Thread: Suspension time (b13/b14 compatability)

I wish I would have known this a couple months ago. I love my kyb gr2/swift sport combo, but dampening adjustability would be nice.

Originally Posted by Charka

I wish I would have known this a couple months ago. I love my kyb gr2/swift sport combo, but dampening adjustability would be nice.

Me too! Those b15 GR2's are roughly 10% more dampening than stock (which are also made by KYB, as OEM products.)

Unfortunately, the stock struts are widely considered to be greatly underdampened, and the 10% added by the gr2's got it a lot closer for stock springs, but swift sport springs are way too heavy for gr2s.

The b13 SE-R only had 123 lb/in springs on the front. The Spec-v is 154, so with swift sport 190's on the front, I'm going to need to set the b13 KYBs to something like 5 to get it even.

I can't find stock spring rates for the b14 at all. I'm hoping around 190 rear, which would put me around 5-6 as well on the rear struts with swift sport springs.

I plan to set them on 6 and leave them there unless I *HAVE* to change it for some reason.

QUESTION: What strut baffles and bump stops should I buy? Koni?

Originally Posted by pimpsmurf

Me too! Those b15 GR2's are roughly 10% more dampening than stock (which are also made by KYB, as OEM products.)

Unfortunately, the stock struts are widely considered to be greatly underdampened, and the 10% added by the gr2's got it a lot closer for stock springs, but swift sport springs are way too heavy for gr2s.

The b13 SE-R only had 123 lb/in springs on the front. The Spec-v is 154, so with swift sport 190's on the front, I'm going to need to set the b13 KYBs to something like 5 to get it even.

I can't find stock spring rates for the b14 at all. I'm hoping around 190 rear, which would put me around 5-6 as well on the rear struts with swift sport springs.

I plan to set them on 6 and leave them there unless I *HAVE* to change it for some reason.

QUESTION: What strut baffles and bump stops should I buy? Koni?

The B15 gr2's have the same part # for SE-R's and Spec's, so I've heard they are actually UNDERdampened for the Spec V's (since SE-R struts have softer dampers stock).
Any truth to this?

Originally Posted by MisterNuts

The B15 gr2's have the same part # for SE-R's and Spec's, so I've heard they are actually UNDERdampened for the Spec V's (since SE-R struts have softer dampers stock).
Any truth to this?

They list the same for all the b13's which are quite different, but KYB told me they are 10% higher than the stock spec-v. True or not? I don't know. But that is what I was told by my contact who seemed to know a ton more than I did about everything suspension. haha. not saying much.

Found b15 strut covers w/ bumpers from Advance auto made by Moog. I guess they will be better than nothing.

I had heard that the gr2s are 15% stiffer, but I doubt that 5% would matter much at all anyways.
When I was looking for springs I wanted about a 1" drop and a spring rate to match the valving of the gr2 struts/shocks (I thought 15% stiffer than stock). So assuming the stock springs and shocks/struts were matched well to each other (apparently they're not) I was looking for 154x1.15= 177.1 in/lb front, and 247x1.15= 284.05 in/lb rear springs. That pretty much boiled it down to the Swift sport or Eibach Pro-kit. I went with the Swift sports because I couldn't find one bad thing/review about them. And they were only $165 shipped.
Anyways, point of this post is that I fucking love how my car feels now haha. If they are under-dampened what would be the characteristics of that?

any reason you didn't use koni's? no need to "search" for the right size.

konis require much more work than the agx..granite they are a better shock than the agx's but as far as what he is doing the agx should work fine. i also have purchased agx shocks myself for the front not sure what way im gonna go yet..either springs or coilover sleeves. cant make up my mind.

Granted, granite confused the shit out of me. Heh

I am DONE working on car shit for a while. I am certainly capable of doing this work, but I am having my mechanic do it because I am lazy. Konis would have cost more, and required more labor. BC coilovers with custom springs would have been cheaper.

Konis are indeed awsome, but I don't want to be hacking stock struts for hours. I AM however, saving the stock fronts. For later.

i hear that man. pimp arent you from NC? i think i saw your name on importsnc forums. i hopefully will have my sleeves in the next few weeks and get the fronts done.

Originally Posted by Red Sled

i hear that man. pimp arent you from NC? i think i saw your name on importsnc forums. i hopefully will have my sleeves in the next few weeks and get the fronts done.

Yes, I was on a lot of forums for a while

I feel off the planet when I decided to stop doing insane things to the spec-v, and start being a dad. I plan to do something crazy again later in life, provided 2012 doesn't pose a threat.

AHHHHHHHHH YEAAHHHH (in my best It's Always Sunny voice)

I got the KYB AGX's in today! Hurray Hurray! They are SEXY! I am going to run setting 6 in the rear, and setting 3 (of 4) in the front. Hopefully that will feel right on the Springs, although with the Swift Sport springs, I should be able to easily adjust the rears anyway.

Did I mention they are sexy? Holy crap they make me hot in my car-guy-pants. The color is awesome and will definitely stand out. I believe the swift sport springs are also red, which will be very nice looking IMO. The Moog covers and bumpers seem solid. The rear bumper seems like it would absorb a LOT more than the front, which is somewhat troubling, but I guess they will have to do.

The SS springs should arrive on Friday, and the injectors and DB-Blue Innovate gauge arrived today as well. Provided the springs arrive on time, and the damned top mount bearings ship from courtesy (still "on order") then I should have a suspension installed next week. I may take it for an alignment and "finish off" the set of dunlop star spec's before taking it to the other shop to have some new front tires installed (finishing a set of Toyo Proxy 4's, bleh)

This is all providing I succeed in converting from MS back to the stock ECU (fuck ms1-2, ms3 when it comes out will fully support the QR, timing and all, thanks to Gurov. Much respect for him pulling that off. drama-aside)

Hopefully all is well and I'm back on regular gasoline so I can look cool and buy VP110 at the local gas station finally!

post pics when you get them..im gonna run sleeves but instead of eibach springs hopefully gonna run JIC coilover springs.

post up some pics

Pics or it doesn't count...

pics of the AGX not mounted? lol. sure thing... I've got something to prove...

Super high resolution and ulti-high quality 5mp camera phone pic in the dark? good nuff?

Cant see sh!t!! xD

Originally Posted by mglcrtz

Cant see sh!t!! xD

You can see they are red-orange, and they may look badass. I can't find the cord to my real camera, and the cell phone camera doesn't have a flash. haha. I will get some good pictures once I get them installed next week.

lmao