View Poll Results: Which setup is the best?
BMR springs, Bilstein HD shocks
3
33.33%
Stock springs, Koni SAs (F), Bilstein HDs (R)
6
66.67%
Voters: 9. You may not vote on this poll
Two Options, Which Would You Recommend?
Thread Starter
Sold The Fun Stuff :(
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,371
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
Two Options, Which Would You Recommend? Just like everyone else, I want my cake and I want to eat it too. I want great handling, great ride quality, and I want the car to look good also. With that in mind, I've got two options of relatively equal cost. Which will be the best of the two and which would you recommend?
Option 1: BMR springs all around, Bilstein HD shocks all around
Option 2: Stock springs all around, Koni SAs on the lower perch up front, Bilstein HDs in the rear w/ isolator removed
Which will offer the best all around ride as far as ride quality, handling, and ride height go? The stock springs with Koni SAs is a little more expensive. I've already got the Bilstein shocks all around so no cost there. Front Konis we're looking at $500. I could sell the Pro Kit on the car now as well as the BMR springs and the front Bilsteins and make back most of that $500. Going with the BMRs all around I'd almost break even also as I already own the HDs, I could sell the Pro Kit, and I got the full set of BMRs for a good price as I already owned the rears from a previous setup.
Option 1: BMR springs all around, Bilstein HD shocks all around
Option 2: Stock springs all around, Koni SAs on the lower perch up front, Bilstein HDs in the rear w/ isolator removed
Which will offer the best all around ride as far as ride quality, handling, and ride height go? The stock springs with Koni SAs is a little more expensive. I've already got the Bilstein shocks all around so no cost there. Front Konis we're looking at $500. I could sell the Pro Kit on the car now as well as the BMR springs and the front Bilsteins and make back most of that $500. Going with the BMRs all around I'd almost break even also as I already own the HDs, I could sell the Pro Kit, and I got the full set of BMRs for a good price as I already owned the rears from a previous setup.
I've got BMR's all around... Better handling? Eh.. um... Well, of course it's a little tighter, but, nothing spectacular.
Nice stance, however. And ride quality is very close to OEM.
If you're seriously looking for a significant step up in handling, I don't think the BMR's will take you there. They are good quality, though, and they're at a good price.
Nice stance, however. And ride quality is very close to OEM.
If you're seriously looking for a significant step up in handling, I don't think the BMR's will take you there. They are good quality, though, and they're at a good price.
Thread Starter
Sold The Fun Stuff :(
iTrader: (1)
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 2,371
Likes: 0
From: Nashville, TN
Really thinking about it, I might do the BMR setup now as it's the cheapest option since I already have all the parts, and instead of using the stock springs, I might try to piece together this Koni SA setup with some 1LE springs. $800 on shocks plus the money for 1LE springs when I find some is going to be a piece by piece deal so I dont shoulder the bulk of the cost up front. That is unless the 1LE springs aren't that great and I should go ahead with the Koni/Bilstein setup on the stock springs.
The stock springs and Koni/Bilstein will give the smoothest ride. The Koni's are nice in that you can adjust the rebound to give a real smooth ride or to firm up the front for quicker turn in and less sway.
If your shocks are in good shape, you might consider the Prokit springs and use a spacer in the rear spring to add height and rate.
Seriously, I have 550/170lb springs and Koni's and the ride is fine to me. It's my daily driver and passengers have never complained about the ride other than it is capable of tossing you around in the corners or under braking.
Here's my stance:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...wcalipers1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...SideView2b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...wCalipers3.jpg
If your shocks are in good shape, you might consider the Prokit springs and use a spacer in the rear spring to add height and rate.
Seriously, I have 550/170lb springs and Koni's and the ride is fine to me. It's my daily driver and passengers have never complained about the ride other than it is capable of tossing you around in the corners or under braking.
Here's my stance:http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...wcalipers1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...SideView2b.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...wCalipers3.jpg
Last edited by JasonWW; Jun 1, 2005 at 08:49 AM.
Originally Posted by JakeFusion
Jason, what springs are you using in your setup? LG? That car looks great!
I can raise or lower each end to my hearts content.
Option 2: Stock springs all around, Koni SAs on the lower perch up front, Bilstein HDs in the rear w/ isolator removed
The BMR springs are stiffer than you think and I'm not sure how well they will work with those shocks (I'm not saying you can't run them together, just that I'm not sure if it's enough damping for that rate. Since I have no first hand experience with that combo, I'll have to error on the side of caution).
The BMR springs are stiffer than you think and I'm not sure how well they will work with those shocks (I'm not saying you can't run them together, just that I'm not sure if it's enough damping for that rate. Since I have no first hand experience with that combo, I'll have to error on the side of caution).
Trending Topics
I say the koni/bilstien set up. Onlything that sux is going back in later down the road and putting springs on the front. Luckily my car already came with bilstiens and a pro kit so I wont have to deal with it for a while.
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them
Pouria Savadkouei
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph
Verdad Gallardo
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,586
Likes: 0
From: Columbus, OH
Take a look at the spring rates here: http://www.angelfire.com/my/fastcar/suspension.html
I still say go with the shocks all around. That's what I should have done... but I found a deal on H&R Springs I just couldn't pass up... =).
I still say go with the shocks all around. That's what I should have done... but I found a deal on H&R Springs I just couldn't pass up... =).