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Suspension Springs, dampers, coilovers, anti-roll bars and suspension tuning.

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Old 02-14-2001, 10:07 AM   #1
Chris F
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Default Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

As I type this my car is in the shop getting the H&R coilovers and full ES bushings added on to the existing Eibach swaybars. I took some pictures last night (at 11PM or so ) for posterities sake. Sorry for the fuzzy outdoor shots, its hard to get good night pics with the cheap digital camera I was using.

Here are the before shots:







The after shots will be up as soon as I get my car back!

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Chris Feist
Black 00' ZX3 5spd
Mods Dyno Chart

[This message has been edited by Chris F (edited 02-14-2001).]
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Old 02-14-2001, 11:01 AM   #2
focusZoomin
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

damn man. that's one clean ass black z ya got there. can't wait to see the drop. since they're coils, how low are you going to take it?

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Old 02-14-2001, 11:11 AM   #3
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

I wish I had the money for those!!!!!
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Old 02-14-2001, 11:12 AM   #4
Chris F
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

I left instructions to drop it 1.5" on all four corners.

Its still winter here (hence my stock wheels/tires) and I wont have a chance to test how the car performs at various heights for another month or so.

Its a shame the rear pic is a bit fuzzy because normally you can see the nifty red bushings from the Eibach rear bar sticking down under the car.

I also have to get that unsightly white wax crap off my plastic door protectors somehow.
I think someone reccomended peanut butter?
Ill have to do a search. Either that or get the sides and mirrors painted properly.

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Old 02-14-2001, 08:07 PM   #5
winter S2000
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

The H&R coilovers don't come with instructions! Between the Focus Helm shop manual and the Focaljet directions for the front, I will have no trouble with the front... But, what about the back? Those small screw caps that raise and lower the rear coils: how do I use/install those?

Is Focaljet ever going to detail the rear coil/shock replacement?

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Old 02-15-2001, 12:01 AM   #6
P-51
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

Woah... those don't look like what I thought they did. I thought they came with 2.5" diameter springs? And what's with the rear shocks? Aren't they height adjustable? Where are the spring seats on those struts/shocks?
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Old 02-15-2001, 12:27 AM   #7
Chris F
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

They rears are height adjustable but via the spring instead of the shock.

The two caps on the right side of the picture fit onto the bottom of either the springs or the rear dampers (im 90% sure its the springs) and allow you to adjust the height that way.

The front dampers are the big ones on the left side front of the picture. They are adjustable via rings that are already on the damper. You can see the rings right in the middle of the damper.

Both ends use progressive rate springs. The big cup ones are for the front and the straight ones are for the rear.

The springs are pretty stiff. I had one of my friends who weights 300lbs+ stand on one of the fronts and it compressed between a half inch and an inch. The springs also have "tender" coils at the top and the bottom to ease out the ride for normal driving.

If you would like closeup pictures I have a bunch more I took of the kit itself that are larger. Let me know and ill post them up somewhere.

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Old 02-15-2001, 01:59 AM   #8
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

how much did you pay for em, can i get em for under a grand, or maybe right there for $1000, 1200 just seems a bit too much., the springs are like 200, so im paying $1000 for shocks/struts. WOWOWW
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Old 02-15-2001, 02:00 AM   #9
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

i hope focussport does a special for like $999
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Old 02-15-2001, 10:04 AM   #10
Chris F
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

I would think that the front struts probably comprise 50-60% of the price of the whole kit. They are each about the same diameter as my forearm and extremely solid.

I would love to see a picture of what the front strut from the Koni shocks looks like.

I payed the going rate. ($1200)

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Old 02-15-2001, 01:25 PM   #11
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

Ok, so it's exactly the same arrangement as the GC springs, but without the ability to swap the springs?

Yup, that settles it for me. The only think possibly swaying me toward H&R was I wanted true coilover on the rear.
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Old 02-15-2001, 04:57 PM   #12
Chris F
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

Just got the car back. It looks fantastic.

Its rush hour here so I cant go out hard driving for a bit but I can tell you that as far as I can tell the engine mounts have added no additional vibrations that werent present from my highly retarded engine timing.

Also beleive it or not one of my rear shocks was gone! The housing was cracked and the mechanic said that water was coming out from it and everything. It didnt even last to 22000kms (14000mi) at stock ride height!

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Old 02-16-2001, 12:31 AM   #13
P-51
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

Well, that seals it... I won't be getting that kit. I want a kit with standard 2.5" ID race springs so I can swap spring rates if I want to.

Do the rear springs go over the shocks, or do they fit in the stock spring pockets on the arms?
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Old 02-16-2001, 12:59 AM   #14
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

Rear uses stock location for springs. You dial in ride height with the lower rear spring perch.

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Old 02-16-2001, 10:34 AM   #15
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

P-51,

I almost bought the coilovers, and now I am kind of pissed because the people both at FocusSport and Overboost lead me to believe that the front and rear were coilovers. But I think what you are saying only the front are true coilovers. Damn those folks at Overboost -- they don't know anything. I called them last week, anmd asked if they had the Cup Kit in stock. They said they had one cup kit left, and I "better buy it before it's gone." That was pretty amauter, and it ticked me off. I told them I would think about it -- very slowly. I asked the guy at Overboost if I had to make any mofications to install the rear "coilover" because I noticed the stock damper is damn close to the inner wall, so I didn't think there was room for the cupkit/coilover. HE said that there is room and no need for modifications -- just bolt it on. Well, it appears that I was right, and there is no room for a true coilover in the rear. Furthermore, I called H&R directly, and they said no one has this fo retail (the cup kit) for sale yet, and that FocusSport will probably have it first. FocusSport told me that they would retail it for $20 more than what Overboost was advertising. I think if someone where to get this that they should just go with FocusSport because at least you have someone who knows about the kit and the car if you have any questions. Don't trust Overboost, I think they advertised that low price just to entice us even though they don't have it.

WEll, I haven't made up my mind about whether to get the cup kit or the coilover. I think $1,200 for a front only coilover is a bit much. But I want to hear back from Chris F on how it performs. I don't care about what color it is, or how cool it looks behind the wheel, I just want to know how it handles -- especially turning fast and occasionally cutting some ******* off!

Sartre.

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Old 02-16-2001, 10:51 AM   #16
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

I meant the cup kit or the half coilover. Chris F, I would really like some feedback on the performance of the "coilovers." By the way, is Ottawa near Mississauga or Toronto? I will be there next weekend visiting my sister in Mississuaga, and installing a JBA header and MBRP catback at MBRP. If you are nearby, maybe we I can meet you some where to check out your suspension.

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Old 02-16-2001, 11:30 AM   #17
P-51
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

Ottawa is about 300 miles past Toronto on the 401.
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Old 02-16-2001, 03:21 PM   #18
Chris F
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

I have a few more first impressions for you guys.

1. I was wrong about the ES motor mounts not adding additional vibrations. They do, but its definitly not NASCAR shaking wheel style vibration. You can feel the extra vibrations with the clutch in at lights but since I normally had a little vibration from my idle due to the cam gear settings this doesent bother me very much at all.

2. Initial impressions: I am now driving a FWD go-kart. Dead serious. The inclination to oversteer brought on by the swaybars on the stock suspension is completely gone. Neutral balance reigns supreme. Turn in is almost instantaneous. I cant detect ANY body roll at all. The chassis is almost unflappable. I was doing freeway offramps faster then I managed in the middle of summer on my Z rated tires. This is with the stock RS-As and an extra passenger in -10C weather where there is no traction.

I will get some pictures on Sunday as the digital camera I use is on loan to someone else right now. More impressions to follow.

Satre: As P-51 says Ottawa is about 300 miles away from Toronto. If you want to drop in please drop me a line via e-mail and I will be happy to accomodate you.

Cheers.


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Old 02-16-2001, 03:26 PM   #19
focusZoomin
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

when do we get to see pics of the install??
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Old 02-20-2001, 12:43 AM   #20
Chris F
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

At last the long awaited "after" pictures. Amusingly they are taken in the exact same parking lot at approximately the same time of day.

Here you go:








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Old 02-20-2001, 12:50 AM   #21
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

Wow! That looks fly man. And thats with all four set at 1.5". Man I can't wait to put my springs on, I'm sick of feeling like I'm in a mini-van.
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Old 02-20-2001, 01:33 AM   #22
focusZoomin
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

lookin' very nice there, man. i've got the regular h&r spring setup (1.5" drop, after settling came to about 2"). i love it. i'm sure you're happy with yours as well.

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Old 02-20-2001, 10:04 AM   #23
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

Now that looks real damn good, sorry about all that snow up there . You guys sure I wont be cutting it close with 18"s under springs like those. Thats the look I want but don't want to sound like cabbage on a cheese grater .

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Old 02-20-2001, 10:06 AM   #24
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by focusZoomin:
lookin' very nice there, man. i've got the regular h&r spring setup (1.5" drop, after settling came to about 2"). i love it. i'm sure you're happy with yours as well.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
FZ, yours look like that with the springs only?


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The only thing that is perfect, is existance.

00'ZX3 35/5%tint,Ractive filter w/extention, Magna Flow muffler, 215/40/17 Pirelli SS, 17.5" ACE Racing Spade-platinum hyper black, EBC green stuff, Panasonic 600U, 1 10" MTX 6OOO,super tweeter & Polk Audio dx7's in front doors.
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Old 02-27-2001, 05:47 PM   #25
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Default Re: Before and After Pictures for H&R Coilover Install

P51,
yep Rob, you're right. $1200 smackers AND they are not really coilovers on the rear AND the fronts are not fully adjustable for rebound, hardness, etc. spend $1400 for Ledas and have a fully adjustable, race proven setup. i am intersted to see what these KW ones REALLY turn out like, as well as the ones BAT was telling me about.

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