Suspension Advice? :)

[teambpr]

Hi Guys

Just got my Skyline GTS-T the other weekend. Enjoying it, the suspension that has been put on is stiff and on a good road surface the handling and response is amazing. But whilst it would be great if I was on great roads or a track all the time, it is simply too stiff for where I live. I live in the Country a bit and although I don't drive down farm lanes or anything, the majority of road surfaces are hardly track quality. So I spend most of my time bumping around and it's just not comfortable to be honest!

I think there are Tein coils on there, although I have yet to confirm that, but they are definitely upgrades, very stiff - when I'm on a very good road surface it's fantastic, and the handling is awesome, but for 85% of my driving it's just a pain!!

I'm wondering what can I do to get a more comfortable ride, how much softer would the OEM springs be likely to be? I don't have anything to compare this with because it's the only Skyline I've owned or driven.

Any advice would be great, thanks a lot

PS If I changed the springs I'd obviously be looking at selling these stiffer ones, if anyone is interested in upgrading from OEM to stiffer or something..

Thanks!

[frostmotorsport]

to soften the springs, you should really change the damping - so shocks & springs should be a matched set. you could cause all sorts of uncomfortable problems just swapping for softer springs!!

The Tein SuperStreet and Nismo S-tune are supposedly the go for decent, not-too-harsh setups. Or you could go for the Tein EDFC stuff and be able to dial in what you want from the comfort of your drivers chair!

I would defo recommend swapping the whole lot out - unless you can find a suspension shop to re-valve your struts to match the weight of your new springs.... Sorry, but every costs money innit!

[teambpr]

Thanks mate

Any advice is great. I have also been looking at complete sets, but wouldn't really know where to go - I'll have a look at those two you have mentioned. They are just too stiff at the moment, they're fine when I get onto a good road, but I don't spend enough time on good roads to make it worth it really. Perhaps if I find a good replacement, I could sell my current setup to someone looking for a stiffer ride!!

Cheers!

[Chris Wilson]

I'd search out some European built Bilsteins for it, and run either stock or slightly uprated springs at close to stock ride height. The suspension kinematics go to hell in a handbag when you drop the car a lot, (roll centres shift wildly and rear bump steer becomes chronic).

[teambpr]

Thanks Chris that's very helpful

Any links or anything to info about Blisteins??

Cheers mate

[Chris Wilson]

The Australian GTR forum posted part numbers for them, try a search?

[teambpr]

Thanks

[lynchy]

If you've got Tein suspension it may well be adjustable. From your post it sounds like you have tein coli overs and most of them have some degree of adjustment. If they are adjustable you may well be able to soften it up a bit by reducing the damping and pre load. Have a look at the setup and see what model they are and then speak to Tein UK.

[teambpr]

hi lynchy, thanks mate

I've had a look at the top and I think the shocks might be either standard or non-adjustable. I can't see any branding or anything, or anything that looks like it's adjustable - I had a quick look at a Tein manual online, and it said about the damper settings on the top of the shock, but I don't have anything like that, just a bolt Do you think that bolt might be adjustable..?

When I look at the shock from under teh wheel arch I can see that there is definitely a ride height adjustment nut thing (like on a motorbike), so I think I might be able to adjust the height but not the dampening...?? Is that possible..?

Perhaps the car has been lowered a little bit too far, and so the ride is too stiff? If the springs have been a bit more compacted, and the dampening hasn't been adjusted accordingly... (because it's not adjustable..?)

Does that make sense at all?

Thanks a lot