Desperately need Suspension Help

[D.Brown]

After a recent ride with a member on here that has KW's, I've come to realize that my car rides like dogshit. I've got ford racing dampers and steeda linear springs. The car seems a tad bouncy, but overall handles well. I couldn't stand the fact that my car was bouncing up and down on a regular stretch of highway. I also have the Cradle Lockout kit and Vertical Links. Searching for an answer that will give me a comfortable ride, but still give me some stability on the backroads. I'm looking at KW V1's, Bilstein PSS10, Roush, or any other suggestions you guys may have. Anything helps! Thank you!

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[SteedaTech]

After a recent ride with a member on here that has KW's, I've come to realize that my car rides like dogshit. I've got ford racing dampers and steeda linear springs. The car seems a tad bouncy, but overall handles well. I couldn't stand the fact that my car was bouncing up and down on a regular stretch of highway. I also have the Cradle Lockout kit and Vertical Links. Searching for an answer that will give me a comfortable ride, but still give me some stability on the backroads. I'm looking at KW V1's, Bilstein PSS10, Roush, or any other suggestions you guys may have. Anything helps! Thank you!

Could be that the rear bump-stops were not trimmed properly. They should be 1.5 inches in length. Simple to check out and correct.
This has been the most common problem which creates a rear bounce.

Steeda Tech

 

[D.Brown]

Could be that the rear bump-stops were not trimmed properly. They should be 1.5 inches in length. Simple to check out and correct.
This has been the most common problem which creates a rear bounce.

Steeda Tech

The bump stops were definitely trimmed prior to the installation.

 

[wildcatgoal]

Mine were trimmed too - by me - but apparently not enough (I took off only the first tier of the bumpstop). Steeda cut them down to the proper length and the issue was gone. Steeda also has adjustable bump stops, which I have now, too, that make it easy.

FWIW, then I installed the LCA bearings and got bouncy again (at the time I was using Swift Spec R springs). Seems most everyone experiences bounce when they get the LCA bearing. Anyway, I put in the Steeda shock mounts and that eliminated all bounce - all gone. I have Steeda's adjustable dampers which are also part of my great ride, even with their high rate comp springs (much higher than your springs).

Anywho... if you want to do coilovers and for some reason don't want to consider Steeda's new coilover setup (which have the same valving as my regular Steeda dampers and includes a high rate spring in the back for even better handling than what you have already) then I'd suggest any of the options that do not use a true coilover in the rear. I remain extremely uncomfortable with the lower mounting point of a true coilover in the rear on the LCA. KWs are what I'd go with. The Roush units are basically the same as the KWs - they are made by them, possibly with different valving and obviously with Iron Man colors.

My current setup is a 350 rate spring up front and I think 1200 in the back with Steeda adjustable dampers, basically every spherical bearing or delrin bushing you can get for the IRS, and it rides like butter and handles great. No bounce.

 

[SteedaTech]

The bump stops were definitely trimmed prior to the installation.

I would double check and validate the length. In some cases I have seen that they were not trimmed enough. Enthusiasts were trimming the bump stops only 3/8 inch which should be 1 inch.

 

[Rebellion]

Steeda shock mounts helps a lot!

 

[Doctor Fishtail]

After a recent ride with a member on here that has KW's, I've come to realize that my car rides like dogshit. I've got ford racing dampers and steeda linear springs. The car seems a tad bouncy, but overall handles well. I couldn't stand the fact that my car was bouncing up and down on a regular stretch of highway. I also have the Cradle Lockout kit and Vertical Links. Searching for an answer that will give me a comfortable ride, but still give me some stability on the backroads. I'm looking at KW V1's, Bilstein PSS10, Roush, or any other suggestions you guys may have. Anything helps! Thank you!

If you are getting Coil Overs and not looking at Ridetech you are making a mistake. I have through a dozen setups on this car. And Ridetech is it. It is a traditional coil over. Not the others that keep that bouncy spring under the rear seats. And I am running 325s tires in the rear. Plenty of room for a coil over. Google Ride Tech they are the ultimate for our cars.

 

[D.Brown]

Mine were trimmed too - by me - but apparently not enough (I took off only the first tier of the bumpstop). Steeda cut them down to the proper length and the issue was gone. Steeda also has adjustable bump stops, which I have now, too, that make it easy.

FWIW, then I installed the LCA bearings and got bouncy again (at the time I was using Swift Spec R springs). Seems most everyone experiences bounce when they get the LCA bearing. Anyway, I put in the Steeda shock mounts and that eliminated all bounce - all gone. I have Steeda's adjustable dampers which are also part of my great ride, even with their high rate comp springs (much higher than your springs).

Anywho... if you want to do coilovers and for some reason don't want to consider Steeda's new coilover setup (which have the same valving as my regular Steeda dampers and includes a high rate spring in the back for even better handling than what you have already) then I'd suggest any of the options that do not use a true coilover in the rear. I remain extremely uncomfortable with the lower mounting point of a true coilover in the rear on the LCA. KWs are what I'd go with. The Roush units are basically the same as the KWs - they are made by them, possibly with different valving and obviously with Iron Man colors.

My current setup is a 350 rate spring up front and I think 1200 in the back with Steeda adjustable dampers, basically every spherical bearing or delrin bushing you can get for the IRS, and it rides like butter and handles great. No bounce.

Definitely going to look into all of this. Thank you for the in depth answer.

 

[BMR Tech]

I would definitely recommend checking into the bumpstops, mentioned above. ^

Not all OEM bumpstops are the same. Some are taller than others, so occasionally people will trim a specified amount off of them based on instructions etc - yet the overall height may not be correct.

Good luck!

 

[wildcatgoal]

^ Good point above. I have seen on one car two different bumpstops on each side in the rear. Can someone explain that malarky? Parts switch on the line? I mean... what?!

 

[BMR Tech]

It is based on vehicle options / trim packages.

So for example, an S550 with an 18" wheel has different bumpstops than a Premium model with 20" foundry wheels.

 

[Mootang]

I have the Roush single adjustable ride height coilovers and when the car was stock (bast GT with Roush Phase 1 SC and PP wheels only) it was still a tad bouncy. Then I made the mistake of of installing all the suspension mods in all at once (why not since the entire rear subframe was out anyways). Now the cabin is a bounce house and it gets worst when you accidentally jerk the gas or clutch pedal cause of an unexpected bounce on the road. I expected bumps and and some harshness from my mods, but not the intense bounce.

I also believe it was the LCA bearing that and all the rubber bushings eliminated in the rear that contributes to the bounce. I ordered Steeda's shock mounts for the Roush and am counting on it to eliminate most of the bounciness (should be installed within a week or two). If that does work, I will also be looking for an entirely new suspension setup with adjustable rebound and compression.

FWIW, Roush are alright, even with their triple adjustable ones, its OK. They are stiff and ride height in the rear are a PITA to adjust since you have to relieve the spring a lot before the tool can make a little bit of movement (I just pull the whole cap out and adjust from there). Their triple adjustable are the same as their single one with the difference being only the adjustable shocks (I think). If you are looking for comfort and performance, spend the extra $$$ and go with a full adjustable suspension upgrade and adjust it to your liking. I am looking at KW, RideTech, and maybe another brand, but leaning towards a KW setup.

 

[GTP]

If you are getting Coil Overs ... Ride Tech ... are the ultimate for our cars.

Yes, RideTech is the bomb .. IF you want a 2" drop. Not for a DD, imo.

 

[D.Brown]

Thanks for the help everyone. I'm definitely going to start with the bumpstops and then I'll check out the shock mounts. Hopefully someone will buy them off me if they don't work and I have to switch to a coilover setup. : )

 

[BMR Tech]

To clarify on my statement above, here is an image with bumpstop applications.

You should make the bumpstops the height for what the spring manufacture recommends, due to the differences in height of the stops pictured.

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