so i've just managed to acquire some bilstein cup shocks but just the shocks so i'll have to come up with springs. i have the firmer valving (F 600/180 & R 562/218). and this is for the street! yeah, i know but for the price i got them, i'm not complaining. not yet at least. i've never really felt how stiff these are but i've read that they're streetable and not actually too bad when used with the right spring.

so just getting my options sorted out and would love to hear your rates, past & present and PLEASE details about your experience.

and if you've got any springs to sell, please post here too.

from what i've read, i'm thinking 350-400 (at least) for the front and 500 rear with the stock torsion bars.

has anyone tried the rear cups with just the stock TB & no spring? just curious how this feels (i know this isn't ideal?)

thanks for any help....

 

On my track car, I have just the torsion bar in the back - no coil over - but I think it's a 30 or 31mm bar. 450 lbs springs in the front.

 

Same valving as you. For me I have 375 front and 250 rear+stock 951S torsion bars. Sway bars are 968 M030. It's a compromise setup so I can make it to the track, but it's really not a pleasant ride.

 

Also, just to add. 375lb front springs with 500lb+Tbar will oversteer like crazy. I tried that setup and went backwards so fast into a field that I blew my hatch open. My current setup is well balanced in the dry, but a bit too twitchy in the wet on track.

 

Ok looking through my receipts (previous owner installed the Bilsteins in my car)... I see receipts for 2x 450lb springs, and 2x 350lb springs. The car still has the stock torsion bars in the back. My guess (based on what others have written here) is that the 450s are up front and the 350s are out back. I don't know about the valving in the shocks but I assume they're valved for these springs.

I drive my car on the street and it's definitely a stiff ride, but not unbearable. To me it just feels like a sports car should. The last time I rode in a friend's 951 (stock springs w/Konis), there was definitely a difference - his car felt a LOT softer.

 

I think the valving is what makes the ride feel more or less harsh. On my S3R I have 650lb springs all around with no effective Tbars and it feels much smoother on the LEDA shocks. If I ever have a pile of spare time, I might swap shocks between the two cars.

 

Ive run 325-400 lb/in rear springs w/ re-indexed stock 23.5mm torsion bars to match w/ 500 lb/in front springs. 600 fronts w/ 425-500 rear w/ t-bars. A lot will also depend on wheel/tire size stagger, sway bars, a little w/ alignment specs, and also rear differential setup, and your preference/driving style.

 

You definitely got the track valving. I have the street valving with 450/600 with rear tb delete. I really like it on the track. Firm for the street but not too bad with 17in wheels.

 

I have street valving with 400/500 springs with rear TB delete and Weltmeister sway bars; solid mounts for the TB housing. Ride is firm and controlled where the the stock suspension with Konis floated like an old Buick; currently good for street and occasional track day.

 

thanks for all the info, guys. is there a big difference in the valving? has anyone compared the two? i rode very briefly in a car with bilstein cups (but not sure of the valving) and it was in no way uncomfortable or harsh at all. in fact, it didn't feel any different from stock but again, the ride was short with no major bumps.

i'll probably try the rears with just the stock TB and no coil over and i think i have some 500# 2.5 springs i can use for the front to get a feel for how stiff they are.

can i use 2.5" springs on the rear or will it only fit with 2.25"? and what length? i've read 10" on the front but what's the range of usable springs which will fit?

and finally, i know the right way to do it is to reindex the TB's but i've also read of people just adding springs without reindexing; is that possible or will it always raise the rear too much? i have the rear all the way down with the eccentric adjustment so not sure if that helps enough? or it could be that the coilover isn't doing anything until the suspension compresses? damn torsion bars!

 

2.5" will definitely not clear the transmission cooler loop and will be very tight to the trailing arm. I'd stick to 2.25".

I lowered my car with the eccentrics and then sinched up the spring collars with the weight on the suspension. I also have tender springs to reduce the rattling when it's unloaded. You can only go so low with this setup and it does sproing and rattle a bit, but I can live with that.

 

450 front 700 rears with torsion bar delete for me. I sent them back to bilstein to have them rebuilt/revalved for spring rates up to 700 front, 1000 back.

 

What shocks are you running with this?

 

Bilstein escort cups.

 

Plan to install mine in the next few weeks.

Have escort cups with 400lb 9in springs and 375lb 8 in springs.

Thinking of trying the 400lb 9in on front and 375lb 8in on back with stock 951 torsion bars (130lb). Have zero rate helpers.

I think effective rates would be roughly 360f / 300r.

If anyone has any opinions on this setup let me know.