Am I Making The Right Decision With Springs/coilover Combo + Damper Rates?

[GTS4WD]

Hey guys!

I have a R32 GTS4 with a set of HSD HR coilovers - spring, 15 step damper and height adjustable.

Now, these coilovers came off a GTST - I changed the rear bottom mounting cups to mate the GTR/S4 suspenion set up.

HSD HR spring rates for a 32 GTST are: Front-8 Rear-6

HSD HR spring rates for a 32 GTR (So GTS4 aswel) are: Front-9 Rear-7

Now in mid corner the car would become very unsettled, oversteer very easily, be unpredictable and kinda "skipps" accross the slightest uneven surfaces.

Its really quite scary, because you cant feel oversteer begining to come in, it just slid out of no where.

Now I was talking to a GTR owner during the hill climbs at Bathurst, and he said he had the same problem, swapped the speings at the rear for 5kg's and was cheering.

So, will a 5kg spring sort things out?

Whats a stock rear spring rate for a 32 GTS4?

How do I know how far to dial up the damper settings to make up for th softer spring?

Does it matter if its a 4 door? Weight distribution?

Do i need to check anything on the new springs besides, spring rate, id diameter and length? Would brands matter?

I realise its a bit of a bastardized suspension set up, but hey, it cost me $50 for almost new coilovers.

Could this set up work? HSD HR GTST front coilover:8kg & HSD HR GTST rear coilover with 5kg spring by what ever brand?

Any help is much appreciated

Thanks guys!

Edited December 1, 2008 by GTS4WD

[BHDave]

do you have adjustable sway bars in it? If so soften the rear a touch.

If not, then yes, a softer rear spring will help.

You can also play with more rear toe in.

As far as the adjustable damper goes; you are adjusting both bump and rebound at the same time so you need to find a happy medium. I generally would go somewhere around 10-11 front and rear and pretty much leave it or go up, but not down. I tend to think if you go too soft on the damper thinking that it will soften that end of the car then you aren't controlling the spring properly, particularly higher spring rates, which can lead very similar issues to what you are describing...

[GTS4WD]

Wow.. that acctually makes allot of sence. Because thats exactly what I did! hahaha.

I never really touched the front dampers. I put a front strut bar and GTR bonnet, so I lessened the weight and stiffened it, so im happy with the front. Feels great, direct, no understeer etc. Dampers are set at 0. Should i be increasing them to further change the ratio front/rear?

You have to excuse me. Im not inept in terms of suspension. But im not fluent in its techincalities. Its by far the most difficult part of a car to grasp, understand and disect.

[Roy]

If you have put all the susp in then dont forget to get the ride heights (corner weighting) and wheel alignment correct before you go chasing handling

[GTS4WD]

Current specs are:

ride height- front 350mm rear 345mm

alignment- front 1;5 deg neg camber, 5 degree caster, 1mm toe out, rear 1.30 deg neg camber,

2mm toe in per side

[mystery_kid]

the shit house quality of valving in the shocks being hsd also doesn't help for skipping and stuff either

[GTS4WD]

Probably not.

But For the $50 I payed for a full set of half decent coilovers, I cannot complain