TAREK

My recommendation is to try the bilsteins on with stock springs first...and then move to stiffer springs if you feel the need. I found out the hard way what Jim Bailey had been preaching for years: Change ONE variable at a time when it comes to suspension. This method means more labor installing and replacing, but it beats never getting to the right combination for your taste. I would experiment with the rears first, as they're much easier to work with than the fronts....unless of course you're lucky to experience the desired effect in someone else's car and you just simply copy and install only once

Dennis K

Well, I'm running 800/550 Hypercos w/ Bilsteins. My car is street legal and I still drive it around a bit but its main purpose is as an open track car. The Bilsteins were originally valved by Devek to match the GT Cup damping rates, I believe. We've since had them revalved for higher compression & rebound rates. At some point, I'd like to try 1000's on the front.

The ride is undoubtedly stiff. It may be an acquired taste (it was for me). I'm also running street/track tires that have super-stiff sidewalls which also hurts ride quality. If you're ever in the San Francisco Bay Area, you're more than welcome to come for a ride and feel what it's like.

FlyingDog

Thanks for the offer Dennis. You don't happen to know what spring rate is ideal for stock Bilsteins is, do you? My car isn't exactly gentrified in other ways, so I'm not too concerned about ride stiffness unless it's bone jarring.

Tarek, I'm getting a used set of rear Bilsteins, so your advice on doing them first sounds good. That is unless I keep my current car. It needs motor mounts and a few other things up front so I might as well do the fronts while I'm in there.

Dennis K

No sorry, I don't even know what the stock spring rates are. I can't imagine that the stock Bilsteins are going to provide adequate damping outside of the stock spring rates though.

If you're not afraid of ride stiffness then you may enjoy the ride. The reactions of people who ride in my car range from "not as bad as I thought" to "I feel like I'm going to throw up." It all depends on how hardcore they are . . .

Rehan

What makes the ride feel hard is the dampener not the springs. I have 800 lbs/inch in front and 525 at the rear with Leda adjustable shocks. When I drive on the street I put them on full soft which makes the ride quite ok, the when I hit the track I put them harder which makes the ride on the street quite bumpy.

I first tried with 600/400 springs and it's not that big difference from 800/525.

slate blue

Rehan how much was the Leda setup, I could always sell my bilsteins and change setups, or you can pot the bilsteins to make them adjustable, also I hear there is electronics out there that can make these changes too.

Cheers Greg

Rehan

Greg, I was in a group buy and got a great price. But I think that they were close to 1200 Euro, which is around 1300 USD I believe (front and rear incl. springs, rose joints and helper springs). I bought mine a year ago and the prices might changed since then.

TAREK

That's only a little more than what I paid on hypercoil/bilstein

Chris

If only it was that price, more like $2k.

$1300 would be a steal.

Chris