I'd like a softer ride.

como · 06-27-2009, 03:39 PM

So I've been driving my 2 almost every day for a few weeks now, and I've deicded that the roads up here suck- and this cars suspension doesnt really help.

It almost looks like someone put lowering springs on it at some point, although The car doesnt seem to ride any lower than a stock one. The rear springs are a good 3-4" from reaching both the top and bottom of the strut tower mounts, though, and they definately dont look stock to me.

I'm almost curious if I could buy someones stock/stock replacement springs and enjoy a "softer" ride, but I dont know much about suspension.

Since the struts in this car are *so* soft (I just replaced the rears with GR-2 struts) I cant imagine that a different set of those is going to make any real difference in the everyday ride quality- so I think it's got to be in the springs.

I'm in the process of replacing all of the bushings, but something tells me they wont make any real difference on how the car takes bumps/potholes on the road.

Some of the roads I spend the most time on are in just awful condition, where you're often riding on at least three different "sets" of pavement, as they cant ever shut down half the road at any given time they re-pave them in 4-5' wide strips, and then cut holes in the road to service water pipes and pave squares over the holes they cut...

I'm just not really down for feeling every bump in the road when the roads are this bad, and they've been this bad my entire life so I'm not expecting anything to change.
I also have zero interest in lowering my car, and if it has been lowered in the past I'd almost rather have it raised back up to stock height.

Note that I dont race, I just cruise around town. I love this car for its size.

goixoye · 06-27-2009, 04:21 PM

I have a set off stock springs from my '86. They had about 45k on them when I replaced them with Eibachs. Honestly not sure how much they'll help improve your ride. If the previous owner lowered the car by cutting coils off the springs then it really might be an improvement...don't know.

I replaced my struts (Konis) & springs, ball joints, etc. at the same time. I'm not aware that there's anything wrong with them...I replaced them because I was investing quite a bit into the suspension and just figured I'd go an extra $220 and do the springs too.

I don't know what's fair. $20 + shipping? Let me know if you're interested. I'd need a zip code to nail down the shipping cost.

venom00 · 06-27-2009, 04:37 PM

You have stock rims too? if you get a lower profile tire the ride will be alot more bumpy.

como · 06-28-2009, 12:13 AM

Stock rims havn't made it here yet, but the ones I'm running are the same size.

ZIP here is 04092 - LMK what shipping would be, and if its low enough I may take you up on that just so I can see what it's like.. I'd imaging stock suspension with only 45k would be rather smooth.

As it stands the car feels like its riding on rails- which is great for handling, but at the same time I swear I feel every imperfection in the road.

venom00 · 06-28-2009, 12:42 AM

yea my stock suspention has over 180k miles on it. never have replaced the struts or coils and it still rides like a dream even with these 17" rims :-)

goixoye · 06-28-2009, 06:13 AM

UPS Ground looks like about $20. I've got them in the Eibach box and looks like the weight is 23 lbs +/-.

traintech86 · 06-28-2009, 07:56 AM

mine are stock i am pretty sure. they have almost 200k miles on them and the roads here in VA are garbage. it still seems to ride better then my friends prelude as far as comfort goes.

88"s/c lil"bastard · 07-02-2009, 04:34 PM

i read the more weight you put on a suspension the softer the ride.
My idea take it or leave it, is you could relocate your battery to the front and it will help a lil. Also, when you get your spring situation under control definitly get some sdjustable shocks i had illuminas on another mr.2 i owned and it was great jus being able to adjust the shocks as i pleased. i desperately need shocks i believe it will be the key . i don't think i will be lowering my car either.

try the battery relocate i just wrote alil something on how it felt for me. different but good, overall better

mr2tim · 07-02-2009, 05:17 PM

Como (is that you Perry?)

Attached is a picture of my parts car rear strut/spring, if your doesn't have the same number of coils, yeah, it's been hacked up by an idiot.

If you send along a picture of what yours looks like I'm sure we here at the Club Website will if know what you have is an existing aftermarket type.

Your description of your rear spring/strut situation just made me want to resond, something doesn't sound Normal in your description bro.

Be cautious, research and readup about coil springs for your "softer" choice, there are several types of coils and they act differently under loading. All springs are NOT the same!

Here's some other general strut info:

Similiar cars with manual transmissions generally have softer springs that cars with a automatic transmission.

Supercharged Mark 1 cars have upgraded and harder, stiffer springs than the N/A cars

Remember that most all folks buying springs and struts want higher ratings (stiffer stuff) and the market will offer these types predominately, you have to hunt around for softer rated springs, they are out there and we're sure you will find that soft ride.

I grew up driving around Detroit, which like Maine, has garbage for streets

RePete · 07-02-2009, 06:47 PM

Mounting stock springs from either the '91/'92 or the '93+ model year and then running on 15" or 16" wheels with 45 series tires will go a long way to creating a softer ride.

TomsMR2 · 07-02-2009, 06:54 PM

it sounds like you're riding on the bump stops.

ive been in comfortable cars with 255/35/18's.. far, far more comfortable than my 225/45/16's were. its all about suspension.

como · 07-03-2009, 06:20 PM

I've got the stock ones in (thanks dude) and will hopefully have time to put them in sometime in the next few days...

As for the ones in there, heres a pic of my rear one from when I had it out a few weeks back

Looks like the same number of coils, but its a good 2-3" shorter than the stock ones I got in from goixoye. You can see it doesnt even fit in the strut tower.

As for adjustable shocks, the ones I just replaced were adjustable, and on their #1 setting they felt the same as the ones I just put in, and they had 6 other settings that didnt resist as much, so they may have been softer. If these springs dont do it for me I may wind up ordering adjustable all around and selling my current shocks- this car is borderline undrivable up here with these roads.

06-27-2009, 03:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
como Road Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 499 Thanks: 11 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I'd like a softer ride. So I've been driving my 2 almost every day for a few weeks now, and I've deicded that the roads up here suck- and this cars suspension doesnt really help. It almost looks like someone put lowering springs on it at some point, although The car doesnt seem to ride any lower than a stock one. The rear springs are a good 3-4" from reaching both the top and bottom of the strut tower mounts, though, and they definately dont look stock to me. I'm almost curious if I could buy someones stock/stock replacement springs and enjoy a "softer" ride, but I dont know much about suspension. Since the struts in this car are so soft (I just replaced the rears with GR-2 struts) I cant imagine that a different set of those is going to make any real difference in the everyday ride quality- so I think it's got to be in the springs. I'm in the process of replacing all of the bushings, but something tells me they wont make any real difference on how the car takes bumps/potholes on the road. Some of the roads I spend the most time on are in just awful condition, where you're often riding on at least three different "sets" of pavement, as they cant ever shut down half the road at any given time they re-pave them in 4-5' wide strips, and then cut holes in the road to service water pipes and pave squares over the holes they cut... I'm just not really down for feeling every bump in the road when the roads are this bad, and they've been this bad my entire life so I'm not expecting anything to change. I also have zero interest in lowering my car, and if it has been lowered in the past I'd almost rather have it raised back up to stock height. Note that I dont race, I just cruise around town. I love this car for its size.

07-02-2009, 04:34 PM	#8 (permalink)
88"s/c lil"bastard No Skills Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: N.J. Posts: 43 Thanks: 10 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	ride quality i read the more weight you put on a suspension the softer the ride. My idea take it or leave it, is you could relocate your battery to the front and it will help a lil. Also, when you get your spring situation under control definitly get some sdjustable shocks i had illuminas on another mr.2 i owned and it was great jus being able to adjust the shocks as i pleased. i desperately need shocks i believe it will be the key . i don't think i will be lowering my car either. try the battery relocate i just wrote alil something on how it felt for me. different but good, overall better

07-02-2009, 05:17 PM	#9 (permalink)
mr2tim SUPERcharZed ToyZ RacZer Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Florida Posts: 690 Thanks: 2 Thanked 41 Times in 38 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Softer susp 4 bad roads ! ! Como (is that you Perry?) Attached is a picture of my parts car rear strut/spring, if your doesn't have the same number of coils, yeah, it's been hacked up by an idiot. If you send along a picture of what yours looks like I'm sure we here at the Club Website will if know what you have is an existing aftermarket type. Your description of your rear spring/strut situation just made me want to resond, something doesn't sound Normal in your description bro. Be cautious, research and readup about coil springs for your "softer" choice, there are several types of coils and they act differently under loading. All springs are NOT the same! Here's some other general strut info: Similiar cars with manual transmissions generally have softer springs that cars with a automatic transmission. Supercharged Mark 1 cars have upgraded and harder, stiffer springs than the N/A cars Remember that most all folks buying springs and struts want higher ratings (stiffer stuff) and the market will offer these types predominately, you have to hunt around for softer rated springs, they are out there and we're sure you will find that soft ride. I grew up driving around Detroit, which like Maine, has garbage for streets Attached Thumbnails

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06-27-2009, 04:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
goixoye Worthless Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 99 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I have a set off stock springs from my '86. They had about 45k on them when I replaced them with Eibachs. Honestly not sure how much they'll help improve your ride. If the previous owner lowered the car by cutting coils off the springs then it really might be an improvement...don't know. I replaced my struts (Konis) & springs, ball joints, etc. at the same time. I'm not aware that there's anything wrong with them...I replaced them because I was investing quite a bit into the suspension and just figured I'd go an extra $220 and do the springs too. I don't know what's fair. $20 + shipping? Let me know if you're interested. I'd need a zip code to nail down the shipping cost.

06-27-2009, 04:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
venom00 No Skills Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Murphysboro Illinois Posts: 47 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	You have stock rims too? if you get a lower profile tire the ride will be alot more bumpy.

06-28-2009, 12:13 AM	#4 (permalink)
como Road Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 499 Thanks: 11 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	Stock rims havn't made it here yet, but the ones I'm running are the same size. ZIP here is 04092 - LMK what shipping would be, and if its low enough I may take you up on that just so I can see what it's like.. I'd imaging stock suspension with only 45k would be rather smooth. As it stands the car feels like its riding on rails- which is great for handling, but at the same time I swear I feel every imperfection in the road.

06-28-2009, 12:42 AM	#5 (permalink)
venom00 No Skills Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Murphysboro Illinois Posts: 47 Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	yea my stock suspention has over 180k miles on it. never have replaced the struts or coils and it still rides like a dream even with these 17" rims :-)

06-28-2009, 06:13 AM	#6 (permalink)
goixoye Worthless Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: Roanoke, VA Posts: 99 Thanks: 1 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	UPS Ground looks like about $20. I've got them in the Eibach box and looks like the weight is 23 lbs +/-.

06-28-2009, 07:56 AM	#7 (permalink)
traintech86 Traintech86 on all im's Join Date: May 2009 Location: Norfolk VA Posts: 881 Thanks: 13 Thanked 24 Times in 23 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	mine are stock i am pretty sure. they have almost 200k miles on them and the roads here in VA are garbage. it still seems to ride better then my friends prelude as far as comfort goes.

07-02-2009, 06:47 PM	#10 (permalink)
RePete Midship Specialty Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Vantastic, BC Posts: 941 Thanks: 0 Thanked 57 Times in 56 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Mounting stock springs from either the '91/'92 or the '93+ model year and then running on 15" or 16" wheels with 45 series tires will go a long way to creating a softer ride.

07-02-2009, 06:54 PM	#11 (permalink)
TomsMR2 Formerly Tom Brokaw Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Bay Area Posts: 2,497 Thanks: 8 Thanked 233 Times in 168 Posts Blog Entries: 1 iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	it sounds like you're riding on the bump stops. ive been in comfortable cars with 255/35/18's.. far, far more comfortable than my 225/45/16's were. its all about suspension.

07-03-2009, 06:20 PM	#12 (permalink)
como Road Warrior Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern Maine Posts: 499 Thanks: 11 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (2/100% )	I've got the stock ones in (thanks dude) and will hopefully have time to put them in sometime in the next few days... As for the ones in there, heres a pic of my rear one from when I had it out a few weeks back Looks like the same number of coils, but its a good 2-3" shorter than the stock ones I got in from goixoye. You can see it doesnt even fit in the strut tower. As for adjustable shocks, the ones I just replaced were adjustable, and on their #1 setting they felt the same as the ones I just put in, and they had 6 other settings that didnt resist as much, so they may have been softer. If these springs dont do it for me I may wind up ordering adjustable all around and selling my current shocks- this car is borderline undrivable up here with these roads.