Adjustable suspension

This forum is for technical discussions on anything that will make your car handle better or go faster.

Moderators: IMC, Club Staff

Post Reply
User avatar
boarsai
Mechanic
Posts: 566
jedwabna poszewka promocja
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:00 pm
Location: Brisbane <-> Sunshine Coast
Contact:
Contact boarsai

Adjustable suspension

Post by boarsai »

I went and bought a car for practicality reasons... ha! That's why I bought one 100mm off the ground no doubt. *self slap*

I could in theory raise the car on some new springs or some such but I don't want to spoil the look. I was talking to a guy the other day who was dribbling on about Adjustable suspension ... something like those retarded cars you see bouncing about in america. Well except just for the ability to be able to dump your car low to the ground whilst on favourable roads and still retaining the ability to go over a speed bump or not get stuck on a maccas drive way ;) Had a mate who did the later, amusing for me but no doubt devastating for him ;)

I don't want suspension so "great" that it can bounce... just something that rides comfortably, is lowerable and raisable on the fly and doesn't sacrifice *too* much in the way of a nice sporty ride.

I've had a bit of a google about the place and haven't uncovered too much of interest - maybe my keywords weren't well selected... or perhaps there just aren't good options available in australia at the moment?

Anyone with any insight into the world of suspension, your input and maybe a kick in the right direction would be much appreciated :D

I've only ever mucked about with bikes so I'm a bit clueless in this sadly.

Oh and any information about the legality of such suspension would be nice to know too hehe :twisted:
Top
User avatar
khunjeng
Oldtimer
Posts: 4455
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:00 pm
Location: Melbourne, Victoria

Post by khunjeng »

good diea to check out what shockers u have got first

then chck out the springs...

then go fromt here...
Top
User avatar
boarsai
Mechanic
Posts: 566
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:00 pm
Location: Brisbane <-> Sunshine Coast
Contact:
Contact boarsai

Post by boarsai »

I thought for such a setup that I would have to replace my shocks/springs entirely with some sort of hydraulic system of sorts.

I'm not talking open the bonnet and adjust heights or whatever, I'm talking driving along the road and changing the height to setup for a speed bump or to get into a driveway that would otherwise be inaccessible to such a low car.
Top
User avatar
spetz
Oldtimer
Posts: 2915
Joined: Wed Mar 03, 2004 6:00 pm

Post by spetz »

It would probably be airbag not hydraulic suspension (airbags can be engineered to be legal)
And in some cases it's just an airbag fitted over the original shock (just replaces the spring)
Top
User avatar
boarsai
Mechanic
Posts: 566
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:00 pm
Location: Brisbane <-> Sunshine Coast
Contact:
Contact boarsai

Post by boarsai »

Thanks for that :)

Much appreciated... at least I know what the hell I'm looking for now :D

Anyone done something like this or know someone who has? Thoughts on it?
Top
User avatar
khunjeng
Oldtimer
Posts: 4455
Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:00 pm
Location: Melbourne, Victoria

Post by khunjeng »

seriously man those setups are all show and no go...

get yourself some decent shockers, you can get good adjustable height and dampening systems...the newest are electronically controlled form the dash if you want. I thin Tein have these.

You can drop the height as much as you want or raise it for that matter plus give you good performance for some real driving...
anyway.

dont know much about airbag ones...but I dont think they are adjustable..they simply chnage the spring rates..Its not hydrolic I dont think.

Regardless your going down an expensive path just cos your car is low. This stuff is not cheap mate,
Top
User avatar
Hobbsie
Grease Monkey
Posts: 391
Joined: Wed Jul 05, 2006 5:00 pm
Location: Brisbane
Contact:
Contact Hobbsie

Post by Hobbsie »

this kind of thing is fairly common on european cars.. on my dads citroen you can raise it when youre goin below 10 km/h, and it automatically drops on its ass when youre goin around 100.

havent seen this kind of shiz in jap cars though it would definitely set you back quite a bit ;)
Top
User avatar
boarsai
Mechanic
Posts: 566
Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:00 pm
Location: Brisbane <-> Sunshine Coast
Contact:
Contact boarsai

Post by boarsai »

If it's too expensive I'll just deal with it but it never hurts to find out ;) Curiosity... dead cats and all that.

It's better to know then to always live in wonder.

Pretty sure all the car has is standard shocks with kings springs.
Top
User avatar
dstocks
National Vice President
Posts: 9529
Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:00 pm
Location: Utopia
Contact:
Contact dstocks

Heres an interesting fact....

Post by dstocks »

seriously man those setups are all show and no go...
WRONG!

A few hears back, I had a HG (I think) GSR galant (the 89 hatch version), and it had exactly what you are talking about - 3 settings adjustable from buttons in the cabin

SOFT - feels like a boat

NORMAL - like average car

HARD - Yeeeesssss!

And when you selected hard, the car dropped a few cm and it handled.....very well...... And that is a heavy car.

When I sold that car, I bought an AWD Subaru RX Liberty (98 model), and you know, it didnt handle as well even though it was 4WD. I remember this as I was quite disappointed.

The Galant's suspension works of compressed air as mentioned above, but dont expect to get out of it cheaply, New shocks for that car were $900 per corner. You could pick up 2nd hand ones for about $250.

That was 5 years ago. Dont know if there would be many floating about now - youd certainly be able to get the electrics and the compressor, but dont know about the shocks and I would be guessing it wouldnt automatically fit an FTO.
Complete FTO (http://www.completefto.com.au/completefto.asp)
    Image
    If you are trying to contact me and not getting a quick answer, its because im disorganised. Hassle me and ill get back to you
    Top
    User avatar
    SchumieFan
    Oldtimer
    Posts: 5875
    Joined: Thu Aug 05, 2004 5:00 pm
    Location: GPS signal lost
    Contact:
    Contact SchumieFan

    Post by SchumieFan »

    yeah my dads old 92 V3000 SEI (3L V6 (diamante)) had the same suspension setup stock and it made a huge difference once you get up over 80k
    Image
    Top
    User avatar
    boarsai
    Mechanic
    Posts: 566
    Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:00 pm
    Location: Brisbane <-> Sunshine Coast
    Contact:
    Contact boarsai

    Post by boarsai »

    Are these close to what I'd be looking for?: http://www.probag.com.au/full%20kit.htm#kits

    :lol:
    Top
    User avatar
    dstocks
    National Vice President
    Posts: 9529
    Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:00 pm
    Location: Utopia
    Contact:
    Contact dstocks

    Yep

    Post by dstocks »

    Yep, that looks something like it id be guessing it would be like. Couldnt give any opinions on quality/reliability though......

    Sounds like you may be the guinea pig on this one..... :D
    Complete FTO (http://www.completefto.com.au/completefto.asp)
      Image
      If you are trying to contact me and not getting a quick answer, its because im disorganised. Hassle me and ill get back to you
      Top
      User avatar
      boarsai
      Mechanic
      Posts: 566
      Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:00 pm
      Location: Brisbane <-> Sunshine Coast
      Contact:
      Contact boarsai

      Post by boarsai »

      Guinea Pig? My small disposable income doesn't like the sound of that one :D

      hehe >< Maybe I should write in to something like hot4s or something, they would probably have a bit of knowledge in the area.

      I bought an issue the other day looking for information on how to buy old issues as my car was in that mag a while back apparently.

      The issue I bought had one of those retarded (imho) utes that they dump rediculously low... in fact in the pictorial it's driving along spraying sparks all over the place (low enough for you?!). :roll:
      Top
      User avatar
      khunjeng
      Oldtimer
      Posts: 4455
      Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:00 pm
      Location: Melbourne, Victoria

      Re: Heres an interesting fact....

      Post by khunjeng »

      dstocks wrote:
      seriously man those setups are all show and no go...
      WRONG!

      A few hears back, I had a HG (I think) GSR galant (the 89 hatch version), and it had exactly what you are talking about - 3 settings adjustable from buttons in the cabin

      SOFT - feels like a boat

      NORMAL - like average car

      HARD - Yeeeesssss!

      And when you selected hard, the car dropped a few cm and it handled.....very well...... And that is a heavy car.

      When I sold that car, I bought an AWD Subaru RX Liberty (98 model), and you know, it didnt handle as well even though it was 4WD. I remember this as I was quite disappointed.

      The Galant's suspension works of compressed air as mentioned above, but dont expect to get out of it cheaply, New shocks for that car were $900 per corner. You could pick up 2nd hand ones for about $250.

      That was 5 years ago. Dont know if there would be many floating about now - youd certainly be able to get the electrics and the compressor, but dont know about the shocks and I would be guessing it wouldnt automatically fit an FTO.
      I was talking about hydrolic suspension specifically. if you make your setup hard of course it handle better.
      Top
      User avatar
      dstocks
      National Vice President
      Posts: 9529
      Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:00 pm
      Location: Utopia
      Contact:
      Contact dstocks

      Sorry

      Post by dstocks »

      Sorry, my mistake :D
      Complete FTO (http://www.completefto.com.au/completefto.asp)
        Image
        If you are trying to contact me and not getting a quick answer, its because im disorganised. Hassle me and ill get back to you
        Top
        User avatar
        khunjeng
        Oldtimer
        Posts: 4455
        Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:00 pm
        Location: Melbourne, Victoria

        Re: Sorry

        Post by khunjeng »

        dstocks wrote:Sorry, my mistake :D
        actually I happened to talk to a mate of mine who has experience in this kind of setup..

        he said he has seen some really good systems and in his opinion perform really well - he said there were essentially 2 style styles of setups but would cost like 4-5k although he had never done it in Australia...

        would be worth checking out further..
        Top
        User avatar
        dstocks
        National Vice President
        Posts: 9529
        Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 5:00 pm
        Location: Utopia
        Contact:
        Contact dstocks

        yep

        Post by dstocks »

        all I know is that my galant handled bloody well for a car of its size when I had it on the sport setting......
        Complete FTO (http://www.completefto.com.au/completefto.asp)
          Image
          If you are trying to contact me and not getting a quick answer, its because im disorganised. Hassle me and ill get back to you
          Top
          User avatar
          khunjeng
          Oldtimer
          Posts: 4455
          Joined: Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:00 pm
          Location: Melbourne, Victoria

          Re: yep

          Post by khunjeng »

          dstocks wrote:all I know is that my galant handled bloody well for a car of its size when I had it on the sport setting......
          mind you I wonder what the difference is between these and some good stocks and sping setup.

          I have Bilstien stocks and matched spings for my line...it now handles like a racing machine...

          my FTO has adjustable Konis...one a firm setting they are really sweet around corners..
          Top
          User avatar
          boarsai
          Mechanic
          Posts: 566
          Joined: Tue Nov 21, 2006 6:00 pm
          Location: Brisbane <-> Sunshine Coast
          Contact:
          Contact boarsai

          Post by boarsai »

          I don't need handling quite that good ;)
          I got rid of the gixxer... to behave myself a little bit more ;) :twisted:
          Altho I don't want it to roll around...

          Would your mate reccomend either option over the other? Some names/brands/options would certainly start me in the right direction :D
          Top
          DesertStormBlack
          Grease Monkey
          Posts: 110
          Joined: Wed Mar 30, 2005 6:00 pm
          Location: Adelaide

          Post by DesertStormBlack »

          not worried about cash.. and want your suspension to do all the things that you like doing?

          only one way to go... look up EDFC (couples with tien susp)

          in dash control of all your 16 steps..

          you'll be :lol:
          tushar
          honk if youre happy and ill honk back
          Top
          Post Reply

          Return to “Technical | Performance”