A discussion on improving ride quality

[wparsons]

Originally Posted by donoman

The problem with $6k is that there are kits around 1000, 2000, 3000 that are implied not able to do the job.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but there are just 5 parameters:
-spring rate
-hi speed rebound
-low speed rebound
-hi speed compression
-low speed compression

Are the $6k kits adjustable out of the range of the $2k kits ??

There is so much more to it than that, it's not even funny.

There's also the damping curves (both high and low speed), etc, etc, etc.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by jsimon7777

So like I said, start with better bones if you're going to drop 5k plus on suspension. Well, that's my preference at least. Not really aiming this at you, Mike. Just quoting you.

By that logic, I spend more time in Ferraris and Lamborghinis at the track than I do in BRZs.

I shouldn't waste my time doing any R&D activities for the BRZ, since the Ferraris are a better platform, right?

[SilverFRS]

How do the new Tein Flex Z compare for street ride comfort versus Ohlins or Bilstein B16? CSG Mike?

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by donoman

The problem with $6k is that there are kits around 1000, 2000, 3000 that are implied not able to do the job.

Tein make dampers that cost around $700. They also make dampers that cost around $14k. I am suggesting they are not interchangeable.

Originally Posted by donoman

Forgive me if I'm wrong but there are just 5 parameters:

You have omitted the tolerances and complexity to which more expensive dampers are made.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by donoman

The problem with $6k is that there are kits around 1000, 2000, 3000 that are implied not able to do the job.

Forgive me if I'm wrong but there are just 5 parameters:
-spring rate
-hi speed rebound
-low speed rebound
-hi speed compression
-low speed compression

Are the $6k kits adjustable out of the range of the $2k kits ??

that's just the basics. It gets so much more complicated, and it becomes exponentially more complicated with the quality of materials. The Penske shock thread would be a good read for you, the Penske engineer explained a few things that sets the Penske shock out from the group of high end suspension.

[cjd]

Originally Posted by donoman

The problem with $6k is that there are kits around 1000, 2000, 3000 that are implied not able to do the job.

By that logic, why did you spend so much on your car? There are $15k cars...

I don't know about you, but I figured out what I wanted in a car and set out to find one that satisfied as many of the wants as I could. There are a range of options, all over the place on price, and I purchased what I felt best fit. It doesn't do everything I'd like, but I probably need 2 cars to really do that anyway...

[donoman]

Originally Posted by cjd

By that logic, why did you spend so much on your car? There are $15k cars.

My FRS is great. I like it so much that I wish I would have gotten a BRZ Limited with leather and all the fixins. I bought it because I wanted a daily driver. It gets 30mpg, it's fun to drive, and should prove to be reliable.

When I want to rip, I have a 911 and a Z4M coupe. Great cars but not daily drivers. My wife drives a z4 2.5i that I think is a great DD but we wanted something with more space than a 2-seater. That's why the '86 is great.

Go ahead and spend $6K on your suspension to try to improve your ride quality, maybe you earn more than me and can spare it. I'm proposing that there are cheaper alternatives and $6K is well out of the range to improve the ride in a STREET CAR.

[Shankenstein]

Originally Posted by SilverFRS

How do the new Tein Flex Z compare for street ride comfort versus Ohlins or Bilstein B16? CSG Mike?

Well, they're sealed, twin-tube struts that are designed for mass-production. Disposable dampers and interchangeable parts. The Flex Z is an awesome bang-for-your-buck option, much like Megan, Fortune, and BC. The size of Tein's operation probably allows them to automate most of the production (except assembly) and keep a reasonable standard of quality.

Ohlins and Bilstein are serviceable monotubes. Expect better tolerances, surface coatings and base materials. Ohlins uses aluminum bits, and Bilstein uses steel with a hefty plating. All of 3 options will suffer from the elements... but they have different approaches to survival.

http://www.evolutionm.net/forums/evo...ml#post9454023

[cjd]

Originally Posted by donoman

My FRS is great. I like it so much that I wish I would have gotten a BRZ Limited with leather and all the fixins. I bought it because I wanted a daily driver. It gets 30mpg, it's fun to drive, and should prove to be reliable.

When I want to rip, I have a 911 and a Z4M coupe. Great cars but not daily drivers. My wife drives a z4 2.5i that I think is a great DD but we wanted something with more space than a 2-seater. That's why the '86 is great.

Go ahead and spend $6K on your suspension to try to improve your ride quality, maybe you earn more than me and can spare it. I'm proposing that there are cheaper alternatives and $6K is well out of the range to improve the ride in a STREET CAR.

Right. See, $6k is affordable in a way adding a 911 and Z4M would just not be... I'd end up spending more than $6k annually just to park them.

But, for a street car, the FRS is a bit much still - a nice iQ would have been just about right. Anything more is just too much, since you have something else when it's time for fun.

*shrug*

[donoman]

Originally Posted by cjd

But, for a street car, the FRS is a bit much still

I almost bought a Prius plug-in. I just could not do it.

[SilverFRS]

I am aware of quality and mfg differences, looking for input about daily street driving comfort between Tein Flex Z, Ohlins & Bilstein B16, basically what this thread was originally about.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by CSG Mike

By that logic, I spend more time in Ferraris and Lamborghinis at the track than I do in BRZs.

I shouldn't waste my time doing any R&D activities for the BRZ, since the Ferraris are a better platform, right?

You should do R&D where you'll make the most money. I'm pretty sure that's on the twin side of things. I don't expect you're selling many 5k+ setups for the twins, but I do expect you're selling quite a few between 1k and 3k.

[EAGLE5]

Originally Posted by donoman

I almost bought a Prius plug-in. I just could not do it.

Check out the Fiat 500e. Tons of fun.

[CSG Mike]

Originally Posted by donoman

My FRS is great. I like it so much that I wish I would have gotten a BRZ Limited with leather and all the fixins. I bought it because I wanted a daily driver. It gets 30mpg, it's fun to drive, and should prove to be reliable.

When I want to rip, I have a 911 and a Z4M coupe. Great cars but not daily drivers. My wife drives a z4 2.5i that I think is a great DD but we wanted something with more space than a 2-seater. That's why the '86 is great.

Go ahead and spend $6K on your suspension to try to improve your ride quality, maybe you earn more than me and can spare it. I'm proposing that there are cheaper alternatives and $6K is well out of the range to improve the ride in a STREET CAR.

I'm pretty sure you'd change your mind if you actually experienced a well set up car.

I'll be in NorCal next weekend with a JRZ equipped BRZ. You're more than welcome to catch a ride.