Bilstein/sydneykid R33 Gts-t Suspension - Best Ride Height?

[Trav33]

Hey All...

I've had SydneyKid's Bilstein suspension on my 33 for a while now, and overall fairly happy with it. Handling is good, firm, but not too bad over bumps. I set the circlip one level lower than standard, so my ride height is 350mm - 8mm = 342mm. This has been a good ride height, ok over speed humps, etc.

I'm about to get some new wheels, and think they'd look better if my car was a little bit lower, how would ride *comfort* be affected if i lowered the circlips down to 334mm or 326mm. I dont want a ride thats too harsh, thats why i threw my old Tein HA's in the bin!

Edited January 21, 2007 by Trav33

[Al]

Just be carefull going too low, as the tyres will start rubbing. In a worse case sinario, the tyre may "grab" the gaurd, pulling the lip out and damaging gaurd and tyre.

[MBS206]

DON'T DO IT.

Mine sits down quite low (318mm) and I keep smashing tyres into guards, going in driveways the bar hits the ground, speed humps are a bitch, roundabouts = massive scrub.

Overall it's terrible.

I've found the meaning of bump steer. To the point I can't go through a certain corner any where near as a quick as a stock standard V6 Commodore exec (I used to own one) as the bump steer would throw me around.

Leave the height up, and bugger the looks.

But that's IMO from my experiences of a low car.

[Trav33]

Well i dont have any inner guards to get ripped off.... the last owner had all 4 guards rolled, and launched the plastic inner guards!

334mm ride height should be ok though? Thats only going another 8mm lower than my current setup, and still a fair way off MBS206's 318mm.

I'd like to hear from other people who have SydneyKid's setup... what ride height have they chosen?

[justin911]

how do u go about changing the circlip thingy just outa interest ??

[Trav33]

They are not meant to be changed on the car, I believe you are meant to take the strut out and disassemble, but i'm going to have a go with some spring clamps on the car - compress spring, push c-clip out with screwdriver, and move into the next grove.

[Bl4cK32]

There s no point going lower than Sk's recommended settings (350rear /340front mm?) as hes has said numerous times as it doesnt help handling at all, and puts excessive wear / load on the suspension parts. Even if it does look better

Do a search of his posts for a detailed explanation...

[Al]

Well i dont have any inner guards to get ripped off.... the last owner had all 4 guards rolled, and launched the plastic inner guards!

334mm ride height should be ok though? Thats only going another 8mm lower than my current setup, and still a fair way off MBS206's 318mm.

I'd like to hear from other people who have SydneyKid's setup... what ride height have they chosen?

I was not talking about guard liners i was talking about pulling out the metal guard itself. It unfortunately happened to me not to long ago, my guards are also rolled, and i was using my 17" rims at the time. When i measured the "centre of hub" to arch clearance (after it happened) i was shocked to see 332mm, as i thought the front was higher, this explained why the tyre cought the gaurd. Front now sits at 350mm with rears at 340mm.

[Trav33]

I was not talking about guard liners i was talking about pulling out the metal guard itself. It unfortunately happened to me not to long ago, my guards are also rolled, and i was using my 17" rims at the time. When i measured the "centre of hub" to arch clearance (after it happened) i was shocked to see 332mm, as i thought the front was higher, this explained why the tyre cought the gaurd. Front now sits at 350mm with rears at 340mm.

Ah bugga. Do you have the Bilstein setup, organised by SK?

[salad]

I use 350/340 too, but I've got the coilover conversion of SK's groupbuy (still organised through him though). Much stiffer springs.

[Al]

Ah bugga. Do you have the Bilstein setup, organised by SK?

No, but am currently considering his "track spec" coil-overs, with adjustable height (not grooves/clips).

Still deciding between these and the proper Bilstein Motorsport PSS9 coil-overs with adjustable height and damper control, but the package is about $1500 more expensive .