Coilovers Too Bouncy?

[Yawn]

Hey guys i just installed a set of 2nd hand GAB rev stroke coilovers and they are pretty stiff. I feel every bump in the road but for every bump i go over, i feel 1 or 2 tiny bounces before the car is stable again, if you get what i mean. Is this a problem with the absorber being old? Its doesnt really affect me, unless the roads are uneven. Is this gonna be a problem on the track tho if i dont get it sorted out? or is just normal?

Any opinions welcome

Cheers

[BHDave]

It's possible the shocks are on the way out but hard to diagnose without driving the car.

Is there damper adjustment and it's just set too low?

[Yawn]

It's possible the shocks are on the way out but hard to diagnose without driving the car.

Is there damper adjustment and it's just set too low?

Yes there is and its set on the stiffest. Thats what i meant by i can feel every little imperfection in the road but it bounces a bit after every imperfection. For eg., i hit a small bump i go thud, bounce, bounce. Its like the absorbers arent doing their job properly, and i get the impression that its sorta just riding on the spring. I havent had any experience with any aftermarket coilovers before so im not too sure what its supposed to feel like. I just imagined it to be like thud, without the bouncing part. Haha i hope im making sense

Edited March 10, 2007 by Yawn

[1R34SON]

sorry for bringin this thread back from the dead but i got the same problem. Just bought second hand cusco height adjustable only coilovers (Japanese I think-maybe the prob?) to an extent a lot of lowered cars bounce right but how bad is "ok i need this fixed". I dont hear knocking there is no leaking. just bouncing like a frog in a sock with aftershocks. I can tolerate it i dont care at all, but ive never had lowered anything and cant tell if its a problem. if it is ill get it looked at, if not ill keep it as is as i love the look so far. I know its hard to diagnose problems without feeling the ride but maybe any questions anyone has to narrow problems down might help. Any help will be awesome. Cheers!!

Edited July 25, 2008 by MellowYellow

[some_cs_student]

Any idea what your spring rates are?

If not post in the sticky section and SydneyKid will try and estimate for you

If there's super hard spring rates then you will feel every bump in the road.

Also which model of skyline you have will change this as well.

[moobaque]

It could be that your shocks need rebuilding and are not able to control the spring anymore or that you are not running your tyres at a high enough pressure. Sounds odd but with stiff suspension (and road tyres) you need to run your tyres pretty hard to minimize sidewall flex. You will just have to experiement with the pressures, but as an example i'm running about 38PSI with tein monoflex's. If your widewalls are flexing it wont allow the suspension to do its job and can result in a pogo like effect.

Cheers

Camden

[1R34SON]

Hey thanks for replies guys. No idea what the spring rates are.. I only kno the brand (cusco) not the model of coilovers. possible that shocks are worn.. they are second hand afterall.. car is R34GT. Tyres are at 35psi, hmm i can see how harder tyres will stiffen out the bumps... but will it make a big difference i duno unless i try. How can you tell if shocks need replacing? till it knocks around? thanks guys

[driftmeister]

sorry for bringin this thread back from the dead but i got the same problem. Just bought second hand cusco height adjustable only coilovers (Japanese I think-maybe the prob?) to an extent a lot of lowered cars bounce right but how bad is "ok i need this fixed". I dont hear knocking there is no leaking. just bouncing like a frog in a sock with aftershocks. I can tolerate it i dont care at all, but ive never had lowered anything and cant tell if its a problem. if it is ill get it looked at, if not ill keep it as is as i love the look so far. I know its hard to diagnose problems without feeling the ride but maybe any questions anyone has to narrow problems down might help. Any help will be awesome. Cheers!!

Mine seem to have the same problem although there is no leak, im using Coilovers Nismo R-Tune on my GTT. Guess the rear is getting old & worn till the springs is working harder than usual since it already been 2 years. Is there a spec which the person rebuilding the shocks has to follow or just basic oil+internal valve change only.

Kinda dizzy as an everyday ride...

[AGNZ]

Try look for the series numbers on the springs. Wipe the dust off first.

Usually you could tell from the springs.

If you just got them fitted or just got the car. Its very likely the springs are just too hard.

[driftmeister]

Tried setting the rear from 4 to level 6 (has 1-8 adjustment), the rear felt more planted and almost very slight or no more the double rebound feeling. Maybe with a slight tire pressure increase may make it just right. I guess the spring rate (9kg front and rear) is match to more harder setting.

The car felt more sharper in handling but jarring at low speed, highway is so much better.

[1R34SON]

The car felt more sharper in handling but jarring at low speed, highway is so much better.

Same feeling. Also when getting up slightly high entrances or driveways etc one rear back wheel almost gets off the ground and I start doin burnouts!! I have to reverse and drive in more "head-on" (instead of turning in at 45degrees casually). does that mean suspension is way too stiff in rear? If so why?

Turning some corners at reasonably slow speeds and taking off I feel like the rear wheels want to hop along the road. Is that what can be considered as "Jarring"?

My car is still a tad higher than legal ride height.. Any help please? Cos If it means the coilovers I bought are crap i'll just put stock suspension back with new springs.. Cheers!

[driftmeister]

Same feeling. Also when getting up slightly high entrances or driveways etc one rear back wheel almost gets off the ground and I start doin burnouts!! I have to reverse and drive in more "head-on" (instead of turning in at 45degrees casually). does that mean suspension is way too stiff in rear? If so why?

Turning some corners at reasonably slow speeds and taking off I feel like the rear wheels want to hop along the road. Is that what can be considered as "Jarring"?

My car is still a tad higher than legal ride height.. Any help please? Cos If it means the coilovers I bought are crap i'll just put stock suspension back with new springs.. Cheers!

1) The rear wheel getting off the ground one side is normal because your spring are fully compress (sometime have a "clunk" sound) when entering 45 deg driveway. I cannot do head on due to my bodykit is extremely low.

2) Jarring = when hitting pot holes, the whole car feeling the vibration. Not 'hopping effect". Probably ur setting is too soft which gives you a pogo effect. I will always start with middle setting then +- 1 or 2 to feel the difference since your shocks are bought 2nd hand.

3) Im running on 34GTR 18inch rims with 245/40/18 all round. So my ride height is around 2 inch gap tire to wheel guard. Always better to ask any friends or forummers using the same shocks for the correct ride height adjustment.

Hope this helps....cheers.

[1R34SON]

1) The rear wheel getting off the ground one side is normal because your spring are fully compress (sometime have a "clunk" sound) when entering 45 deg driveway. I cannot do head on due to my bodykit is extremely low.

2) Jarring = when hitting pot holes, the whole car feeling the vibration. Not 'hopping effect". Probably ur setting is too soft which gives you a pogo effect. I will always start with middle setting then +- 1 or 2 to feel the difference since your shocks are bought 2nd hand.

3) Im running on 34GTR 18inch rims with 245/40/18 all round. So my ride height is around 2 inch gap tire to wheel guard. Always better to ask any friends or forummers using the same shocks for the correct ride height adjustment.

Hope this helps....cheers.

Geez didnt think anyone else was alive at this time, thanks for the quick reply.. didnt wake u up did i? lol

Im getting a new kit put on soon which is why the constant bouncing and high entrances are worring me.. cos going head on will be disasterous for the poor front bar. Im running on 19x9.5" rims(rear) with 265x32x19 tyres 32 0r 31... cant rermember. My main concern is will suspension/wheels whatever get damaged on these settings.. cos i want to go a tad lower, mainly the front.

I dont know anything about adjusting anything so was hoping someone could help me out. when u say u have 8 settings.. what settings are you talking about and how can i tell what mine are at? People are getting seasick in my car! haha i dont mind it tho as long as its not stuffing anything up.

Thanks again mate!

Edited August 26, 2008 by MellowYellow

[driftmeister]

Im an insomaniac so hardly need the sleep...lol

Btw the settings is for the soft to hard configuration. If you are not sure bout your suspension type then it's best you get some friends who has coilovers to help you on this. Different brands has different settings. Just check what type your using first before playing around with it.

Cheers bro...

[1R34SON]

Im an insomaniac so hardly need the sleep...lol

Btw the settings is for the soft to hard configuration. If you are not sure bout your suspension type then it's best you get some friends who has coilovers to help you on this. Different brands has different settings. Just check what type your using first before playing around with it.

Cheers bro...

lol fair enough. ah ok yeh im gona take it to wa suspension. Get Brad (from sau also) to come for lil cruise and hopefully suss it out. Let ya kno how I go! Thanks a lot man.

Peace!

Edited August 27, 2008 by MellowYellow

[1R34SON]

First up Thanks to Brad, cleared up a lot of things for me. Anyone in Perth with suspension needs. See Brad at WA suspension. Basically yes my car is a beachball with wheels. But only a big problem if I want to go lower. Ill see how the car sits with new bodykit and take it from there. If I still wana go lower ill probably save up for new system or.. cheaper version - new springs on current setup. Cheers!