The Suspension Thread

Post by **Bennoz** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 4:42 pm

Hey guys,
I just got my car back from my mechanic who's just done the suspension for me. I went away from coilovers for a number of reasons, initially it was cost, then it was not wanting rock hard suspesion on Sydney roads - as my car is a daily driver (although it does see track time.) Now I know there are some makes of coilovers now out that can be setup to deal with rougher roads, but my decision was already made.

*Tein Pillow mount strut tops - to stiffen the ride a little, but more importantly give me the camber adjustment I was after.

*Apex lowering springs - I actually installed these earlier: but to give you a full picture.

*Full Polyurethane bushes all round - I know Max will be watching with interest... And as soon as my mechanic send me the invoices I'll post up the whiteline part numbers & prices!

*Adjustable 22mm Whiteline sway bars

*New droplinks all round

* Front & back strut braces

All in all, its a good sporty feel. The springs & strut tops stiffen the ride up, but not too stiff. The bushes give that smooth precise handling feel. New droplinks.... well its not making that crunchy noise over speed humps in the morning

All dialled in with 2 degrees negative camber, 1.5 degrees positive castor & 0.75 degrees toe in. The camber is probably a little high for street driving & I'll end up wearing the inside edges of the tyres, but I dont care. The tyres are almost gone anyway & the turn in & stability through corners is superb... looks hot too

Mmmm angly...

As soon as the invoices come I'll let you all know how much & part numbers

BuCkEt · Post by **BuCkEt** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 4:55 pm

Jawesome!

What'd you do for shocks?

Post by **Bennoz** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:01 pm

Shocks were apparently ok... they did the 'bouncy thingy' test on them...
Unsure what they are. They were done at about 60,000 just before I bought the car.

Post by **kazbah** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:19 pm

I really need to get my car looked at

shue · Post by **shue** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:20 pm

sounds like a nice option for ppl who dont want to go all out for the coilovers. i need to get mine looked at as well. who did your "bouncy" test, should i just take mine into pedders n get them to test it for me?

BuCkEt · Post by **BuCkEt** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:23 pm

kazbah wrote:I really need to get my car looked at

At least yours works

FTO338 · Post by **FTO338** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:38 pm

This setup looks good, how much did it set u back ben? Ohh hang on how much would this set a "normal" person, as u get mates rate.

Post by **Bennoz** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:54 pm

shue wrote:sounds like a nice option for ppl who dont want to go all out for the coilovers. i need to get mine looked at as well. who did your "bouncy" test, should i just take mine into pedders n get them to test it for me?

The local Beaurepairs did the bouncy test - but yeah, pedders could do the same sort of thing for you. Get the '$14 safety check'... they'll tell you its all shot - then take it else where & tell them what you want lol

FTO338 wrote:This setup looks good, how much did it set u back ben? Ohh hang on how much would this set a "normal" person, as u get mates rate.

I'll get my man to give me a real price for labour.
So far the prices for bits are: (now this is me sourcing the parts)
Apex Lowering springs: $390 AUS landed (Camskill)
Front Droplinks: $102 AUS landed (Camskill)
Pillow Mounts: $355 Aus landed (Camskill)
Strurt Braces (well they were already on) so best value about are probably Kempys at the moment: $115 front, $95 rear

So far $1057...

Need to add bushes, swaybars & labour.
I would guess around $2200 tops. Not bad considering Coilovers on their own could cost that...

mxysxy · Post by **mxysxy** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 5:58 pm

Ben,
Did you change the bushes and drop links for the rear of the car as well?

Post by **Bennoz** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 6:05 pm

Yeah we did. The rear control arm & shock mount bushes were the same as the GPX, but the drop links weren't. They were sort of like a long bolt with a couple of bushes & washers on them. Sorta like this:

GPX droplinks would be best sourced from Camskill as well

RedlineGX · Post by **RedlineGX** » Wed Oct 05, 2005 11:15 pm

And for anyone out there with a GX the droplinks are the same as the GPX. I found out the hard way

Post by **Bennoz** » Sat Oct 08, 2005 1:24 am

Here's some more piccys of the job - did some fine tuning today...

This is the large front lower control arm bush (rear one) - this one has got the extra castor offset (ie the hole through the bush is lower than in the standard bush - giving the whole strut assembly an angle towards the front of the car (or 1.5 degree's positive castor):

These are the front bushes of the lower front control arms:

This is the connection of the new 'adjustable' 22mm whiteline sway bar to the new droplinks. The term adjustable refers to the two choices of holes that the droplink can go through as you can see. The hole we have chosen is towards the front of the car - this gives a sharper turn in feel. If we were to use the rear hole, it would give a more stable turn in, yet more susceptible to understeer. (Ignore the fact the whole assembly is touching the control arm - its because the car is off the ground):

More shots of the front sway

This is the new rear sway bar and sway bar bushes. The bushes on the old sway bar are really really shot...

Shot bush

badly....

More shots of the rear sway bar:

Here is a shot of the rear droplinks on a GR - they are NOT the same as a GPX... GPX ones look like the front ones (a welded bar with 2 ball joints on it) These were really shot too - 4 bushes on each droplink to replace

Now I was under the impression that we were going to replace ALL the bushes on the ass end - not the case. THERE ARE 22 BUSHES on the ass end of a GR. THERE ARE 18 BUSHES on the back of a GPX!!

As you can see by this pic there are 2 control arms attached to each main rear arm. One on the left of screen, and one above the brake line. Each rod has press-fit bush assemblies & the only way to replace them is to replace the whole arm. They are huge bushes & dont wear easily - mine were fine. They are worth $122 and $104 to replace respectively.... and there's 2 of each!

Some shots of the other rear bushes that didn't need replacing (and are unlikely too for the time I will own the car.) Main rear arm fronts & shock absorber lower bushes:

So - lessons learnt. Bushes that are most likely to need replacing are the sway bar bushes (front and back), front control arm bushes, droplinks (front and back - in my case (GR) they were bushes on the rear) and front strut tops.

Part numbers (whiteline - made by Fulcrum - super pro type polyurethane):
Front control arm front bushes - SPF1100K
Front control arm rear bushes - SPF1500K
Front Sway Bar (adjustable) - BMF44Z
Rear Sway Bar - BMR74

The sway bar bushes came with the sway bars, so I have asked for seperate part numbers. I am also still waiting on the prices.

p13nox · Post by **p13nox** » Mon Oct 17, 2005 8:38 pm

Just a quick note, while replacing my suspension at the weekend I realised, GX's (face lift GRs) have the same drop link set up as the GPX's.

mrdj1234 · Post by **mrdj1234** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:30 pm

Bennoz wrote: Part numbers (whiteline - made by Fulcrum - super pro type polyurethane):
Front control arm front bushes - SPF1100K
Front control arm rear bushes - SPF1500K

I did my front bushes this weekend - makes one hell of a difference - the bushes I used for the front pair were part number SPF1160K not 1100

For anyone else that's interested - full set of front bushes (front and rear pairs) - ordered through supercheap (just give them the part numbers - don't tell them what it's for) $85

It's a hell of a job changing them though - especially removing the front bushes which are a single piece press on job.

Live and learn

The handling difference is definately worth it!

nice pics of all the work too

Post by **Bennoz** » Tue Oct 18, 2005 5:40 pm

mrdj1234 wrote:
Bennoz wrote: Part numbers (whiteline - made by Fulcrum - super pro type polyurethane):
Front control arm front bushes - SPF1100K
Front control arm rear bushes - SPF1500K
I did my front bushes this weekend - makes one hell of a difference - the bushes I used for the front pair were part number SPF1160K not 1100

For anyone else that's interested - full set of front bushes (front and rear pairs) - ordered through supercheap (just give them the part numbers - don't tell them what it's for) $85

It's a hell of a job changing them though - especially removing the front bushes which are a single piece press on job.

Live and learn

The handling difference is definately worth it!

nice pics of all the work too

Cheers!
Its well worthwhile - my car handles like it on rails now. Mind you it took them 3 hours to wheel align the bastard

Had to call in their 'specialist' guy who had done Tein tops before

akuma3 · Post by **akuma3** » Wed Oct 19, 2005 1:34 am

i really need a handling nerd like you to give me some tips bennoz, i kinda know what sway bar do, what's a drop link?

at the moment everytime i do hard corners my rear seems to swing out which feels like it tilt too much, using kyb adjustable & kings springs with front strut brace only, givmme some good suggestion to solve the problem

dj_ules · Post by **dj_ules** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 8:01 am

im in desperate need to get new front suspension ASAP. also for the back but not to concerend on them at themoment .ive got GAB adjustable shocks, my rubber mounts are cracked my adjustable part on front shocks are threaded. my front end creaks when turning as im reversing. slow or turning when im geting out of a carpark etc.

im still chasin a price on whiteline. wich are spose to be modified konis for the fto
but got a price for TEIN from unrealautosport
Tein HA with pillowballs $3019
Tein HA without pillowballs $2200
really pricey.
anyone got any sugestion for adjustable suspension i can get, ive been ringing a million places. KYB, and KONI dont make suspension for fto anymore ? peders dont have adjustables for me either. ? can anyone help thanx

Post by **Bennoz** » Sun Oct 23, 2005 12:02 pm

Put in the pillow mounts ($350 AUS)
Replace your lower control arm bushes
Repalce your front swaybar bushes
Replace your droplinks

Thats everything in the front end - it'll cure your noises & give you adjustable camber. You can also get the control arm rear bush with offset mounts, which gives you castor adjustment.

Jono · Post by **Jono** » Mon Oct 24, 2005 4:49 pm

JIC coilovers $2500+ i think from Maytech Automotive

these include pillowmounts.

EURO · Post by **EURO** » Sat Dec 24, 2005 10:11 am

my droplinks arrived yesterday from camskill! YAY .... now just need to order bushes..... do you guys think i should use polyurethane or OEM? a few people have commented that polyurethane can be to hard and exagerate the knocking noises... get them from whiteline?