Where to find Customized Shock Absorbers

[Yoniyama]

I think the consensus is that the OEM spring rate is generally fine, but the OEM shock absorbers are too tight for the OEM springs.

I am looking to improve the ride quality, because my FT-86 is a daily driver.

I heard that Bilstein B6 HD offers decent ride quality, but it could be better still if the valving can be relaxed further, for a better match with the OEM springs.

Some after-market makes offer adjustable shocks, but even at the softest setting, they are generally still stiffer than OEM shocks.

Is there anywhere I can find customized shock absorbers to get them set softer than OEM shocks?

Thank you for any help.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Yoniyama

I think the consensus is that the OEM spring rate is generally fine,[1] but the OEM shock absorbers are too tight for the OEM springs.

I am looking to improve the ride quality, because my FT-86 is a daily driver.[2]

I heard that Bilstein B6 HD offers decent ride quality,[3] but it could be better still if the valving can be relaxed further, for a better match with the OEM springs.

Some after-market makes offer adjustable shocks, but even at the softest setting, they are generally still stiffer than OEM shocks. [4]

Is there anywhere I can find customized shock absorbers to get them set softer than OEM shocks? [5]

Thank you for any help.

[1] There is no consensus as there has not been a large owner survey done.The opinion of some knowledgeable people on this forum is the car is over damped but most people wouldn't know the difference.
[2] What is it about the ride quality you don't like?
[3] "Heard"? Who told you that?
[4] Conversely some after market dampers have a wide range of adjustment. And I don't mean 52 click adjusters. All depends at what price point you are referring to. The cheap stuff is just that. The expensive stuff is expensive for a reason. You have not given a budget.
[5] Of course you can have what ever valving you want. Are you willing to pay thousands for the testing and labour costs? Or you could get some quality dampers that already have a large adjustment range in their damping.

[Fizz]

You bought this car but want the dampers softer than stock? Okay...

I'm sure the Bilsteins can be re-valved to your liking but do you know what damping rate you want? If you tell the technician to just make it softer, how soft if enough for you? Be prepared to spend abit on this process till you're satisfied.

[Khorne]

Contact MCA, Ohlins or Penske they will custom make you something to your needs, expect a big ol' dollar sign attached to your bill though.

[Miniata]

Koni shocks/struts can be re-valved. Another way to soften the ride harshness is to downsize to 16" wheels, for a taller tire sidewall.

[dem00n]

Try running a 16 inch wheel with a soft sidewall. Like a non performance tire? Even the OEM Michelin have a pretty hard sidewall.

I do know KW does make comfort coilovers, maybe they'll make one for this car. Only way to find out is to contact them.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Khorne

Contact MCA, Ohlins or Penske they will custom make you something to your needs, expect a big ol' dollar sign attached to your bill though.

MCA don't have have overseas agents/distributors.

[cdrazic93]

Penske, JRZ, Ohlins, MCS, Moton will all do custom spring rates and valving when you order, if you can afford to play in the big leagues.

[Racecomp Engineering]

Bilstein shocks are revalvable. 110 bucks for each front strut and 100 for the each rear shock through Bilstein USA. Start with Bilstein B6.

- Andy

[NissanGuy]

What do you tell people when trying to get them to custom-valve a shock for you anyway? Like, "I have an xxxxxx with yyyyyyy on it," or "Can it be 40% softer than this," or do you just hand them a dyno chart and say "This."

[Yoniyama]

"What do you tell people when trying to get them to custom-valve a shock for you anyway? Like, "I have an xxxxxx with yyyyyyy on it," or "Can it be 40% softer than this," or do you just hand them a dyno chart and say "This."


I have no idea. Sometimes, damping force of a damper is expressed as:

Front: 1,250N at max extension and 540N at max compression;

Rear: 1,120N at max extension and 400N at max compression.

See: http://www.trdparts.jp/release/2014_...uspension.html

The above setting is curious, because the rear springs (of TRD Rally Suspension) are stiffer than the front, so one may expect the rear dampers be stiffer than the front. Of course, matching of dampers and springs should also take into account of the unsprung weight and not just the spring rate. And the unsprung weight is much heavier up front than the rear.

In my case, my 16-inch wheels are each 10lb lighter than the OEM 17-inch wheel, and my 2-piece front brake rotors are each 5lb lighter. The front dampers should probably be softer by 10%+ just to take into account of the lower unsprung weight.

Let's see what Bilstein has to say. I will probably ask them to re-valve the dampers at 25% lower damping force and see if that is feasible. Fortunately, customised valving is not that expensive, compared with getting coil-overs. I could get two sets of dampers with different customised valving and try them out for a fraction of the price of a set of coil-overs.

[Captain Snooze]

Originally Posted by Yoniyama

The above setting is curious, because the rear springs (of TRD Rally Suspension) are stiffer than the front,

The fact that you have stated this leads me to believe that you should not be playing around with custom valving. The acting spring rates are lower at the rear despite those numbers.

You still haven't said what it is you don't like about your current suspension.

[Fizz]

Originally Posted by Yoniyama

Fortunately, customised valving is not that expensive, compared with getting coil-overs. I could get two sets of dampers with different customised valving and try them out for a fraction of the price of a set of coil-overs.

Yea....ok. Doesn't a set of B6 cost ~$800? So two sets of those would be at least $1500. Plus $440 to revalve four struts, and $400 to revalve 4 shocks. Total of about $2300 and assuming you're satisfied with the revalved rates the first time.

[cdrazic93]

Originally Posted by Fizz

Yea....ok. Doesn't a set of B6 cost ~$800? So two sets of those would be at least $1500. Plus $440 to revalve four struts, and $400 to revalve 4 shocks. Total of about $2300 and assuming you're satisfied with the revalved rates the first time.

The set for 4 is $875. The revalve is $420 ($220 for the front $200 for the back) + $375 swift springs and reuse OEM tophats...camber bolts? $20-40 thats roughly $1600-1700 at the most