Old S2000 refresh advice
Discussion
Hi. I've had my X-plate S2000 for almost 4 years now. I've searched everywhere for ideas of what might replace it, stopped, then realised I've actually grown rather fond of it!
I thought I'd use 2017 to spend a few quid on it and make it feel a bit more loved! I do a few track days a year but it's a second car and used mostly for fun. It's 17 years old and a bit tired; I thought I'd begin by refreshing the suspension, then get the slightly whining diff looked at...
Any recommendations for new coilovers? I don't want to drop the ride height much at all, and I don't really want the ride too much stiffer... I'll have to have lots of bits chopped out unfortunately, as the geo bolts have totally seized (common problem) although luckily they are locked in an OK setup!
I thought I'd use 2017 to spend a few quid on it and make it feel a bit more loved! I do a few track days a year but it's a second car and used mostly for fun. It's 17 years old and a bit tired; I thought I'd begin by refreshing the suspension, then get the slightly whining diff looked at...
Any recommendations for new coilovers? I don't want to drop the ride height much at all, and I don't really want the ride too much stiffer... I'll have to have lots of bits chopped out unfortunately, as the geo bolts have totally seized (common problem) although luckily they are locked in an OK setup!
I don't have an S2000 myself but a Integra DC5. I'm also looking to do a bit of a refresh soon on the suspension parts. I'm looking at Bilstein B14 coilvers as these are getting great reviews from lots of owners who have recently swapped to them.
Currently i have OEM shocks with Spoon Sports springs. The ride is really crash, whether this is down to worn dampers i'm not sure. However everyone that's made the move to the Bilstein coilovers has said that they are slightly firmer but the dampening is much much better. I assume this is down to the matches springs and dampers.
I think i will put fresh top mounts etc in at the same time when I start refreshing the suspension. Perhaps its worth seeing if any other S2k owners have switched to Bilstein coilovers on there cars.
TGM Sport is a good place to take it depending on where you are in the country as well.
Currently i have OEM shocks with Spoon Sports springs. The ride is really crash, whether this is down to worn dampers i'm not sure. However everyone that's made the move to the Bilstein coilovers has said that they are slightly firmer but the dampening is much much better. I assume this is down to the matches springs and dampers.
I think i will put fresh top mounts etc in at the same time when I start refreshing the suspension. Perhaps its worth seeing if any other S2k owners have switched to Bilstein coilovers on there cars.
TGM Sport is a good place to take it depending on where you are in the country as well.
I would agree on the B14 Bilstein kit, at the highest they will go I believe they are -10mm lower than OEM, if I needed new shocks then that is what I would go for. whilst you are there renew all bushes/seized bolts, that way you can tweek the geo to suit your and not be stuck with what's there. check brakes, full service then you are good to go..
Cheers.....Tony..
Cheers.....Tony..
If you're going to put coilovers on it will mess with the Geo, and you will need to have it adjusted and if they are all siezed thats going to be pricey...
I'm like you my geo is about right, I'm happy with the OEM suspension. I'm looking to like you to spend a little on the car, probably go for some paint and recon the alloys. Just want to keep on top - the only thing I could thin of replacing it with is a BBR breathed on MX-5, but ideally the ND - but prices need to come down a little first.
S.
I'm like you my geo is about right, I'm happy with the OEM suspension. I'm looking to like you to spend a little on the car, probably go for some paint and recon the alloys. Just want to keep on top - the only thing I could thin of replacing it with is a BBR breathed on MX-5, but ideally the ND - but prices need to come down a little first.
S.
mrfunex said:
The B14s seem to be exactly what I want. I'll have to hunt around to see who has them on offer!
And thanks for the recommendation of TGM. They're about 50 miles away, but I have used them before for big stuff and they've been great.
If you're quick....And thanks for the recommendation of TGM. They're about 50 miles away, but I have used them before for big stuff and they've been great.
https://balancemotorsport.co.uk/bilstein-b14-pss-f...
Fancy a set myself, probably next winter though
Ta!
Cheaper here though...
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/coilover...
5.5% cash back from Quidco at the moment too....
Cheaper here though...
http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/performance/coilover...
5.5% cash back from Quidco at the moment too....
Dermot O'Logical said:
Take it to TGM.
Ask Tom what he recommends.
I'd 2nd this, Tom will also be able to supply everything you need including the coilovers. I've only ever used TGM since i've had my DC5 and wouldn't take it anywhere else. Tom will give you any advice needed. They are very competitive with price as well.Ask Tom what he recommends.
Bit of a thread bump, but it’s my thread, so there!
I finally got around to having this work done at TGM. I can only blame procrastination, and a small amount of reluctance in spending, essentially 50% of the car’s value on this. I’d wondered about replacing the S2000 with something completely different, selling and buying a much newer one, or improving what I already had. This car has got under my skin so much; it had to be the third option.
I had the old suspension bits chopped out and replaced as necessary, new Bilstein B14 coilovers, some work done on the back brakes, and a full service with every fluid replacing. The car was set up with a fast-road geo - nothing too aggressive, but still ‘focussed’. It took several weeks, but that was due to a delay in the Bilsteins arriving from Germany.
Tom at TGM was fantastic - great at keeping me informed and nice to chat to.
The car now feels far more sure-footed around fast corners, and the ride quality has improved dramatically over poor quality roads. The OEM shocks were nearly 20years/90k miles old and were feeling fairly tired - the car now rides and handles like it should do. I had the ride height set as close to stock as possible - I’ve previously had problems with lowered cars and speed bumps and didn’t want a repeat of that nonsense. Was it worth the money? Provisionally, I’m pretty sure it has been, but a track day at Brands next month will confirm this!
I’ve also recently replaced and packed with grease the nylon(?) components in the shifter mechanism (a 30min job, and cost around £20, most of which was the high-temp grease) which has fully restored the rifle-bolt action of one of the greatest feeing gearchanges of any car. Why didn’t I do this sooner?!
I finally got around to having this work done at TGM. I can only blame procrastination, and a small amount of reluctance in spending, essentially 50% of the car’s value on this. I’d wondered about replacing the S2000 with something completely different, selling and buying a much newer one, or improving what I already had. This car has got under my skin so much; it had to be the third option.
I had the old suspension bits chopped out and replaced as necessary, new Bilstein B14 coilovers, some work done on the back brakes, and a full service with every fluid replacing. The car was set up with a fast-road geo - nothing too aggressive, but still ‘focussed’. It took several weeks, but that was due to a delay in the Bilsteins arriving from Germany.
Tom at TGM was fantastic - great at keeping me informed and nice to chat to.
The car now feels far more sure-footed around fast corners, and the ride quality has improved dramatically over poor quality roads. The OEM shocks were nearly 20years/90k miles old and were feeling fairly tired - the car now rides and handles like it should do. I had the ride height set as close to stock as possible - I’ve previously had problems with lowered cars and speed bumps and didn’t want a repeat of that nonsense. Was it worth the money? Provisionally, I’m pretty sure it has been, but a track day at Brands next month will confirm this!
I’ve also recently replaced and packed with grease the nylon(?) components in the shifter mechanism (a 30min job, and cost around £20, most of which was the high-temp grease) which has fully restored the rifle-bolt action of one of the greatest feeing gearchanges of any car. Why didn’t I do this sooner?!
I was at Brands Indy on the 3rd - a short, but enjoyable evening on the circuit from 17:30-20:00 - the roads were deserted afterwards due to a footballing event, so the run back through the South Downs was pretty good too!
The S2000 was more sure-footed than before and I found could be pushed a little bit harder than I’ve previously done - there was a confidence in the front and a stability at the back that wasn’t there previously.
Final verdict then - it’s been worth it!
I’ve gotta say too, it was the first time I’ve booked a day with Open Track - reasonably cheap, friendly (and free!) tuition in 20-min segments, free photography and the evening ran well.
The S2000 was more sure-footed than before and I found could be pushed a little bit harder than I’ve previously done - there was a confidence in the front and a stability at the back that wasn’t there previously.
Final verdict then - it’s been worth it!
I’ve gotta say too, it was the first time I’ve booked a day with Open Track - reasonably cheap, friendly (and free!) tuition in 20-min segments, free photography and the evening ran well.
How do you find the Bilsteins on the road?
I put Koni springs/dampers on mine initially as it was an only car and I wanted a replacement for the tired standard parts that wasn't overly stiff. I've since bought a daily barge so I was considering a change to coilovers with a view to doing a few track days/making the car more focused but also a Euro roadtrip.
Did you totally re-bush the car? Or just any parts that were a little tired?
I put Koni springs/dampers on mine initially as it was an only car and I wanted a replacement for the tired standard parts that wasn't overly stiff. I've since bought a daily barge so I was considering a change to coilovers with a view to doing a few track days/making the car more focused but also a Euro roadtrip.
Did you totally re-bush the car? Or just any parts that were a little tired?
The car was totally rebushed using standard Honda bits. (Had experience with a fully Polybushed car and imo it ruined it).
The car is slightly less prone to rolling, diving under braking etc. I had the ride height set to more or less OEM, as I didnt want any problems with speed bumps etc. Ride quality on the road is good - you could easily do a road trip with the Bilsteins and not be jolted about too much. It’s firm but not crashy and doesn’t seem to tramline. Minor imperfections are dealt with well, larger potholes/lumps are felt, but aren’t overly harsh.
In all honesty, it’s probably only slightly better than when it was brand new, which isn’t a bad thing. New Honda springs/struts seemed extremely expensive, or impossible to source in an acceptable condition second hand. The improvement on components almost 20 years old was noticeable in the first 50m of driving. I’d previously ruined a perfectly good 911 Turbo with aftermarket suspension and was very careful not to repeat that experience.
The car is slightly less prone to rolling, diving under braking etc. I had the ride height set to more or less OEM, as I didnt want any problems with speed bumps etc. Ride quality on the road is good - you could easily do a road trip with the Bilsteins and not be jolted about too much. It’s firm but not crashy and doesn’t seem to tramline. Minor imperfections are dealt with well, larger potholes/lumps are felt, but aren’t overly harsh.
In all honesty, it’s probably only slightly better than when it was brand new, which isn’t a bad thing. New Honda springs/struts seemed extremely expensive, or impossible to source in an acceptable condition second hand. The improvement on components almost 20 years old was noticeable in the first 50m of driving. I’d previously ruined a perfectly good 911 Turbo with aftermarket suspension and was very careful not to repeat that experience.
That's good to hear, they're not particularly soft cars from the factory anyway (mine is an early JDM import) so I'm not keen to remove all the compliance from the bushings and end up with the extra NVH that brings.
I'd rather invest in good quality suspension and refresh the parts I can over the winter with OEM.
I'd rather invest in good quality suspension and refresh the parts I can over the winter with OEM.
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