beefajita
Active member
A couple years ago I bought a set of DT2s from HotBits, 'rally spec' 60nm in the front 40nm in the back. Previously I owned a set of DT1s 'track spec' with I think the same spring rate, maybe a little higher.
I kept the ride height of the DT1s pretty low as I used to live in Oregon and drive the piss out of the nice smooth backroads and highways of the region. the DT1s were awesome at keeping me glued to my line but couldn't handle a pothole without a bone jarring jolt that would convince a passenger who didn't know better that the car was about to fall apart.
I got the DT2s with 'rally spec' because now I live in the armpit of America, Connecticut. The roads here are falling apart, very post-industrial, so I figured "get the rally spec and I'll be able to eat up potholes like a Rally Car." This has not been the case. From day one I have been disappointed with my purchase. The only travel I get out of suspension comes from the flex in the sidewalls of the tires. This would be great if I only did AutoCross or SkidPad tests all day but I like to, you know, drive on the roads, like normal people.
It should be noted that the rear suspension does act like a suspension, you stand and bounce on the rear bumper and the body goes up and down like it should, but the front (where all the weight is) is total crap,; you bounce on it and only the sidewalls flex...way too stiff
Over the years I have purchased different spring rates and lengths to try and make the front eat up bumps like a $2600 suspension should. Factory spec is 25nm in the front if memory serves me correct and 20nm in the back. I have tried 20nm, 25nm, 30nm, 40nm, 50nm, and the 60nm that HotBits sold me originally (20nm-30nm @ 300mm length & others @ 250mm). Everything below 60nm just gets crushed under the weight of the front end, but 60nm has no "give" and rides like a raped date.
Also I have tried a myriad of height choices from slammed to stock, to all the way up. Ideally they should be best at about 50 to 60% of the overall stroke of the strut's piston, so it can eat up shock in both directions.
I could go on for hours but I have a life, sort-of. This is my second GVR4, I have not posted very much on here because I am always working, studying, or putting my car on jack-stands. One good side effect from my suspension woes is that I have everything I need to do my own alignments, this was out of necessity because of the constant tinkering with suspension requires constant realignment and I have not met one alignment guy worth his salt much less the $75 to $95 they charge to 'set the front toe, and let it go', no rear toe or camber, that would just be too much to ask a man to do his job correctly.
I know I must be missing something here, I have tried combining springs on the same corner to have a 'progressive' setup and still all my "give" in the front comes from my tires. Yes this suspension would be great on a perfectly smooth track, but to actually Rally this thing OFF THE ROAD is total crap
Does anyone have HotBits 'rally' and actually Rally it? if so what springs are you running, especially up front????
p.s. expect more posts from me 'cause I need to ditch this 'newbie' handle 'cause I am starring at thousands of dollars worth of VR4 stuff that I need to sell on here.
I kept the ride height of the DT1s pretty low as I used to live in Oregon and drive the piss out of the nice smooth backroads and highways of the region. the DT1s were awesome at keeping me glued to my line but couldn't handle a pothole without a bone jarring jolt that would convince a passenger who didn't know better that the car was about to fall apart.
I got the DT2s with 'rally spec' because now I live in the armpit of America, Connecticut. The roads here are falling apart, very post-industrial, so I figured "get the rally spec and I'll be able to eat up potholes like a Rally Car." This has not been the case. From day one I have been disappointed with my purchase. The only travel I get out of suspension comes from the flex in the sidewalls of the tires. This would be great if I only did AutoCross or SkidPad tests all day but I like to, you know, drive on the roads, like normal people.
It should be noted that the rear suspension does act like a suspension, you stand and bounce on the rear bumper and the body goes up and down like it should, but the front (where all the weight is) is total crap,; you bounce on it and only the sidewalls flex...way too stiff
Over the years I have purchased different spring rates and lengths to try and make the front eat up bumps like a $2600 suspension should. Factory spec is 25nm in the front if memory serves me correct and 20nm in the back. I have tried 20nm, 25nm, 30nm, 40nm, 50nm, and the 60nm that HotBits sold me originally (20nm-30nm @ 300mm length & others @ 250mm). Everything below 60nm just gets crushed under the weight of the front end, but 60nm has no "give" and rides like a raped date.
Also I have tried a myriad of height choices from slammed to stock, to all the way up. Ideally they should be best at about 50 to 60% of the overall stroke of the strut's piston, so it can eat up shock in both directions.
I could go on for hours but I have a life, sort-of. This is my second GVR4, I have not posted very much on here because I am always working, studying, or putting my car on jack-stands. One good side effect from my suspension woes is that I have everything I need to do my own alignments, this was out of necessity because of the constant tinkering with suspension requires constant realignment and I have not met one alignment guy worth his salt much less the $75 to $95 they charge to 'set the front toe, and let it go', no rear toe or camber, that would just be too much to ask a man to do his job correctly.
I know I must be missing something here, I have tried combining springs on the same corner to have a 'progressive' setup and still all my "give" in the front comes from my tires. Yes this suspension would be great on a perfectly smooth track, but to actually Rally this thing OFF THE ROAD is total crap
Does anyone have HotBits 'rally' and actually Rally it? if so what springs are you running, especially up front????
p.s. expect more posts from me 'cause I need to ditch this 'newbie' handle 'cause I am starring at thousands of dollars worth of VR4 stuff that I need to sell on here.