Coilovers: any that offer COMFORT+HANDLING

shadow85

I would like to make my Z more comfortable to drive but yet retain or increase good handling performance. Is this possible, or do I have to sacrifice one for the other?

Are there any coilover or spring+shock sets that can offer a highly comfortable drive and still have good handling?

Atm, my Z does not have many suspension mods yet it feels pretty harsh to me.

Currently installed:
Eibach lowering springs
Z1 motor and trans Urethane mounts
Whiteline diff bushing kit
Spc fromt camber kit
Eibach rear camber kit

I did also have Eibach sway bar kit plus Z1 subframbr bushing collar kit, but my workshop removed them back to factory because they made the car so stiff, that it felt like I was driving into a rock when went over every bump or hump on the road, and it Tri-podded every where lol

Its still pretty harsh atm and want to know how I can comfy her up a bit more. Thanks for any input.

OptionZero

comfort is relative

but you should read any of the billions of other coilover threads for people that want to make their sports car comfortable AND handle like an F1 car

bottom line:
good valving can make even stiff springs "relatively" comfortable, i.e. no bouncing uncontrollably



at this point, though, you're complaining about eibach springs being too harsh

so i would recommend you buy a lexus and leave it stock

you bought an automatic sports car, slapped on lowering springs, and now you're complaining about the ride harshness

you really need a different car

try this

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shadow85

Mate I love my car!

Otherwise I wouldn't go through hell getting her the way I want it!
Peace!

Brendan

When tuning suspension, it is better to think about it as what is the car doing now, and what would I like it to do better. This goes for both performance and comfort. The more specific the issue the better.

I found the oem shocks to be under-damped. I'm sure that with lowering springs they would have been even worse. If I were in your spot I would look into aftermarket shock options before dropping money on coilovers.

shadow85

Yea I was thinking of the koni yellows.

But Ill have to research into weather that will make my feel better or worse for the performance increase it will give me.

Rusty

Comfort and handling is at opposite ends. You have to decided on how much comfort you can live without for handling. And how much handling you can live without for comfort. Stock is closer to the handling end already. A good set of coilovers valved for the correct springs is the way to go. BUT selecting the springs and valving isn't that easy.

I'll use this as an example. Some love the Koni shocks and Swift springs combo. Others will say that they are just ok. No two people are alike in their taste.

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cv129

Then on top of that, to fully test and adjust the shocks can be, at the very least, tedious.

I dream buying a set of 4 ways, pick some random spring rates, let my two toddlers play with the low/high comp/rebound knobs, then play a game called "guess how it rides".

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nandosman

I will use this opportunity and ask about magnetic suspensions: Can we get something like BMW and Audi does with their suspensions(Adaptive suspension I think it's called)? A magnetic fluid on dampers that under certain current changes viscosity and therefore handling? Has anyone done some research on this?

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Rusty

When is the last time you hit the Power Ball?

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Rusty

Talk about getting lost in a maze.

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shadow85

would EDFC be the way to go, or not worht the trouble?

I was leaning towards MCA Street Ultimate. Built here in Australia so I can get them for $2750 AUD

Rusty

Hit up BGTV8 for things Assie. He would know.

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cv129

So....what exactly is the problem and expectation?

Pretend you are talking to a shock builder, or talking to your pit crew, describe the situation where you feel the ride is "harsh", and how the current setup lacks in performance.

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shadow85

I wouldn't say it lacks in performance, although I cannot comment entirely on that aspect as I have never tracked the car yet, only some hill runs so far, although I wouldn't mind tracking the car in the near future.

So performance side of things is OK, it is more the comfort side of things that I would hope to improve on without sacrificing too much performance if possible. Even though we don't have the best roads here, every bump or hill run I do, I constantly feel like I have driven into a rock because that's how harsh the ride feels to me.

Maybe my car is just too stiff atm, I still tri-pod over driveways etc and I don't even have many suspension mods currently installed.

2011 Nismo#91

Springs play a big roll in comfort, leave them (and the shock) and focused on everything else.