Throwing on the 8610's and first impressions...

[veilside180sx]

Another interesting thing is how thick the Silkroad springs are in comparison to the almost twice as stiff Eibach springs.

[WilloW]

Looking good man, I can't wait to get my hands on these once Veilside180sx is done with the next batch. As for the front top hats, is there no other way around using the rubber spacers?

[veilside180sx]

Monty's issues with the top hats are largely due to us using the Tein camber plates for his. I'm working on some camber plates of my own that will use a user replaceable 5/8" bearing that will match the Koni shaft. (no need for the rubber isolator setup)

[McCoy]

Yeah, there are far easier routes to go than mine... as always! Using a cusco/stillen camber plate with a standard bearing size and that can accept a typical tophat would have been helpful. Another easy solutions is the one that PJ took, use the remains of some blown out coilover setup... he used his D2's IIRC. The last would be to let Richard build you a camber plate, and let him figure out the small details ; -)

[WilloW]

Good thing I've got 2 different set of camber plates (Cusco and Project mu) to play with. Thanks for clearing that up for me.

[AceInHole]

I used the GC top hat made for the 240sx front, with a washer and the bump stop to retain it. http://i114.photobucket.com/albums/n247/AceInHole/PirateS14/suspensions/DSC_6276.jpg Threw some spacers on it to clear the spherical bearing and allow for some free tilt, and called it a day. The reason you feel more stuff at low speeds is the valving. At low piston speeds you get more damping force, and with the digressive damping curve, there's more "give" at high speeds. The feel you have for bumps at low speeds is pretty much the same characteristic that gives your car more control during turn-in and transition.

[veilside180sx]

Good thing I've got 2 different set of camber plates (Cusco and Project mu) to play with. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Not to gum up this thread but can you measure the ID of the bearings on both of those plates?

[McCoy]

The reason you feel more stuff at low speeds is the valving. At low piston speeds you get more damping force, and with the digressive damping curve, there's more "give" at high speeds. The feel you have for bumps at low speeds is pretty much the same characteristic that gives your car more control during turn-in and transition. Agreed... actually, the feel is very similiar to riding in Brians STI on the ohlins over the rougher sections of road. You're expecting this suspension jarring hit, and it's just a well dampened thud :). down low or at higher speeds, the Silkroads can't hold a candle to these... and I have to wait till next March to get the car on the track :(

[WilloW]

Good thing I've got 2 different set of camber plates (Cusco and Project mu) to play with. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Not to gum up this thread but can you measure the ID of the bearings on both of those plates? Sure, give me a day or two to dig it out of my part pile. Unfortunately I could only measure the Project mu plates since I've already installed the Cusco on my car. What I could tell you is that they're exactly the same ID, I know because I was playing with them not too long ago.

[veilside180sx]

Good thing I've got 2 different set of camber plates (Cusco and Project mu) to play with. Thanks for clearing that up for me. Not to gum up this thread but can you measure the ID of the bearings on both of those plates? Sure, give me a day or two to dig it out of my part pile. Unfortunately I could only measure the Project mu plates since I've already installed the Cusco on my car. What I could tell you is that they're exactly the same ID, I know because I was playing with them not too long ago. Cool, just let me know when you do

[McCoy]

Seems like I hit a small snag tonight... part of what comes with buying 2nd hand I guess. The rear pillowmounts don't seem to be for an S13, maybe an S14?!? http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/959/medium/koni_rear_issue_02.jpg I found the right one at FRSport.com for 129 and am making the order right now. I tried to just use the Silkroad setup, but the shaft diameters are different.

[AceInHole]

Is it me or are you using the front top mount for the rear and vice versa? o.O Anyways, let me know if you wanna sell those S14 top mounts :-P

[McCoy]

Is it me or are you using the front top mount for the rear and vice versa? o.O Anyways, let me know if you wanna sell those S14 top mounts :-P The correct ones are ordered and hopefully will be shipping today or tomorrow. How does $115 shipped sound... never used ; - P

[McCoy]

Cost breakdown: (a few have asked for this )

-Koni 8610-1436RACE inserts, fronts (price may vary) --- $330 <-- can be purchased through Richard
-Koni yellow sports, rears --- $200 <-- same source as above
-Custom 86XX housings, front --- $350 <--- Richard
-Tein camber plates & pillowmounts --- $280 <-- FRsport.com
-Ground Control kit --- $400 <--- might want to deal with GC on this one and ask for a rubber tophat for the G20, this is the one that I got. Also ask for a rear tophat with a 18-20mm I.D.
-Misc bearings from Mcmaster Carr --- $20

Total, your looking at around $1500 (all new parts) plus the cost of shipping for some of these and any other misc pieces you need to find on the way. You can cut costs by purchasing used and looking for good deals if your patient.

[turtl631]

Looks good. Are you going to eventually run 8610s in the back as well? I thought that was your plan.

[McCoy]

Looks good. Are you going to eventually run 8610s in the back as well? I thought that was your plan.
Thanks. Yes I will go to 8610's in the rear, probably won't happen till early spring... I was just giving a price break down for the current setup.

More driving impressions:
I was able to take the car out for a drive on this last Saturday to get a better feel for the front suspension. I took a road that I take each day to work, the road is patched in a few spots and has a railroad crossing with uneven pavement on both sides. I usually have to slow to 15mph when crossing the railroad tracks with the 240, if not it just feels like your going to break something on the car! I hit the tracks at about 30mph and it just felt amazing, just a thud thud thud, the car went up and down with the road, but the normal jolt I was used to feeling wasn't there. And to think I went up 200+ lb's on my spring rates too. As for driving ove the patched sections of road or just rougher sections... you can feel it, just not as bad as the typical JDM coilover. The roughest of roads is still not as comfortable as say the outback, but that's not what I was after with this setup to begin with.

I'm still going to throw on the 440lb spring in the front out of curiosity. The 550lb springs feel fine, but I'm curious and don't plan on getting an alignment till after the rears are on and I play with the ride height some... or just wait till spring since the car won't be gettin driven much anyways. Did I forget to mention that we have about 4 inches of snow and I was up a 6am putting studless snow tires on the Outback this morning : -(

[AceInHole]

Is it me or are you using the front top mount for the rear and vice versa? o.O Anyways, let me know if you wanna sell those S14 top mounts :-P The correct ones are ordered and hopefully will be shipping today or tomorrow. How does $115 shipped sound... never used ; - P Hit me up with a PM so I can paypal or something :)

[WilloW]

I used the GC top hat made for the 240sx front, with a washer and the bump stop to retain it. Threw some spacers on it to clear the spherical bearing and allow for some free tilt, and called it a day. Hi Ace, do you happened to have any pictures of the setup from the top down. I've played with GroundControl before in my Honda days, and I've never seen the aluminum top hat that GC used. Thank you in advance.

[McCoy]

WilloW, they look just like mine I assume... http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/959/medium/Koni_GC_parts.jpg

[AceInHole]

yup. the silver perches are the ones i used up front (see pic with white housings).

[WilloW]

You guys are awesome, thanks for answering the silly questions. I'm just itching to get my hands on these.

[McCoy]

I pulled the 550lb springs off last night and put on some 440lb 8" springs, which do fit with some adjustment left to drop the car some still. The S13 tein rears should be here next monday, they have shipped already. So hopefully the weather lets up next week so I can take the car out again!

[veilside180sx]

I pulled the 550lb springs off last night and put on some 440lb 8" springs, which do fit with some adjustment left to drop the car some still. The S13 tein rears should be here next monday, they have shipped already. So hopefully the weather lets up next week so I can take the car out again! Now you'll be running the same rates I have 440 F/ 400 R =)

[McCoy]

The correct pillowmounts for the S13 are here finally! They also came with some steel spacers and flanged sleeves similiar to the one's I bought from Mcmaster Carr... the only issue is that they have an ID of 10.5mm, so there would be .5mm of slop if used with the Koni yellows. http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/959/medium/S13_tein_rears_01.jpg And, what the rear looks like now... I'll have these on late tonight or tomorrow. http://www.sr20forum.com/gallery/data/959/medium/S13_tein_rears_03.jpg

[AceInHole]

Now you'll be running the same rates I have 440 F/ 400 R =) My friend is running pretty close to that on his b15 with yellows. He has 375F 400R. It's a comfortable ride, actually.

[AceInHole]

What's the rubber "washer" for below the plate? I'd have run the spring right to the top mount, or as close to it as I could (without having the upper plate bind at least). Or.. are you running shorter springs?

[McCoy]

What's the rubber "washer" for below the plate? I'd have run the spring right to the top mount, or as close to it as I could (without having the upper plate bind at least). Or.. are you running shorter springs? It's a really hard urethane (sp?) washer. These are 7" springs. Once I get these on the car I should get a better idea if they need to come out or not. I have used these in past setups and they do help keep the overall noise down some.

[McCoy]

The rears are on... YEAH!!! With a 7" 400lb spring I have about 4 threads still showing on the collar and I probably still need to drop the car 1/4". I'd say a 7" spring is just right in the rear unless you find a different way to do the upper mount and gain back that 1-1.5" up there, then you could get an 8" spring on there. I turned down the 8610's by 1/2 turn, since I hadn't adjusted them since throwing the 440lb springs on. It's 30F and there was ice on the roads so I really only got to see how the suspension did over bumps and the rougher sections of road. The ride was even better than before, It's hard to explain, it just felt right. I really can't wait to get a few warm days so I can go out for a good drive.

[McCoy]

The pair of 8611's and the custom rear housings (S13 w/Z32 lower mount) arrived a few days ago from Richard. I've had a set of the Z32 rear uprights for the past month. To recap what I'm doing... I'll be moving the 8610's to the rear, the new 8611's will go up front and I'll also be adding the Z32 uprights.

Currently, I have the suspension (drivers side) on the garage floor. I realized that the I.D. of the rear tophats needed to be enlarged by about 4mm, the 8610's shaft O.D. is a tad larger than the standard koni yellow. I actually just got back from the machine shop, I had them enlarge the I.D. of the tophat on their lathe to 15/16th (23.87mm roughly) which is about 2mm larger than the shaft 0.D..

I am needing to borrow a 5lb sledge and a larger pickle fork from a coworker tonight so I can get the BJ's loose from the rear control arms, for some reason I have not yet purchased a small sledge... not sure why :confused:

More to come... with pics, tonight :)

[AceInHole]

bfh is one of the top 10 tools! how do you not have one? :p

[Def]

No BFH?!?!

Pickleforks suck ass for getting balljoints loose though. Put the nut on there sticking about 1 thread above the top of the stud(so you don't mushroom it). Then smack the crap out of the nut while supporting just the upright. Should pop right out if you put your purse down before swinging. :D

[McCoy]

^^^ Yeah, that's what I wanted to do, but I was lazy and did this with the axle still in... which was kind of in the way of swinging the BFH :dope:

The pickle fork worked... eventually

[RanciD]

I had no luck with hammering on my car. I ended up buying one of those cheap balljoint tools from autozone for like $10 then ground the hell out of it until I could fit it over the s13 upright. Worked like a charm ;)

[Bdizzle]

Yes you need a BFH!!! IMPULSE MOMENTUM FTMFW!!!!!
BTW It's finals week and I'm hyped up