Soarer Central: Suspension Upgrade...need opinions....

Soarer Central Suspension Suspension Upgrade...need opinions....

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Ali Yazici
Tinkerer
Victoria
4.0GT Limited Soarer V8

Posts: 46
Reg: 08-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 02:08 pm, by: Ali Yazici (Wa_ali)

Hey fellas,

After consolidated research of previous forums this is what i have been able to gather;

1. Strut bars don't do sht all for V8's as Soarers have a double wishbone setup and not a McPherson strut setup...although the new MX5's have a double wishbone setup as well with a strut bar (then again they are convertibles), but then again so do the Aristos

2. They look good for a cheap price and although it doesn't improve handling in any way what so ever, it does strengthen the chassis a tad more (with the correct adjustments) as proven with the new MX5's and the Aristo's lol

3. Sway bars are probably a much better way to go to improve handling along with coil over setup...very expensive though $1500+

4. Master Cylinder Stopper is also a good viable option too although it has more to do with braking than suspension...maybe a future upgrade when i get to brakes...

5. Upgrading to the 95+ cross members will surely help suspension feel as it has 2 extra rods connecting cross member to the other metal rod ...mind my ignorance

My situation is that i own a UZZ31 with the whole airbag suspension, touch screen and all, the problem is as usual the airbag suspension....i have sort of read through the forum on "Airbag suspension problem with consolidated research" started by Gregg Holden....but it starts to get too technical for me and unless i have some one around Melbourne as switched on as Mark Paddick and Neil Griffiths i really don't know anybody else that can help me so much more in detail or someone that knows what they are doing

Mind you although i love my car to bits, the handling is really...really...really...sht...considering the fact that i have 265's on the rear, not very pleasant when your taking corners at decent speed and its rubbing up against the guards...and its not even lowered to an extreme level, stock i have at least 50mm between the wheels and guards

As the saying goes "similarities between a UZZ31 and a tug boat...are parts interchangable???"

I am thinking of upgrading to Tein Coilovers with upgrading the cross member to the 95+ version and possibly upgrading the sway bars as well...i was thinking of a strut bar as well...but now it seems like a waste of money...maybe when i have more money then ill get a set of TRD stickers to give me extra 30rwkw

Should i keep my airbag suspension on and get it running perfect 100% (and even if so, how much better will the handling be).....OR

Should i go ahead with my suspension upgrade and sell the airbag suspension (but then then whole concept of "LIMITED" dies). If so what other parts should i be considering...without selling my car and getting a TT??? lol

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated fellas

Cheers

Justin Hughes
Goo Roo
VIC
2.5 GT-T JZZ-30 212rwkw @ 15 psi

Posts: 1144
Reg: 07-2005

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Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 02:38 pm, by: Justin Hughes (Juzza)

If you like to DRIVE, then I would say go get the Teins ......

... I put Whiteline sway bars on my '31 plus lowered it using the Rods and used to drive it with the fabled "Trackday Setting" in
plus the ECT switch always in PWR, and although that car handled well, the next thing I would have done was to be a set of Tein HA's for sure.

It's still a LIMITED with all the goodies mate

- how often do you really use the HIGH/NORMAL setting anyway ???

Maybe get the Teins with the EDFC Controller so you've still got control over ride quality.

Ali Yazici
Tinkerer
Victoria
4.0L V8 GTL-L

Posts: 47
Reg: 08-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 03:35 pm, by: Ali Yazici (Wa_ali)

I do drive the car quite often and sometimes rough and tough you know.

where did you get your sway bars from, i found some on ebay but lately they have been doing quite a few scams on ebay so im not inclined to go towards that way but if thats my only choice then i suppose got no other option then ey...lol

I dont use the normal/high setting that often, but still its good to have the option available to you especially when you get full load in the car

With the TEIN's though, what do you mean by the EDFC controller...what is it and what exactly does it do and how much am i looking at if i was to go ahead with the upgrade?

Ali Yazici
Tinkerer
Victoria
4.0L V8 GTL-L

Posts: 49
Reg: 08-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Thursday, January 11, 2007 - 03:46 pm, by: Ali Yazici (Wa_ali)

I just did a search on EDFC and they actually seem to be the way to go, i mean although it doesnt regulate the height of the ride as from what i have read...it still does give you the option to regulate your ride feel..going from norm, to sports etc.

It seems like a viable thing to fork out cash on

Any other opinions are more than welcome

I need as much opinions as possible so i can get my head around the suspension upgrade

Every other component that im looking to upgrade i am certain on, this is the only thing that's bugging me so much, I'm like a little girl going shopping lol

Ali Yazici
Tinkerer
Victoria
4.0L V8 GTL-L

Posts: 62
Reg: 08-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, January 12, 2007 - 02:39 pm, by: Ali Yazici (Wa_ali)

Anybody with any opinions????

Ben Lipman
TryHard
NSW
Soarer TT

Posts: 315
Reg: 04-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Friday, January 12, 2007 - 05:02 pm, by: Ben Lipman (Ben12a)

I have just finished fitting my new Tein Super Streets today. They came set at 100mm ground clearance (assuming you haven't got a modded exhaust hanging lower than the stockie) and set on "12 clicks back from hard" which is supposed to be close to the stock damping force. I left them set like that and took it for a drive around town. It felt similar to the standard TT coil(non TEMS) ride quality. The ride height is a bit lower than stock but not silly low. I have not lived with it for long enough to give a detailed account of any shortcomings as yet, however at this stage I am most impressed at the ease of fitment, adjustment, and speed of service I received.

Ali Yazici
Tinkerer
Victoria
4.0L V8 GTL-L

Posts: 65
Reg: 08-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 01:25 am, by: Ali Yazici (Wa_ali)

Ben...how much did you end up paying for your set, just so i can get a rough idea on what im looking at

And did you fit it your self or did you get some body else to fit it for you?

Ben Lipman
TryHard
NSW
Soarer TT

Posts: 316
Reg: 04-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 10:37 am, by: Ben Lipman (Ben12a)

Ali,

I paid $1850 pick up from Bowers suspension in Newcastle(very easy people to deal with by the way!). Most places on the web I found were $1869 plus freight. If you go to the Fulcrum website you can find a link to Tein Dealers and there may be one near you so you can save yourself $65-100 in freight costs.

I fitted it by myself with help from someone to put weight on the hub to get the strut out. Very easy to do if you have a basic tool kit - ratchet, knuckle bar, sockets (12, 14, 19mm I think), a couple of spanners the same sizes etc. Took me 4 hours. The longest part was the first strut trying to figure out what needed to be removed to get it out. I reckon I could do it again in 2-3 hours now I know what I'm doing!

Ben Lipman
TryHard
NSW
Soarer TT

Posts: 317
Reg: 04-2006

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Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 10:38 am, by: Ben Lipman (Ben12a)

If you want I can write up step by step instructions in about 30 min. It really is that easy.

Jose-Antonio Castillo
Goo Roo
NSW
Soarer VVTi

Posts: 1074
Reg: 07-2005

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Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 11:57 am, by: Jose-Antonio Castillo (Ahh_soarer)

I wanted to get a set of Teins for my Soarer too but I'm hopeless at saving gobs of money so now I'm getting the parts separately, a set of lowered springs next week and (hopefully soon) a new set shocks.

Come to think of it, unless you're going to be going nuts and continuously adjusting ride height on the coilovers I can't see any real reason that getting a set of fully adjustable coilovers (ride height and firmness) would be any better than a set of good shocks and springs

Ali Yazici
Tinkerer
Victoria
4.0L V8 GTL-L

Posts: 70
Reg: 08-2006

Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!)

Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 12:12 pm, by: Ali Yazici (Wa_ali)

Jose-Antonio Castillo wrote on Saturday, January 13, 2007 - 11:57 am:
Come to think of it, unless you're going to be going nuts and continuously adjusting ride height on the coilovers I can't see any real reason that getting a set of fully adjustable coilovers (ride height and firmness) would be any better than a set of good shocks and springs

I suppose i understand where you're coming from. See with me i like the whole option of being able to switch from sports mode to normal mode etc. Not so much the height though.

The reason why i wanted to go coilovers is more to do with the fact that they're meant to be much more rigid and stiff than your ordinary springs. This is what i have been told anyway.

I mean even if it is more stiff, how much more stiff is it? Would you be able to feel the difference when hooning?