dapplestein

Retiring track car and want to soften suspension for daily driving. Which would have the greater effect? New (stock?) springs or new (stock?) shocks? Thanks

dapplestein

Curren setup: Bilstein HD's and H&R sport lowering springs. Also lower to the max.

cgfen

install standard ride height springs to regain travel and compliance
consider re-valving HDs to allow softer compression settings

you currently have a notoriously "crashy" setup, well suited for flat tracks, but not so good for bumpy streets.

If it were me, I'd just replace with KW Variant 3 coilovers.

nine9six

Lots of guys run the Bilstein HD's and M033 or M030 springs on the street and seem very happy with them. In direct answer to your question, neither. See the springs I mentioned and get rid of the, "lower to the max" setting.

Stock Monroe shocks are not very good and lack any newer technology. 993's should not look like they are ready for the Dakar rally, and that is what you get with stock springs.

JM993

Well put.

JDB1

I'm very satisfied with the setup you currently have; HD + H&R. I don't understand why people think this setup is "crashy". I must assume the road surface is extremely rough and the dampers are being compressed to the point of hitting the bump-stop. Should this be the case, you need stiffer springs, the KW V3 would do it.

NYC993

Which H&R springs do you have? Donyou have helper spring? I think the OP has pretty hard short springs.

I have HR springs and they are great on the street, but they are too soft for the track.

mcipseric

I thought most people go for HDs and H&R lowering springs when they refresh the stock suspension for the street....???

Isn't that the most economical setup? Check if your springs are the stock stiffness. If not, swap out your springs.

JDB1

The H&R springs I have are the recent sport variety that are progressively wound, and as such do not need the helper springs as the free standing length is long enough that a gape is not a problem at any HD adjustment height. I rate this combination as a very good street set up, but not a serious track choice. In my opinion, it is virtually impossible to get a spring/damper combination that will totally satisfy both. For the street, road surface conditions are infinite and therefore a spring damper combination somewhere in the middle will satisfy most often; for serious racing, one needs to adjust dampers and change spring rates depending on which track they plan to race. Serious racing is not cheap and requires a lot of attention to detail. However, sometimes the journey is more enjoyable than the destination.

dapplestein

Let's assume I'm "crashy" in the front and am hitting the bump-stop, what are the suggested cures? The spring plates on the Bilsteins are at the top of the adjustment grooves.

il pirata

Don, have you measured the car height? If you are close to RS height (or lower) you going to get a fair amount of bump steer. The only way I know to correct this is either raise the car height or get RS uprights. It sounds like you might want to get a different set of springs to raise the car if you want to keep the HDs.