[Mk2] [Generic] HSD Coilover Advice

[Donato]

Hi all,
Just doing a bit of research really. I've just bought some HSD MonoPro coilovers for myself. Fitted them fine and have had them on for the past 1-2 weeks. Absolutely over the moon with them. Handling is superb, build quality again is superb but I can't help but think that the spring rates I've got are a tad too stiff for my use. Spring rates I've got as default are 6K front and 10K rear. Now I do A LOT of fast road driving and plan to drive to Italy this year (cobbled roads) and hopefully attend a few track days towards the end of the year. So I'm thinking of maybe changing the springs down to 4K front and 8K rear. Hopefully that might be my ideal set up.
Any advice or experience with a similar thing or your own Coilover spring rate would be fantastic

[Nic]

Have you lowered the ride height? Anything more than around a 25mm drop and there is very little suspension travel left which can cause the suspension to bottom out over rough surfaces. Before swapping the springs I'd try raising the ride height a little to see if it improves the ride.

[Donato]

Have you lowered the ride height? Anything more than around a 25mm drop and there is very little suspension travel left which can cause the suspension to bottom out over rough surfaces. Before swapping the springs I'd try raising the ride height a little to see if it improves the ride.

Hi Nic, I know exactly what you're saying. But with these coilovers the height adjustment is seperate to the sping seating. So when the car is lowered it has no effect on the compression of the spring. If that makes sense?

[bobhatton]

Hi all,
Just doing a bit of research really. I've just bought some HSD MonoPro coilovers for myself. Fitted them fine and have had them on for the past 1-2 weeks. Absolutely over the moon with them. Handling is superb, build quality again is superb but I can't help but think that the spring rates I've got are a tad too stiff for my use. Spring rates I've got as default are 6K front and 10K rear. Now I do A LOT of fast road driving and plan to drive to Italy this year (cobbled roads) and hopefully attend a few track days towards the end of the year. So I'm thinking of maybe changing the springs down to 4K front and 8K rear. Hopefully that might be my ideal set up.
Any advice or experience with a similar thing or your own Coilover spring rate would be fantastic

You just have to give it a try, they will be softer and that is what you want

[Donato]

Well, just an update regarding my issue on the coilovers.

I've spoke to Driftworks today about getting some softer springs, as they are unbelievable stiff. They've strongly recommended not doing so. And advised that I should speak to other users with an MR2 using the HSD coilovers and see how they find them.

Before you ask, damping is set to fully soft and the pre-load is set so it just holds the spring in place. It's come go the point where ive had to reduce tyre pressure to increase comfort as the ride is rock hard.

I've spoke a couple of other users who have complimented on how comfy they are. Now i know, people have different opinions, but everyone i've had as a passenger has moaned at how stiff they are.

I'm guessing that i could of installed them wrong or that uprating the ARB bushes could of had an effect on the comfort? I've followed the instructions properly, set the pre-load so it just cups the spring and set damping to fully soft.

So any info regarding this would be massively helpful!

[Peter Gidden]

or that uprating the ARB bushes could of had an effect on the comfort?

Impossible.

What are the spring rates?

[Donato]

Impossible.

What are the spring rates?

Hi Peter, I didn't think so. But i was just doubting myself. Spring rates are 6 front, 10 rear. But after speaking to a few people, same coilovers and same spring rates, they've praised how comfy they are!

[Peter Gidden]

Impossible.

What are the spring rates?

Hi Peter, I didn't think so. But i was just doubting myself. Spring rates are 6 front, 10 rear. But after speaking to a few people, same coilovers and same spring rates, they've praised how comfy they are!

Well BC coilovers are 5Kg/mm front and 8Kg/mm rear. So yours are 20% stiffer than BCs.

Did you get to ride in a car with same suspension before you bought them?

[Donato]

[quote="Peter Gidden - SBITS
Well BC coilovers are 5Kg/mm front and 8Kg/mm rear. So yours are 20% stiffer than BCs.

Did you get to ride in a car with same suspension before you bought them?[/quote]

I know that the HSD's do come with springs stiffer than most of manufacturers. But, i can't express how stiff the ride is. Whilst being driven there is no movement in the suspension. If you were to push down on each arch, again there is no movement. Most/if not all the comfort from going over bumps, i'd say is the flex from the tyres.

I honestly do think that the way i've set them up has something to do with it. But i've just set everything to minimum softness

I've not been for a ride in another MR2 with the same setup. I'm just in the process of trying to find someone local who wouldn't ming taking me for a spin. But everyone seems to live miles away!

[Herts66]

Sounds like a preload issue.
Have you checked you did it right and haven't preloaded the spring?
Loads of videos on utube on this.
Classic mistake is often to use the spring to set the height instead of the height adjuster.

[Peter Gidden]

Have you checked you did it right and haven't preloaded the spring?

Keep up at the back!

I've followed the instructions properly, set the pre-load so it just cups the spring

[Donato]

Sounds like a preload issue.
Have you checked you did it right and haven't preloaded the spring?
Loads of videos on utube on this.
Classic mistake is often to use the spring to set the height instead of the height adjuster.

Hi Herts,
Spring pre-load has been set so that it just cups the spring into place. Height has been set by spinning the coilover down into the lower bracket. The spring hasn't been touched to lower the car as you would with normal coilovers.



Now that i think about it, it does feel like there is too much pre-load. But it can't be possible. Will have to have another look this bank holiday Friday and see.

Will keep you updated. Kind of want to get to the bottom of this

[andrew77]

sounds silly but you have adjusted them the right way, so what you think is the softest inst actually the firmest? easily done when the adjust is on the bottom.

i have these and mine are all set around the middle ish, was a while ago since i set mine up and they are very comfy compared to other cars ive been in with coilovers such as meister, Tein , spax and others, they are wound pretty much as low as they can go whilst running 17s with 40 profile tyre and i drive mostly round towns riddled with holes and poor roads.

i remember they had specific setting up instructions, tutorial on driftworks website tells your how and if i remember correctly they have a running in period before your meant to adjust the damping.


also you still running the standard mr2 seat? i reckon mine would feel pretty harsh if i wasnt as im sure the seat absorbs alot of the bumps.