Impressions: Just got Eibach+Koni installed.

[kenjiMR]

Ok, yesterday afternoon I got my car back from getting my stock springs and struts replaced with Eibach springs and Koni shocks. The first thing I noticed was that it didn't look that much lower for some reason... I'm wondering if it will settle some more... Anyways, I set the Koni shocks to full soft to drive it home from Daly City (near San Francisco) back down to San Jose. As I began to drive it, I could tell right away that the car was lower and the turn-in feel was nicer. As I drove it over some bumpy areas of the road, the ride wasn't harsh at all! To me, the Eibachs with Koni on softest setting felt even softer than the stock setup... The car feels awesome now that it is lower to the ground... I have tightened the struts by 1/3 to see how it felt, and it felt awesome... I will probably leave it at this setting for street driving.
The only problem is that the tool that the struts come with makes it very difficult to adjust the shocks accurately, I have a feeling that some of my shocks are tighter than others. I am also still awaiting my sway bars from Mark at Dali.... I hope that this adds the final touch to the handling characteristics that I want. I probably would have gotten the H&R springs if I knew that I would go to track events a lot, but so far I am pretty happy with the setup. I've only played around with it for a day still, so maybe I'll have a different opinion over time.

 

[nel]

Thanks for the info. If you don't mind, how much did the whole thing (labor and all) set you back? Thx.

 

[pronto3000]

The only problem is that the tool that the struts come with makes it very difficult to adjust the shocks accurately

You need to get this to make it simple: http://www.daliracing.com/nsxcatalog/gotta_have/gotta_shock_adjust.cfm

Regards
Enrique Thompson
Crazy4Cars Racing

 

[CDub]

I have Eibachs with OEM shocks. My first impression is the same. They didn't really lower the car that much. It was around 1" front and .8" back. And that was a year ago. After the installation, they'd settle. My latest messurement was 1.4" front and 1" back.

You should do the Alignment after you drive it for a while. I think I need to realign my car even I did the alignment 2 months after the installed. I'll do that after I install the sways from Dali.

Since the springs are progressive, normal driving seems a little softer that the OEM springs. It kind of caught me by surprise though when I drove through one of those gas station tank refill holes for the first time. My thought was .... whao! That's stiff.

I'm happy with the looks of the springs, but I wish it can make my car handle better. I'm expecting the sways to compensate a little.

 

[justin hall]

Originally posted by pronto3000:
The only problem is that the tool that the struts come with makes it very difficult to adjust the shocks accurately

You need to get this to make it simple: http://www.daliracing.com/nsxcatalog/gotta_have/gotta_shock_adjust.cfm

I second that, the stock tool is a piece of shit. I stripped it out after about 2 uses, but the dali tool is great.

 

[kenjiMR]

Mark sold me the Eibachs, Konis, and Sway Bars for $1100 plus shipping. Then, it costed me $350 to install and get it re-aligned. I'm hoping that I can install the sway bars myself at home with a jack and jack-stands.

 

[kenjiMR]

CDube,
I think the Koni shocks might work really well for you too if you want the extra control on the handling characteristics. The sways will definitely make a big difference from what others have told me.

 

[Edo]

I TOLD you guys that those Koni's werent too stiff..whoever keeps spreading the rumor that Koni's are too stiff needs to be beaten to a bloody pulp!!!

Heck, I thought they were so soft, that I drive around with them 1/2 turn away from full stiff. and both front and rear bars are set to full stiff. Yes..a bit harsh around town but in the corners...WHOOOWWEEEEEE

In any case, you definitely should get the sway bars put on. I had my Sway Bars before I had my Shocks/springs and they made a HUGE difference in cornering stability. It almost felt like a whole new suspension kit.

 

[justin hall]

I TOLD YOU TOO!!!!

I love my setup, glad you do too. With that said, I did the sway bars after doing the suspension and that made a bigger difference.

Justin

[This message has been edited by justin hall (edited 12 May 2001).]

 

[NSXY]

Yo Edo,

Which Dali sway bars did you buy? Street or race?

------------------
NSXY
95 NSX-T, 5 sp, Red/Tan, Stock, except Dunlaptya SP9000s

 

[Ponyboy]

Mr. Edo abd Mr. Hall - I was the guilty party and I think I was beaten to a bloody pulp.

I bought the same setup as kenjimr and have had installed since two weeks ago. I bought it for a track event that I didn't even make! Anyway, my impressions are that the koni's are pretty stiff (at full soft) but entirely livable. Compared to stock they seem as stiff or just a tiny bit more. Still the it's comfortable and I think the perfect daily-driver sportscar ride. Full stiff is Mr. Hyde personified. Man, this thing is a beast! Absolutely flat in the corners - at full stiff in front and 1/2 at rear. I haven't tried out other various shock settings yet. BTW, what's a good general setting for the track?

Overall, I am certainly impressed with this combo. And yes, I think the Bilsteins would have been too soft for my liking. The other NSXer's seem to agree too. FYI - no sways yet.

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

I have H&R and Koni along with Dali Race bars. I have the Koni turn 1.5 turns on the front from soft, and 2 turns on the rear from soft, and seems to work best on track. Slightly oversteer, but I prefer it that way.

of course, all this depends on your driving style. Play with it more and find the setting you are most comfortable with.

 

[justin hall]

Originally posted by Ponyboy:
Mr. Edo abd Mr. Hall - I was the guilty party and I think I was beaten to a bloody pulp.

all in good fun and more importantly a good exchange of information, what this is about!

BTW, what's a good general setting for the track? [/QUOTE]

I crank them all the way down front and back, and personally like it that way. Andrie tinkers more but he is faster than me, so you should listen to him

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Justin is just playing humble. He is fast as well.

 

[kenjiMR]

Crap! Yesterday I hit a huge pothole on the top of convexed intersection... made me so mad! I think my alignment has been slightly thrown off. Does anyone know how easy to damage the front control arms on the NSX? I hit the hole pretty hard, probably at about 40 mph. I didn't see it coming so it suprised me... it felt like the shocks compressed comopletely, but it could also be the hard shocks too. I have it now set to 1 full turn from soft.

 

[Andrie Hartanto]

Most likely u're okay

 

[Edo]

NSXY, I am using the Comptech Sway Bars.
I think they are near identical to Dali's street bars.

 

[CDub]

Kenji, my '91 only has 28K on it. I was hoping that I can get some use out of these OEM shocks before I swap them out.

2 days ago, I just had DC header and Dali street bars installed. And I was testing them out a little after work today.

I was the first car on the left turn lane trying to beat the lights. I'm sure the speed, but for sure I was going a little bit faster than usual. Without warning, the rear end stepped out without any warning. No tire sound like it does normally... nothing. The car was facing right at the semi-circle center divider. For a split second, I thought I was going to kiss the curb. I must have missed the curb by less than 6 inches.

I have had experienced oversteering before the sways and my tires gave me plenty of warming before the tail starts to swing wide. This time, I felt like the outside rear tires were on ice or something.

I think I'm going to go to the FAQ to find the right tire pressure to compensate that. BTW, I'm running SP9000 215/40-17 front and 265/35-18 on the back at 34psi all around. Any suggestion?

 

[justin hall]

wow, scary. glad no contact. I am not sure tire pressure was the root cause, but it could have something to do with it. 34 psi hot or cold? I run the exact same tire sizes at 28-29 lbs COLD which is about 32 lbs warm. anyway, like I said, I doubt that was the exact problem, but reducing some air pressure could help.

 

[kenjiMR]

Well, you mentioned that you just installed your sway bars recently right? The added anti-sway behavior of the rear wheels would definitely cause your tires to give up its grip more violently. I myself have not tried any other aftermarket sway bars yet, so its hard for me to tell how they will affect my current driving style, but I know for sure that I'm going to be carefull until I get a good feeling on how far I can push the car before it starts to spin. The added stability will probably make you think you can continue pushing your car harder into the turns... the difference in tire grip would be the main factor probably...

I'm just talking from assumption... I'm not too experienced at high performance driving myself yet... but I hope to be soon.

 

[CDub]

I couldn't think of anything I can change with my current setup than changing the tire pressure.

I have seen it on the NSX list that people actually set their fronts at 35 and rears at 40. I'll look up the FAQ when I have a chance.

Regarding the comment on testing it out first before pushing it hard. That was what I was trying to do. I just didn't expect the tail to swing out without any warnings.

Normally, my tires will tell me to stop pushing and I'd have time to react to it. This time, the car was moving happily and all of a sudden, it stepped out without even hearing any complaints from my tires.

Don't get me wrong, I'm no racer. Just trying to explore what my car can do.