Spring rates

[CaptiV8ted]

Done to death I know... having looked in the PH suspension wiki, I am torn between going 450F 375R and 400F 350R. These will be on either GGP or Protech but I would appreciate anyone's opinion having been there and done it.

I currently run the original Konis and in all fairness they do feel like they're working well, but having no evidence of a rebuild, I suspect they're past their best. IMHO, the ride quality is lets say nicely firm, but perhaps a little under damped on inital movement. There's no body roll, but it's a bit crashy I think.

What I'm after is a compliant fast road set up which can be wound up for very occasional track use - I'm not looking to break any lap records, or lose my fillings on our not so beautifully maintained B roads. For info, it's an S2 and has the later type (I believe) rear arms that can be shimmed.

Your views please...

[v8s4me]

CaptiV8ted said:

.....What I'm after is a compliant fast road set up which can be wound up for very occasional track use - I'm not looking to break any lap records, or lose my fillings on our not so beautifully maintained B roads. For info, it's an S2 and has the later type (I believe) rear arms that can be shimmed.

Your views please...

If you're mainly on the road and you already like the ride on the Koni dampers then stick with them. Have the units rebuilt by one of the Koni approved specialists and when you get them back wind up the rebound to maximum. This will also save you endless soing about trying to get the ride height correct and compromising ground clearance. It will be a lot cheaper as well. This is assuming your springs are in good shape. The OEM springs are rising rate and after market ones aren't.

[CaptiV8ted]

Thanks for that. I have considered the Koni rebuild, but they no longer can supply bushes I believe.

[v8s4me]

CaptiV8ted said:

.....What I'm after is a compliant fast road set up which can be wound up for very occasional track use - I'm not looking to break any lap records, or lose my fillings on our not so beautifully maintained B roads. For info, it's an S2 and has the later type (I believe) rear arms that can be shimmed.

Your views please...

If you're mainly on the road and you already like the ride on the Koni dampers then stick with them. Have the units rebuilt by one of the Koni approved specialists and when you get them back wind up the rebound to maximum. This will also save you endless soing about trying to get the ride height correct and compromising ground clearance. It will be a lot cheaper as well. This is assuming your springs are in good shape. The OEM springs are rising rate and after market ones aren't.

[GreenV8S]

Decide on the dampers first based on your budget and objectives. These make a huge difference to ride quality and handling.

Then get the right spring rates.

For example I've had some fairly well known aftermarket dampers from brands well known in the TVR community with 400/300 lb/in springs that would knock your fillings out, my Nitrons are tolerable on the road with 600/400 and no bushes, some rather expensive Ohlins with a slightly higher spring rate felt very noticeably more comfortable.