5 lug 914 coil spring front end - Page 2

SirAndy · 05-14-2006, 04:38 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by djpateman
This just does not make sense.

i agree!

i think your suspension might bottom out. if the car is lowered, did you install the bump steer spacers?

if the car is *not* lowered and you got the stock 914 torsion bars, it should feel like a caddy el dorado ...
if it doesn't, something is wrong with your suspension.

i think you're looking in the wrong place ...

Andy

Acox914 · 05-14-2006, 04:47 PM

i agree also...

usually the stock is TOOOOO soft.

i bet you oversteer like crazy with the 200's....

drive-ability · 05-14-2006, 04:57 PM

I need to have someone who knows what there doing have a look at the car. I drive it easy with an occasional hard straight run. I am sure there is a club member close enough to have a look. I just don't know enough about these cars. I don't want anyone to do it for free, but do wish to get connected with the right person. I am sure theres a lot more that can be done to get the car to run better on the road.

Acox914 · 05-14-2006, 05:43 PM

id be over there in a heartbeat

see if joe sharp or one of the OC guys can take it for a drive

drive-ability · 05-14-2006, 05:52 PM

That would be so helpful, sometimes you spend so much time working on a project you loose the ability to analyze issues objectively.

byndbad914 · 05-15-2006, 05:23 PM

Can you really make a 914 ride like a Caddy in the first place? I remember my bone-stock, well-used 914s riding pretty rough - they are basically little soapbox cars, which is why I like 'em.

IIRC, the 17mm stock bars are equivalent to a spring less than 200lb/in, which is pretty soft to begin with. If you want to go coil-over, maybe consider the yellow RSR struts instead of the stock green RSRs.

The valving is set up for a 220/100 and the 220 is rebound, 100 compression (stock RSR is something like 162/162). Means that there is little control of compression - lets the spring do its job - and because they expect people to run stiff springs, the larger rebound helps control the spring expansion over dips (don't quote me on this part - ask Bilstein for confirmation - what I remember after talking to a tech about mine). Maybe with a soft spring, you would have a swoopy/swishy ride like a Caddy on compression, but over bumps/dips, it might carry the wheel. Then you would just find a really low-rate spring for it.

It is funny because I am just the opposite with my V8 car - I have 300 front and 450 rear springs and am planning to up the fronts - car rides like a lumber wagon but good for the track.

drive-ability · 06:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by byndbad914
Can you really make a 914 ride like a Caddy in the first place? I remember my bone-stock, well-used 914s riding pretty rough - they are basically little soapbox cars, which is why I like 'em.

IIRC, the 17mm stock bars are equivalent to a spring less than 200lb/in, which is pretty soft to begin with. If you want to go coil-over, maybe consider the yellow RSR struts instead of the stock green RSRs.

The valving is set up for a 220/100 and the 220 is rebound, 100 compression (stock RSR is something like 162/162). Means that there is little control of compression - lets the spring do its job - and because they expect people to run stiff springs, the larger rebound helps control the spring expansion over dips (don't quote me on this part - ask Bilstein for confirmation - what I remember after talking to a tech about mine). Maybe with a soft spring, you would have a swoopy/swishy ride like a Caddy on compression, but over bumps/dips, it might carry the wheel. Then you would just find a really low-rate spring for it.

It is funny because I am just the opposite with my V8 car - I have 300 front and 450 rear springs and am planning to up the fronts - car rides like a lumber wagon but good for the track.

I have seen your car and that is a real track monster. I am just a cruiser and use it as a daily driver. I am going to go with some softer rear springs in a couple of weeks and see how that feels. I am also going to see about getting some club members to drive the car and chime in.

I really like this set-up by "Dozer", I haven't herd from him in a long time but it's a nice setup.
http://hypertec.ws/todd_porsche/photos/strutbody/strutbody-Pages/Image16.html

Acox914 · 05-15-2006, 06:59 PM

wow. airbags on a teener.... wonders never cease.....

oh... and you will need spacers to clear that airbag...

byndbad914 · 05-15-2006, 07:31 PM

I had kidded about bagging my car a while back with this photo where I wedged a wheel in while it was on the ground at the chassis shop - I didn't think someone would actually do it

Be happy you can drive yours

Mine is moving along but the little things take awhile to piece in - and had some trouble with a machine shop I was going to use for some machining - cost me 1-1/2 weeks while they yanked me around and f'd up what I ended up doing in a day this weekend

Sucks to have a car sit at a shop for almost 2 weeks because the chassis guy can't start the suspension without those pieces

AJ said he would hit it hard this week and try to catch me up tho'

drive-ability · 05-15-2006, 08:02 PM

byndbad914,
Your car is one of a kind for sure, man that thing will just fly around the track when you get it sorted out. That would be my first choice if I had the extra cash to build one.

Aaron,
I just may do it! The manufacture makes them with a 4" diameter.

bondodust · 05-15-2006, 09:59 PM

Real seats (if you're not really tall) can make a world of difference. I put MR2 seats in a 914 that was uncomfortable to drive in for more than 30 minutes... It made all the difference in the world. It went from a harsh ride to a nice comfortable ride, and all I changed was the butt interface. You might also want to consider higher profile tires if you're running a super low profile now.

drive-ability · 05-15-2006, 10:20 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bondodust
Real seats (if you're not really tall) can make a world of difference. I put MR2 seats in a 914 that was uncomfortable to drive in for more than 30 minutes... It made all the difference in the world. It went from a harsh ride to a nice comfortable ride, and all I changed was the butt interface. You might also want to consider higher profile tires if you're running a super low profile now.

Excellent suggestion, My seats are not stock 914 but cheep knock off racing seats. They have some pad but aren't at all like seats you would find in a normal car.

djpateman · 05-16-2006, 11:46 AM

I thought it interesting that a friend preferred his 914 over the 911 for cross-country tours. The seat was a big part of that.
A couple inches of foam is much cheaper that a coil-over front suspension, and easier to test.
The flex in the sidewalls of tires is designed to provide a lot of the ride compliance. Short, verticle and stiff sidewalls will make for a harsh ride, but gives good steering response.