I am getting alot of bounce when driving on the highway no problems with bump steering just feels bouncy unless I am going over 70 MPH or accellerating hard it smooths out. My car is set one setting above soft on front and back. Are there settings that will smooth out the bouncy feeling?? TIA

 

I don't have any "bounce" when set at full soft. I do use full soft for the normal setting (my car is a daily driver). For autocross or track use I use 3 in the front and 1 in the rear (9 is soft).

Are you sure they are set at soft and not firm? It can be pretty stiff/bouncy when on full firm and it is not clear from the setting on the shock if you are at firm or soft (at least to me). I discovered the difference when I went to set them to firm for an autocross a few days after installation. It was immediately apparent on driving that they had been on firm and were now soft. Before you do much else, I respectfully suggest you set them at the opposite setting and see what it feels like to ensure you are really on soft.

 

Mine are 9F/7R street and 3F/1R track. With these settings and a strut brace the car is pretty much neutral now.

 

Mine are 4F/3R now but I'll test them more in a couple of weeks at Sebring, I think I'll end up (in general, not necessary in Sebring) something like Pete (3F/1R) has. I've only been at track once after PSS-9 so I'm still learning.

And I haven't changed the set up for street, maybe I should try & make it softer. We'll see.
I like it stiff though...

 

Mine are 6F/6R for about 6 weeks now. I'm about to adjust to 4 first and then 8 to see what the adjustment does. Interesting comment by Tom on the potential for getting it wrong on the settings. I remember Steve W contributing that the settings are not linear 1 to 9 in an older thread (8 to 6 could be either less or more change in damping than 6 to 4, don't know which).

I can't say my ride feels "bouncy", but it does communicate the conditions (imperfections) of the road surface very directly. On poor roads with short "wavelenght" undulations I can feel some clear vertical acceleration transmitted rather than absorbed by the suspension. Very different to the stock suspension I replaced.

Enjoy <img border="0" alt="[burnout]" title="" src="graemlins/burnout.gif" />

Nol

 

The data supplied with the PSS-9's shows a big difference between 8&9 or 1&2 with smaller (and non-linear) changes between the other settings.

I was surprised that they went through all the efforts to put numbers on the wheels but never added the mark to show where you were supposed to read the setting. They also added the + and - indicators with arrows. I assumed the + and - could be interpreted as + to increase the number (ie, soften) and vice-versa. I was wrong. All I can figure is that the + means "turn it this way to make it more firm" and does not relate to the numbers. The material supplied only says that 9 is soft. Not much help, but then I guess they think we are racer drivers and know better or can figure it out. I guess I need to join "Hey, wait for me racing" as Technical Director or something of that nature because I can't read the directions and follow them correctly the first time.

 

Greg, I have PSS9 Bilsteins on my C4S and started out with them on full soft (9/9) and firmed them up to 6/6 for my De at Gateway Raceway a few weeks ago. It was wonderful that way. I still have the settings that way now on the street which may be a bit too firm for my soft butt and St. Louis' crappy roads but I can't say that I find either setting bouncy.

You are welcome to test drive my car if you like.

Brad

 

I run mine at 6F/6R on the street. When on the track it is different for each track. Obviously when the track is bumpier I make the front and rear softer. When it is smoother I set everything as stiff as it will go.

 

Greg,

I ran them for the first time at Mid Ohio this month, and eventually went as firm as 3 front / 2 rear. Worked great.

I've got them dialed back (soft) to 8 front / 6 rear now for the street. Very comfortable.

I have not noticed any tendency to bounce at either ends of the spectrum, but the firmer settings will rattle the fillings in my teeth on the street.

 

I run 4/4 F/R on the street and pretty much full
stiff on the track. Tried a couple different track settings over the weekend but as I got used to the car things migrated towards 1/1 on the shocks and full stiff on the RS sway bars F/R. We were at big willow which is pretty smooth.

I left the shocks on 1/1 and drove to work today, but took a beating on the way..

Eric

 

Sorry is this is a lame question, or if this has been covered already, but do the PSS9's adjustable ***** address ONLY the rebound damping, or does it alter compression damping, as well? Anyone (Steve, et al )have a definitive answer on this? TIA.

Edward

 

From their website:
"The Bilstein PSS 9 Suspension provides the ultimate in performance tuning. The fully-adjustable monotube gas shock absorbers offer a selection of nine precise compression and rebound settings, from comfort to competition. The front and rear progressive rate springs allow accurate adjustment of the vehicle ride height and center of gravity for the level of performance you seek."

 

Anyone know what the actual spring rates are for PSS-9s? From the seat they feel great on the road but are on the soft side for the track. I'm not convinced that putting the shocks to 1 (full stiff) is the best way to tune...probably over-damping the springs.

Eric

 

I am going to try 8F and 7R and I will let you know what the results are. When I say "bouncy" I mean you can't put your head on the back of the seat but it is not unbareable.

 

BTW Thanks again for all the responses.