Soft springs with stiff bars?

[GTP]

I just put on GT350 springs and bars, and it is too stiff for me as a DD. I miss my OEM smooth ride! So shoot me.

My question is - Why can't I put soft springs on and keep the new stiff bars for DD, and then put the GT350 springs back on for a compressed track season?

Sure, this is a few hours work twice per year, but so far I can't find the ideal springs that are progressive with the right rates and drops, IOW one spring set that is the ideal track/DD compromise.

It seems to reason, that while the bars are theoretically too stiff for the springs, does it really matter for normal mellow everyday driving?

For track day, everything would be as it should - full GT350 setup with Steeda adjustable dampers.

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[BmacIL]

I just put on GT350 springs and bars, and it is too stiff for me as a DD. I miss my OEM smooth ride! So shoot me.

My question is - Why can't I put soft springs on and keep the new stiff bars for DD, and then put the GT350 springs back on for a compressed track season?

Sure, this is a few hours work twice per year, but so far I can't find the ideal springs that are progressive with the right rates and drops, IOW one spring set that is the ideal track/DD compromise.

It seems to reason, that while the bars are theoretically too stiff for the springs, does it really matter for normal mellow everyday driving?

For track day, everything would be as it should - full GT350 setup with Steeda adjustable dampers.

No reason it won't work. The downsides are: more brake dive, accel squat, less overall control/precision with the soft springs and dampers.

You could just get an extra set of bumpstops, seats, dust boots, etc. so that you can just swap struts and shocks and leave them assembled. That would save quite a bit of time. Leave the cradle lockout in.

 

[Eritas]

Sway bars have a big effect on ride quality over uneven bumps in the road. I think the GT350 springs work and ride better on a GTPP shock than a base GT shock (which I'm assuming you don't have a GTPP)?

 

[GTP]

Sway bars have a big effect on ride quality over uneven bumps in the road. I think the GT350 springs work and ride better on a GTPP shock than a base GT shock (which I'm assuming you don't have a GTPP)?

I am not concerned about uneven bumps during daily driving, unless one makes me change lanes unexpectedly! :eyebulge:

I would be combining GT350 bars with OEM non-PP springs and shocks. Then putting the GT350 springs & Steeda dampers back on for track season.

 

[Eritas]

I am not concerned about uneven bumps during daily driving, unless one makes me change lanes unexpectedly! :eyebulge:

I would be combining GT350 bars with OEM non-PP springs and shocks. Then putting the GT350 springs & Steeda dampers back on for track season.

Stiffer swaybars do effect ride quality. Put your stock spring/shocks back on with the 350 bars and see how that works for you. 350 bars aren't that much stiffer than stock, so it may not be an issue. If that works, just track it as is. I track my stock GT suspension and while a 350 sprung Steeda damper would perform better, it's not worth the trade-off for my daily driven car either, and the stock suspension is more than competent on track. It sounds a bit overkill to spend that much time and energy and alignments for a mild improvement of a GT350 spring and steeda damper.

 

[Norm Peterson]

1) Have you tried dialing the shocks & struts all the way down to full soft yet?

2) Shocks and struts sometimes have a lot of initial stiction (likely from seal friction) that does "wear in" after some time and miles. Have you given this setup much time to "break in"?


I don't think your car's spring rates (reflected out to wheel rates) are all that much different from where my car's wheel rates are now. There was some initial harshness that has since dissipated. Dial the dampers back and give it a little time.


Norm

 

[SVT-DADDY]

Running PP damper,springs, and 350R bars ride quality is great. It's of course a little stiffer than stock but feels a lot more controlled.


edit I do have BMR springs on the front, they are just a little stiffer than PP springs

 

[GTP]

1) Have you tried dialing the shocks & struts all the way down to full soft yet?

2) Shocks and struts sometimes have a lot of initial stiction (likely from seal friction) that does "wear in" after some time and miles. Have you given this setup much time to "break in"?


I don't think your car's spring rates (reflected out to wheel rates) are all that much different from where my car's wheel rates are now. There was some initial harshness that has since dissipated. Dial the dampers back and give it a little time.


Norm

1) Yes, and 2) Yes.

It is not as annoying as before, because I think it has calmed down a little (or else the driver is what is breaking in :lol.
But I have more appreciation than before for the smooth ride of the stock suspension.

 

[qtrracer]

The soft spring/stiff bar is the better approach for handling. The questions are, how soft and how stiff? The idea is to allow the front to travel in compression maybe 3-4" before turnin, and than the stiff bar keeps the inside tire on the ground and fairly upright assuming proper damping, dynamic camber and caster. The rear inside must disengage just a little so the car can rotate (not lift off completely), so a bit lighter bar on the rear along with proper damping (assumes the front/rear spring rates are in the right zone).

On the Fox chassis, the tried and true was stiff springs and small bars which I subscribed to for years. Now I'm going with the SSBB approach on a MM suspended car.

On the S550, the springs I'm on are a bit soft but the stock bar is not enough to hold the inside tire in the correct position on turn-in. The struts/shocks are adjustable so I'm currently at an aggressive bump but a middle level rebound.

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