best option

mr2_mk1.5 · 08-08-2009, 04:40 PM

Ok so I built an mk1.5 and I'm trying to decide on suspension. My main area is the struts. My strut housings are completly shot so getting the inserts out is completly out and also my springs and mounts are worn/collapsed. I was thinking of going with a full Ksport coil over system the AR rally setup but I'm not sure. If anyone out there can give me any help or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. My goal is to drive as a daily driver as well as track racing and also the car is an 86 and ride comfort isn't at the front of my mind but performance and handling is.

kbrew8991 · 08-08-2009, 05:01 PM

K Sport coilovers are crap.: Tires, Wheels, Brakes and Suspension: Nissan Forums / Infiniti Forums - NICOclub

mr2_mk1.5 · 08-08-2009, 10:25 PM

ok so i get the picture and don't feel like dumping 2 grand down the drain for crappy coilovers but that still doesn't answer the question of what to use. I want something that will really bring out the cornering and handling. Lowering isn't in my mind of what I want to do so I want something I can adjust spring rate without affecting ride height and reusing my struts is out of the question so what options are there for coilovers.

mr2_mk1.5 · 08-18-2009, 01:35 AM

has anyone redone their suspension with any sort of coilovers or know of any good brands for the gen 1?

probert · 09-03-2009, 05:14 AM

I just read this page on mr2 suspension tuning. I don't know much about this stuff but the article seems well reasoned. Good luck!

AW11 MR2 Tuning Guide

mr2tim · 09-16-2009, 08:37 AM

Matt's statement that he wants to track and street his car both will have to lead him to make decisions probably more track related in reality. I'm glad to see you stated your ready to compromise.

I tried coil-overs from a honda on my Drag Car and found them to be a constant pain in the butt what with having to adjust them with allen wrenches, turning and twisting the rings on dirty sleeves, nope not for me. Too high maintenance for me personally.

What with your being in Canada I'm thinking the best bet would be to keep the convention OEM configuration and use adjustible (from the top w screwdriver) McPherson struts. The use of lowering springs is your own personal choice (vs daily road conditions)for the look you see best at the wheel wells. Use of polyurethane to replace 20 year old funky OEM rubber bushings also is wise for track usage and performance street driving for sure. (Especially bump stops if your lowered)

As the Tuning Guide noted the AW11 Mark 1 front sway bar is adequate, but I added adjustible links soas to have even more adjustment to varying track conditions from Hillclimbs to rough roads in the Florida Keys.

Since I compete in the Supercharzed car, one of the 1st thing I pitched was the "pillow-ball" suspension attaching ends at the toe-in adjuster bar. I used the OEM stock units from Normally-Aspirated years for more rigidity. (urethane optional)

Although I use 3" drop from Suspension Technique springs (circa 1993) I did NOT like the sway still exhibited in the heavy rear biased weight distribution car and went to giant Addco sway bars, to which of course I added adjustible linkages. This put my car FLAT on the racing surface at ALL times.

I might point out that I could not afford Adjustible struts supporting 3 teenagers in 1993 when I revamped the car and instead went with hyralically damperened struts (not gas!) which also helped my co-driver (new-female) and gave her a more predictable car from race to race.

In conclusion, if your going to switch from daily driver to track racer keep adjustibility foremost in your parts buying matrix and you won't go wrong. If you have to compromise, well that's life.

And that tuning guide has some very vaild information to absorb!!

mr2_mk1.5 · 09-16-2009, 02:50 PM

Well I've been looking at the AMR coil over and I like what I see so I'll probaly go with those and I do plan on switching all the bushings out for urethane. I was going to use ST front and rear sway bars with adjustable links, I'm also converting the car to 89 SC slotted brake rotors and biasing some of my heavy components to the front of the car(water tank mostly) and installing an adjustable brake proportianing valve at the front with my 92 truck master cylinder and of course stainless brake lines and the final thing I was gonna do was tie the rear control arm mounts together with a steel bar and custom build a rear strut bar and install a cusco front bar. So far I'm estimating my car to be close or beyond 400whp so I want to make sure I'm not gonna rip anything out of her suspension wise.

08-08-2009, 04:40 PM	#1 (permalink)
mr2_mk1.5 Some Skills Join Date: May 2009 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 97 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	best option Ok so I built an mk1.5 and I'm trying to decide on suspension. My main area is the struts. My strut housings are completly shot so getting the inserts out is completly out and also my springs and mounts are worn/collapsed. I was thinking of going with a full Ksport coil over system the AR rally setup but I'm not sure. If anyone out there can give me any help or suggestions it would be greatly appreciated. My goal is to drive as a daily driver as well as track racing and also the car is an 86 and ride comfort isn't at the front of my mind but performance and handling is.

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08-08-2009, 05:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
kbrew8991 gimme some turns Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 1,414 Thanks: 60 Thanked 73 Times in 63 Posts My Google Map iTrader Rating: (4/100% )	K Sport coilovers are crap.: Tires, Wheels, Brakes and Suspension: Nissan Forums / Infiniti Forums - NICOclub

08-08-2009, 10:25 PM	#3 (permalink)
mr2_mk1.5 Some Skills Join Date: May 2009 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 97 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	ok so i get the picture and don't feel like dumping 2 grand down the drain for crappy coilovers but that still doesn't answer the question of what to use. I want something that will really bring out the cornering and handling. Lowering isn't in my mind of what I want to do so I want something I can adjust spring rate without affecting ride height and reusing my struts is out of the question so what options are there for coilovers.

08-18-2009, 01:35 AM	#4 (permalink)
mr2_mk1.5 Some Skills Join Date: May 2009 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 97 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	has anyone redone their suspension with any sort of coilovers or know of any good brands for the gen 1?

09-03-2009, 05:14 AM	#5 (permalink)
probert not totally skill-less Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Boston Posts: 2 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	I just read this page on mr2 suspension tuning. I don't know much about this stuff but the article seems well reasoned. Good luck! AW11 MR2 Tuning Guide

09-16-2009, 08:37 AM	#6 (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% )	Matt's statement that he wants to track and street his car both will have to lead him to make decisions probably more track related in reality. I'm glad to see you stated your ready to compromise. I tried coil-overs from a honda on my Drag Car and found them to be a constant pain in the butt what with having to adjust them with allen wrenches, turning and twisting the rings on dirty sleeves, nope not for me. Too high maintenance for me personally. What with your being in Canada I'm thinking the best bet would be to keep the convention OEM configuration and use adjustible (from the top w screwdriver) McPherson struts. The use of lowering springs is your own personal choice (vs daily road conditions)for the look you see best at the wheel wells. Use of polyurethane to replace 20 year old funky OEM rubber bushings also is wise for track usage and performance street driving for sure. (Especially bump stops if your lowered) As the Tuning Guide noted the AW11 Mark 1 front sway bar is adequate, but I added adjustible links soas to have even more adjustment to varying track conditions from Hillclimbs to rough roads in the Florida Keys. Since I compete in the Supercharzed car, one of the 1st thing I pitched was the "pillow-ball" suspension attaching ends at the toe-in adjuster bar. I used the OEM stock units from Normally-Aspirated years for more rigidity. (urethane optional) Although I use 3" drop from Suspension Technique springs (circa 1993) I did NOT like the sway still exhibited in the heavy rear biased weight distribution car and went to giant Addco sway bars, to which of course I added adjustible linkages. This put my car FLAT on the racing surface at ALL times. I might point out that I could not afford Adjustible struts supporting 3 teenagers in 1993 when I revamped the car and instead went with hyralically damperened struts (not gas!) which also helped my co-driver (new-female) and gave her a more predictable car from race to race. In conclusion, if your going to switch from daily driver to track racer keep adjustibility foremost in your parts buying matrix and you won't go wrong. If you have to compromise, well that's life. And that tuning guide has some very vaild information to absorb!!

09-16-2009, 02:50 PM	#7 (permalink)
mr2_mk1.5 Some Skills Join Date: May 2009 Location: Regina, Saskatchewan Canada Posts: 97 Thanks: 0 Thanked 8 Times in 7 Posts iTrader Rating: (0/0% )	Well I've been looking at the AMR coil over and I like what I see so I'll probaly go with those and I do plan on switching all the bushings out for urethane. I was going to use ST front and rear sway bars with adjustable links, I'm also converting the car to 89 SC slotted brake rotors and biasing some of my heavy components to the front of the car(water tank mostly) and installing an adjustable brake proportianing valve at the front with my 92 truck master cylinder and of course stainless brake lines and the final thing I was gonna do was tie the rear control arm mounts together with a steel bar and custom build a rear strut bar and install a cusco front bar. So far I'm estimating my car to be close or beyond 400whp so I want to make sure I'm not gonna rip anything out of her suspension wise.