John is also a track guy. Regardless, it seems to work just fine for him on and off the track. The only thing he doesn't like about the setup is the drop height of the Swifts (not enough). If you dont care about an aggressive drop, I'd say go for it.

 

I have the Bilsteins on my RR with some unnamed lowering springs, and it rides great. I had the same setup before, but with Swift Spec R's, and the ride on those was also superb. Firm but not stiff. IMO the Bilsteins with either the Spec R's (lower) or the Work springs (higher) is probably the best street setup.

If you're in the Everett area, you're more than welcome to take a ride in my car.

 

MR Bilsteins and swift spec R are the best combo for DD and IMHO this is how Mitsu should have rolled out the car.

 

My MR is all stock down there. Way more comfy than Shane's set up.

 

^My set up sucks!

Stock GSR struts and Tein spring = FAIL

 

If you are around the Everett area, you can drive my car if you want. I am running a swift spec R on my Evo IX MR.

 

I had the same setup for a while when I first got my IX. I feel your pain, especially in the *** and groin region.

 

Thanks for all the input guys.

Thanks Forsaken. If you had Swifts on there I would definitely hit you up on your offer.

Hey Angie, you think that you could give me a ride around the block sometime this weekend so I can see what pure stock is like?

Perfect! Thanks Francis! I think I have your number I'll shoot you a text to see if you have some free time this weekend.

 

I have bilsteins & swift spec r's and sometimes passenger in Minh's bilstein + GTworx setup. Both are great.

 

Don't know about right now, but I had my Bilsteins rebuilt back in late December, turnaround time was roughly 2 weeks - with Christmas in the middle. I'm still sitting on those rebuilt Billy's & GTWorx springs....just need a couple more things before I throw everything on at once. My take on rebuilding the shocks is it's worth it! You MIGHT not notice a big difference DD the car, but like you mentioned that you autoX, & looking to do an HPDE, I think that is where the matched valving will really pay off! If you got the extra dough to do it, DO IT!

 

Hey Miguel. You should definitely swap out to good springs like GTWorx or Swift. Both will work fine out of the box but if you can get the shocks revalved to match then your setup will only be better. I didn't get mine revalved because I couldn't deal with the down time. The stock springs are too progressive initially and lead to too much body roll. I like the GTWorx springs because they don't lower the car too aggressively and are both more linear and stiffer overall. I'll be out of town this weekend but hit me up if you want to go for a ride sometime.

 

I also have Spec-R's on bilsteins, and you're welcome to a ride if you'd like. I rode in Jake's car a while back and he had Sports. I honestly couldn't feel enough of a difference in "harshness" between the two.

 

Thanks for the input WW-GSR!

Thanks Nemsin!

Thanks Minh. Definitely would like to see and feel your setup. Text me next week when you are free. Nights and weekends are good for me. (406-579-7004)

Thanks Dan. If I can't hook up with Francis, I will definitely hit you up on the offer. I think he lives pretty close to me. Interesting that you couldn't feel any difference in harshness between the sports and the spec R's...another reason the get the spec r's.